Sony G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS

★★★★★ 4.7 (686)

This 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 telezoom stands out with its linear motor AF, 2 ED elements, and Nano AR Coating delivering reliable sharpness, all within a dust- and moisture-resistant construction. Optical SteadyShot image stabilization enables sharp handheld shots at 300mm, while the 9-blade circular diaphragm renders smooth bokeh for portraits. Best for outdoor and wildlife photographers who need a portable 854g telephoto lens that balances reach, stabilization, and robust build quality.

Focal length 70-300mm
Aperture f/29
Mount Sony E
stabilization Yes
Weather Sealed Yes
Weight 854 g
af type Linear Autofocus Motor
lens type zoom
Sony G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS lens
57 Overall Score
Also available in:

Snapshot

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Strong optical (95th percentile) 95th
  • Strong versatility (90th percentile) 90th
  • Strong social proof (89th percentile) 89th
  • Strong stabilization (83rd percentile) 83rd

Cons

  • Below average aperture (7th percentile)
  • Below average bokeh (9th percentile)
  • Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)
  • Below average macro (33rd percentile)

What owners think

How owner sentiment changed over time

Exclusive

Based on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.

Owner sentiment has held steady over time
72/100Our AI sentiment readhigh confidence · 125 sources · Jun 2026
1★2★3★4★5★Q1 '17: 2.0★ · 1 reviewQ2 '17: 5.0★ · 6 reviewsQ3 '17: 4.4★ · 9 reviewsQ4 '17: 4.5★ · 2 reviewsQ1 '18: 4.0★ · 1 reviewQ2 '18: 4.4★ · 12 reviewsQ3 '18: 4.8★ · 6 reviewsQ4 '18: 4.3★ · 7 reviewsQ1 '19: 4.6★ · 7 reviewsQ2 '19: 5.0★ · 11 reviewsQ3 '19: 4.1★ · 8 reviewsQ4 '19: 1.0★ · 1 reviewQ1 '20: 4.7★ · 3 reviewsQ3 '20: 5.0★ · 5 reviewsQ4 '20: 4.0★ · 1 reviewQ1 '21: 5.0★ · 1 reviewQ3 '21: 4.7★ · 3 reviewsQ4 '21: 4.6★ · 5 reviewsQ1 '22: 5.0★ · 1 reviewQ1 '23: 5.0★ · 1 reviewQ1 '24: 5.0★ · 1 reviewQ1 '25: 5.0★ · 2 reviewsQ2 '26: 5.0★ · 6 reviews (approx. date)169211267711813511351112112126Q1 '17Q4 '17Q3 '18Q2 '19Q1 '20Q1 '21Q1 '22Q2 '23Q2 '24Q2 '26
Avg ratingHappy (4-5★)Unhappy (1-2★)Bar height = number of reviewsEstimated date
  1. Q4 202188/1004.6★5 reviews

    Buyers praised the lens for excellent image quality and wildlife photography performance, often recommending a tripod for best results.

    • Users love the lens for wildlife and general photography, highlighting sharpness and zoom range.
    • A tripod is recommended to get the best out of the lens, especially at longer focal lengths.
    • Manual focus mode is noted as particularly impressive for wildlife shots.
    • The lens is considered good value, covering a useful mid-range for various subjects.
  2. Q3 2020100/1005.0★5 reviews

    Buyers in Q3 2020 praise the lens for its performance, sharpness, light weight, and reach. They also note solid build quality and competitive price.

    • Excellent performance, especially stability at maximum zoom.
    • Sharp, fast, and light lens suitable for high-resolution sensors.
    • Great weight and value for the price.
    • Impressive reach and detail, with solid build quality.
  3. Q3 201973/1004.1★8 reviews

    Buyers praise image sharpness and versatility for sports/wildlife, but note slower focus, lack of tripod collar, and softness at 300mm.

    • Sharp image quality throughout most of the zoom range.
    • Fast but not instant autofocus; good in good light.
    • Missing tripod collar for heavy lens; concerns about mount strain.
    • Dust sealing uncertainty and slight softness at 300mm.
  4. Q2 201995/1005.0★11 reviews

    Buyers praise this lens for sharpness, light weight, fast autofocus, and budget-friendly value, with one user reporting initial fitting issue resolved by replacement.

    • Sharpness and image quality excellent even at 300mm.
    • Light and compact for hiking and travel use.
    • Great value compared to pricier 100-400 GM lens.
    • One reviewer had initial fit issue on A7 III requiring lens replacement.
  5. Q1 201976/1004.6★7 reviews

    Buyers praised the lens as sharp, portable, and good value, but one noted disappointment in clarity and another wished for a wider aperture.

    • Sharp image quality and solid build (mentioned in 4 reviews).
    • Lightweight and portable for travel (2 reviews).
    • Some found clarity excellent; one user on a6500 was disappointed.
    • Lacks wider aperture, limiting low-light performance (1 review).
  6. Q4 201886/1004.3★7 reviews

    Most buyers praise sharpness and image quality, though some report soft focus or ergonomic issues like bulk and focus ring placement.

    • Sharpness and image quality are highly praised, even at 300mm and in low light.
    • Soft focus reported by one buyer, prompting consideration of return.
    • Lens is bulky; one user wishes for tripod mount and finds vertical shooting awkward.
    • Focus ring placement interferes with stability when zooming during action shooting.
  7. Q3 201893/1004.8★6 reviews

    Buyers praise the lens for being lightweight, sharp, and having excellent OSS. Some purchased but haven't used it yet.

    • Lightweight compared to f/2.8 lenses or 100-400mm.
    • Image quality and sharpness are very good.
    • OSS works well, smooths composition at long focal lengths.
    • A few buyers bought recently with limited use; one hasn't used yet.
  8. Q2 201882/1004.4★12 reviews

    Buyers praise the sharpness, reach, and light weight for hiking. One reports poor sharpness and disappointment; others note the reversed hood blocks the zoom ring.

    • Sharpness, contrast, and autofocus are excellent for the price.
    • Image quality is stellar in good light but softens in low light without tripod.
    • One buyer found the lens unsharp and very disappointing.
    • Reversed hood blocks zoom ring at 70mm, hindering quick use.
  9. Q3 201782/1004.4★9 reviews

    Buyers praise sharpness, image quality, and versatility, but note the lack of a tripod collar, occasional focus hunting, and weight on smaller bodies.

    • Excellent sharpness, contrast, and optical quality across zoom range.
    • No tripod mount causes balance issues on some bodies; homemade solution impractical.
    • Lightweight and compact for a 300mm lens; good stabilization for handheld use.
    • Focus occasionally hunts; serial number sticker can peel off.
  10. Q2 2017100/1005.0★6 reviews

    Buyers in Q2 2017 praised the lens for its sharpness, compact size, fast focus, and build quality. All reviews were 5-star, expressing high satisfaction with its performance across various uses.

    • Sharpness and optical performance praised across multiple uses.
    • Compact size and good balance with Sony cameras.
    • Fast, quiet autofocus and useful focus lock button.
    • Overall excellent build quality and great value.

Based on 107 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.

The proof

Performance

Performance Percentiles

AF 53.8
Bokeh 9.2
Build 50.4
Macro 33
Optical 94.9
Aperture 7.2
User Sentiment 16
Versatility 90.4
Social Proof 89.3
Stabilization 83.4

Specifications

Full Specifications

Optics

Type Zoom
Focal Length Min 70
Focal Length Max 300
Elements 16
Groups 13
Aspherical Elements 4
ED Elements 2
Coating Nano AR Coating

Aperture

Max Aperture f/29
Min Aperture 4.5-5.6
Constant No
Diaphragm Blades 9

Build

Mount Sony E
Format full-frame
Weather Sealed Yes
Weight 0.9 kg / 1.9 lbs
Filter Thread 72

AF & Stabilization

AF Type Linear Autofocus Motor
Stabilization Yes

Focus

Min Focus Distance 900
Max Magnification 0.31x

vs Competition

Spec Sony G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Sigma Contemporary 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12060 Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM
Focal Length 70-300mm 17-70mm 17-28mm 16-28mm 12-60mm 28-70mm
Max Aperture f/29 f/2.8 f/2.8 f/2.8 f/2.8 f/22
Mount Sony E Fujifilm X Nikon Z Sony E Micro Four Thirds Canon RF
Stabilization true true false false true true
Weather Sealed true true true true true true
Weight (g) 854 544 450 450 320 495
AF Type Linear Autofocus Motor RXD Stepping Motor Stepping AF Motor linear motor STM
Lens Type zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom
Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare
Product AFBokehBuildMacroOpticalApertureUser SentimentVersatilitySocial ProofStabilization
Sony G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS 53.89.250.43394.97.21690.489.383.4
Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Compare 53.887.269.885.99184.463.789.385.283.4
Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Compare 87.487.276.185.98884.490.767.369.237.8
Sigma Contemporary 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Compare 87.487.276.177.897.284.475.967.963.237.8
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12060 Compare 98.187.284.651.79184.444.693.168.283.4
Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM Compare 87.42472.98086.2219876.889.398.6

Price

Value & Pricing

From £999 1 offer across 1 retailer
Amazon.co.uk 1 offer From £999

We started tracking prices for this product on May 25, 2026. The chart appears once we have more data.

Usage Scores

Macro (53.4)Overall (56.8)Budget (68.2)Street (49.9)Travel (69.2)Portrait (38.6)Landscape (77.4)Professional (57.2)Video Cinema (50.5)Wildlife Sports (68.2)

A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.

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