Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II
GM II · 1045g · OIS · L-Series benchmark
Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD
Prime/zoom
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lands at 96 and Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD at 87. That puts Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II ahead by 9 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II if…
- ✓29% lighter than original 70-200 GM
- ✓Industry-best AF with linear motors
- ✓Excellent close focus
Pick Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD if…
- ✓Proven optical formula
- ✓Weather-sealing (L/GM/S)
- ✓Strong resale
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testBuild
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS IICompared on the build sub-score
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II leads on build (96 vs 90).
Sharpness
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS IICompared on the sharpness sub-score
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II leads on sharpness (96 vs 87).
Autofocus
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS IICompared on the autofocus sub-score
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II leads on af (100 vs 83).
Value for money
Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXDSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD more score per dollar ($1,299 vs $2,799).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II | Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD |
|---|---|---|
| Mount | Sony E | — |
| Focal length | 70-200 mm | — |
| Aperture | f/2.8 | — |
| Construction | 17 elements / 14 groups | — |
| Stabilization | OSS | — |
| Min focus | 0.40 m (wide) / 0.82 m (tele) | — |
| Filter | 77 mm | — |
| Weight | 1045 g | — |
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II
- +29% lighter than original 70-200 GM
- +Industry-best AF with linear motors
- +Excellent close focus
- −Premium pricing
- −Heavy at 1045g
- −External zoom changes balance
Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD
- +Proven optical formula
- +Weather-sealing (L/GM/S)
- +Strong resale
- −Mount-specific
- −Older AF motor on some
- −Heavier than modern counterparts
FAQ: Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II vs Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD
Which is better, Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II or Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD? +
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 9. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II worth the price? +
At $2,799, Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in af.
Is Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD worth the price? +
At $1,299, Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD delivers a Specdex score of 87 — strongest in build.
Does Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II or Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for build, Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II or Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD? +
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II — leads on build (96 vs 90). Compared on the build sub-score.
Which is better for sharpness, Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II or Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD? +
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II — leads on sharpness (96 vs 87). Compared on the sharpness sub-score.