Sony FE 28-70mm OSS II
f/3.5-5.6 Stabilized (2025 ~ today)
Introduction New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Recommendations
Sony: A9 III A1 II A1 A9 II A7R V A7R IV A7 V A7 IV A7 III A7S III A7CR A7C II A7c FX3 FX2 ZV-E1 A6700 A6600 A6400 ZV-E10 II ZV-E10 ZV-1 II RX1R III RX10/4 RX100/7 Flash Lenses
Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS II (55mm filters, 10⅓ oz./293g, 1~1.5'/0.3~0.45m close focus, 0.19× macro ratio, $448). bigger.
I'd get mine at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama or at Crutchfield, or get it used at eBay (How to Win at eBay), or get it used at KEH.
This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally approved sources I've used myself for way over 100 combined years when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you get it elsewhere. Sony does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, dropped, incomplete, gray-market, store demo or used lens — and all of my personally approved sources allow for 100% cash-back returns for at least 30 days if you don't love your new lens. I've used many of these sources since the 1970s because I can try it in my own hands and return it if I don't love it, and because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new lens before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I've used myself for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
December 2025 Better Pictures Sony Sony Lenses Canon Nikon Fuji LEICA Zeiss All Reviews
Sony vs. Nikon vs. Canon Full-Frame
Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji & OM SYSTEM Menu Systems Compared.
Introduction top
Introduction New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Recommendations
I buy only from these approved sources. I can't vouch for ads below. |
This is a basic kit lens. It's the same as 2015's FE 28-70mm OSS, but now uses a new voice-coil "linear" autofocus motor.
While Sony claims this lets it track autofocus at up to 120 FPS, this is meaningless. Even a 1980s autofocus lens could track focus while a camera ran at 10,000 FPS behind it. AF speed is irrelevant to frame rate. What matters is if it's in focus tracking a moving object even for just one frame. Duh.
This new version retains the same iffy optics as the 2015 version, which is a pretty sad lens. A skilled photographer can make stunning images with this lens, but a skilled artist can create stunning images with any lens: we work around the limitations of our gear.
Specifically this inexpensive lens is super sharp n the center where it matters, but if you count every pixel with a micro scope can be softer at the sides where it doesn't really matter.
I'd get my FE 28-70mm OSS II at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama or at Crutchfield, or get it used at eBay (How to Win at eBay), or get it used at KEH.
New since 2015's FE 28-70mm OSS intro top
Voice-coil "linear" AF motor.
Otherwise exactly the same lens.
Good intro top
Inexpensive.
Hood included.
Bad intro top
Plastic filter threads and plastic exterior.
Relatively weak optical performance, but still more than good enough for creating stunning images.
Missing intro top
No AF/MF switch.
No Stabilizer switch.
No aperture ring.
No focus or depth-of-field scales.
No infra-red focus indices.
No focus lock buttons.
Will not work with any teleconverters.
Specifications top
Introduction New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Recommendations
I'd get my FE 28-70mm OSS II at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama or at Crutchfield, or get it used at eBay (How to Win at eBay), or get it used at KEH.
Name specifications top
Sony calls this the FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS II:
FE: Full-frame coverage, E-mount.
OSS: "Optical Steady Shot" Image Stabilization.
II: Sony's second try at this lens.
Sony's Model Number: SEL28702.
Optics specifications top
Sony FE 28-70mm OSS II Optical Construction. Aspherical and ED glass elements.
9 elements in 8 groups.
1 ED element: Magic Extra-low Dispersion glass for reduced axial secondary chromatic aberration.
3 Aspherical elements.
Silent internal focusing; nothing moves externally as focussed.
Diaphragm specifications top
7 rounded blades.
Electronically actuated.
Stops down to f/22 - f/36.
Filters specifications top
Plastic 55mm filter thread.
Focal Length specifications top
28-70mm.
When used on an APS-C camera, it sees the same angles of view as a 42-105mm lens sees when used on a full-frame or 35mm camera.
See also Crop Factor.
Angles of View specifications top
75º ～ 34º diagonal.
54º ～ 23º diagonal on APS-C.
Autofocus specifications top
Internal focusing with voice-coil "linear" motor.
No external movement as focussed, so no air or dust is sucked in.
Focus Scale specifications top
No.
Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Infinity Focus Stop specifications top
No.
You have to focus somehow to get precise focus at infinity, just like at every other distance.
Depth of Field Scale specifications top
No.
Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Infrared Focus Index specifications top
No.
What is this, 1937?
Close Focus (distance from subject to image plane) specifications top
1 foot (0.3 meters) at 28mm.
1.5 feet (0.45 meters) at 70mm.
Maximum Reproduction Ratio specifications top
1:5.26 (0.19×).
Reproduction Ratio Scale specifications top
No.
Image Stabilizer specifications top
YES!
Caps specifications top
ALC-F55S front cap.
ALC-R1EM rear cap.
Hood specifications top
ALC-SH132 Hood, included.
Size specifications top
2.85" ø maximum diameter × 3.27" extension from flange.
72.5 mm ø maximum diameter × 83 mm extension from flange.
Weight specifications top
10⅓ oz. (293g).
Announced specifications top
02 December 2025.
Promised for specifications top
19 December 2025.
Included specifications top
Lens.
ALC-F55S front cap.
ALC-R1EM rear cap.
Price, U. S. A. specifications top
02 December 2025 (Introduction)
$448 at B&H and at Adorama.
Performance top
Introduction New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Recommendations
I'd get my FE 28-70mm OSS II at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama or at Crutchfield, or get it used at eBay (How to Win at eBay), or get it used at KEH.
See my review of the optically identical original FE 28-70mm OSS for sample images and far more performance details.
Sharpness performance top
Lens sharpness has nothing to do with picture sharpness; every lens made in the past 100 years is more than sharp enough to make super-sharp pictures if you know what you're doing. The only limitation to picture sharpness is your skill as a photographer. It's the least talented who spend the most time worrying about lens sharpness and blame crummy pictures on their equipment rather than themselves. Skilled photographers make great images with whatever camera is in their hands; I've made some of my best images of all time with an irreparably broken camera! Most pixels are thrown away before you see them, but camera makers don't want you to know that.
People worry waaaaay too much about lens sharpness. It's not 1968 anymore when lenses often weren't that sharp and there could be significant differences among them; ever since about 2010 all new lenses are all pretty much equally fantastic.
This lens is always sharp in the center, but not as sharp in the sides and corners if you're counting pixels with a microscope. Hint: people who count pixels never produce any meaningful pictures.
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MTF at 28mm at f/3.5. |
MTF at 28mm at f/8. |
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MTF at 70mm at f/5.6. |
MTF at 70mm at f/8. |
Sony's MTF charts at 10 cyc/mm and 30 cyc/mm. The solid lines are the sagittal (radial) and the dotted lines are the meridional (tangential) measurements.
While it's usually valid to compare rated MTFs between different lenses of similar vintage from the same maker, every maker measures or simply calculates MTF very differently, and therefore one cannot compare these curves between brands. For instance, Sony seems to ignore diffraction and simply calculate overly optimistic MTFs that hug 100%, which no real lens can do at f/8, while other brands are more realistic and include diffraction. Only Canon offers any insight on how they arrive at their curves.
The MTF curves from the 2015 version are identical, simply plotted differently.
See also my article on MTF and Canon's article on MTFs.
Recommendations top
Introduction New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Recommendations
I'd get my FE 28-70mm OSS II at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama or at Crutchfield, or get it used at eBay (How to Win at eBay), or get it used at KEH.
If 28-60mm is a good range for you, also consider the tiny FE 28-60mm at the same price. The FE 28-60mm lacks stabilization, so it's best used on cameras with built-in stabilization, which are most Sony cameras.
I've never been a fan of zooms that only go to 70mm. I prefer at least the FE 24-105mm f/4G OSS, and the FE 24-240mm OSS eliminates having to haul and change between a separate telephoto lens.
I use a clear (UV) protective filter instead of a cap (exactly like an iPhone) so I'm always ready to shoot instantly. I only use a cap when I throw this in a bag with other gear without padding — which is never. The UV filter never gets in the way, and never gets lost, either.
The very best protective filter is the Hoya multicoated HD3 55mm UV which uses hardened glass and repels dirt and fingerprints.
For less money, the Hoya 55mm NXT Plus UV filter is an excellent filter, as is the basic multicoated Hoya filter, but the Hoya HD3 is the toughest and the best.
If I was working in nasty, dirty areas, I'd use an uncoated 55mm Tiffen UV filter instead. Uncoated filters are much easier to clean, but more prone to ghosting.
Filters last a lifetime, so you may as well get the best. The Hoya HD3 stays cleaner than the others since it repels oil and dirt.
All these filters are just as sharp and take the same pictures, the difference is how much abuse they'll take and stay clean and stay in one piece. Since filters last a lifetime or more, there's no reason not to buy the best as it will last you for the next 50 years. Filters aren't throwaways like digital cameras which we replace every few years, like it or not. I'm still using filters I bought back in the 1970s!
I'd get my FE 28-70mm OSS II at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama or at Crutchfield, or get it used at eBay (How to Win at eBay), or get it used at KEH.
This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally approved sources I've used myself for way over 100 combined years when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you get it elsewhere. Sony does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, dropped, incomplete, gray-market, store demo or used lens — and all of my personally approved sources allow for 100% cash-back returns for at least 30 days if you don't love your new lens. I've used many of these sources since the 1970s because I can try it in my own hands and return it if I don't love it, and because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new lens before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I've used myself for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
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