I’ve owned the Sony FE 70-300 F4.5-5.6 G OSS lens since it was first released and used it a great deal on my Sony a6500 because the longest APS-C lens available for quite some time has been the Sony E 55-210mm.
However, with the FE 70-300 being a full-frame lens I always wished there was a smaller and less expensive APS-C alternative with a similar focal range, image quality and AF speed. Thankfully that wish was finally granted when Sony announced the E 70-350mm G OSS lens for APS-C cameras.
I’ve only recently received the the 70-350 so this comparison is only just getting started. Over the coming weeks I will be expanding on it just like with my Sony 200-600 vs 100-400 Comparison.
Status: Rolling
Latest Update: Added a couple of sharpness comparisons, an autofocus test with Frank and some sample images.
Comparison Contents Menu
Sharpness Comparison
For these sharpness tests I used my Sony a6400 mounted on my Sirui W-2204 tripod.
I turned off stabilization, used the electronic shutter to avoid any shutter shock and triggered the a6400 shutter using the Sony RMT-P1BT Remote Control (#afflinks Amazon).
I also manually focused with the help of focus peaking + focus zoom and took multiple shots whilst micro adjusting the focus, selecting only the sharpest images from each lens to compare.
350mm vs 300 Comparison 1
The following two images I shot from around 10m away. Both lenses were shot at their maximum focal range and apertures. So the E 70-350 was shot at 350mm f/6.3 and the FE 70-300 was shot at 300mm f/5.6.
Sony a6400 + E 70-350 @ 350mm | 1/125 | f/6.3 | ISO 200 | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Sony a6400 + FE 70-300 @ 300mm | 1/100 | f/5.6 | ISO 200 | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Here’s a 100% crop and a side-by-side to make the comparison a little easier for you.
It’s extremely close but the FE 70-300 appears to be just a tiny little bit sharper to my eyes, what do you think?
350mm vs 300 Comparison 2
The following two images I also shot from around 10m away. However this time I stopped the aperture down to f/7.1 on the E 70-350 and f/6.3 on the FE 70-300.
Sony a6400 + E 70-350 @ 350mm | 1/100 | f/7.1 | ISO 200 | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Sony a6400 + FE 70-300 @ 300mm | 1/100 | f/6.3 | ISO 200 | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Here’s a 100% crop and a side-by-side comparison.
Stopping both lenses down 1/3 of a stop improves the sharpness and now it’s not possible to see any difference between the two. The E 70-350 appears to benefit more than the FE 70-300 does from stopping down.
In this comparison I’m only concerned with the central sharpness and as you can hopefully see, both lenses are a little bit soft when shooting at their respective maximum apertures.
I will be adding further comparisons at a range of different focal lengths and distances very soon, including comparisons with the FE 70-300 shot on the Sony a7 III full-frame body.
Autofocus Test with Frank
In the following video featuring my dog Frank I do a simple autofocus comparison and keeper test between the Sony E 70-350 F4.5-6.3 G lens and the FE 70-300 F4.5-5.6 G lens.
Autofocus Test Results
Sony E 70-350
Shots Taken (in focus zone): 102
Out of Focus: 12 (12%)
Slightly Soft Focus: 38 (37%)
Critically Sharp Focus: 52 (51%)
Keeper Rate: 88% (including slightly soft)
Sony FE 70-300
Shots Taken (in focus zone): 83
Out of Focus: 9 (11%)
Slightly Soft Focus: 28 (34%)
Critically Sharp Focus: 46 (55%)
Keeper Rate: 89% (including slightly soft)
You can see sample images from this test in the sample gallery below.
Specifications Comparison
| Lens Specifications | Sony E 70-350 F4.5-6.3 G OSS | Sony FE 70-300 F4.5-5.6 G OSS |
|---|---|---|
| Product Code: | SEL70350G | SEL70300G |
| Lens Mount: | Sony E-Mount | Sony E-Mount |
| Format: | APS-C | 35mm full frame |
| Focal Length (mm): | 70-350 | 70-300 |
| 35mm Equivalent Focal Length (APS-C): | 105-525 | 105-450 mm |
| Focus Motors: | XD linear motor | Linear focus motor |
| Lens Groups / Elements: | 13-19 | 13-16 |
| Angle of View (35mm): | N/A | 34°–8°10′ |
| Angle of View (APS-C): | 22°-4°40′ | 23°–5°20′ |
| Maximum Aperture: | 4.5-6.3 | 4.5-5.6 |
| Minimum Aperture: | 22-32 | 22-29 |
| Aperture Blades: | 7 | 9 |
| Circular Aperture: | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum Focus Distance: | 1.1-1.5 m (3.61-4.93 ft) | 0.9 m (2.96 ft) |
| Maximum Magnification Ratio (x): | 0.23 | 0.31 |
| Filter Diameter (mm): | 67 | 72 |
| Image Stabilization (OSS): | Yes | Yes |
| Focus Limiter: | No | Yes (full / infinity-3m) |
| Zoom System: | Manual External | Manual External |
| Teleconverter Compatibility x1.4: | No | No |
| Teleconverter Compatibility x2.0: | No | No |
| Diameter (mm): | 77mm (3-1/8 in.) | 84mm (5-3/4 in.) |
| Length (mm): | 142mm (5-5/8 in.) | 143.5mm (5-3/4 in.) |
| Weight: | 625g (22.1 oz.) | 854g (30.2 oz.) |
| Press Release Date: | August 28, 2019 | Mar 29, 2016 |
| Price (MRRP): | $998.00 / £829.00 | $1,273.00 / £1,079.00 |
| Reviews: | N/A | Dvir Barkay |
Let’s take a closer look at some of the more interesting specs here.
Focal Length and Aperture
The Sony E 70-350 G has a focal length of 70mm to 350mm and a variable aperture of f/4.5 – 6.3. From 70mm to 82mm it’s f/4.5, 83mm to 113mm it’s f/5, 114mm to 199mm it’s f/5.6, and 200mm to 350mm is f/6.3.
The Sony FE 70-300 G has a focal length of 70mm to 300mm and a variable aperture of f/4.5 – 5.6. From 70mm to 82mm it’s f/4.5, 83mm to 153mm it’s f/5, 154mm to 300mm it’s f/5.6.
Focus Motors
The E 70-350 G features the XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motor that can be found in the more expensive FE 135mm F1.8 GM lens along with the FE 400mm F2.8 GM and 600mm F4 GM lenses. It’s the first time ever that this focus motor has been included in an APS-C lens. The XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motor has been developed to deliver higher thrust and efficiency than previous types in order to make the most of the rapidly evolving speed performance of current and future camera bodies.
The FE 70-300 G features the older linear focus motors, so in theory the 70-350 should be the faster lens when it comes to focussing but we’ll have to wait to see if this is the case.
Zoom System
Both lenses feature external zoom designs and the lens barrels extend as you zoom. There is a lock switch to prevent zoom creep when set to the shortest and most compact focal length of 70mm.
Size and Weight
The E 70-350mm measures 142mm in length; the diameter is 77mm and it weights 625g without the lens hood attached. The FE 70-300 G is 143.5mm in length, has a diameter of 84mm, and weighs 854g without the lens hood, making the 70-300 around 229g heavier.
Aperture Blades
The E 70-350mm features 7 circular aperture blades, whereas the FE 70-300 G has 9 circular aperture blades. This should mean that the FE 70-300 is capable of producing slightly smoother bokeh.
Teleconverter Support
Neither lens supports the Sony 1.4x or the 2x teleconverters and they will also not physically fit.
Minimum Focus Distance
The minimum focus distance of the E 70-350mm is variable from 1.1-1.5 m (3.61-4.93 ft) depending on your focal length. The FE 70-300 on the other hand has a fixed minimum focus distance of just 0.9 m (2.96 ft).
Image Stabilization (OSS)
Both lenses feature optical image Stabilisation (OSS) but neither offer a Mode 2 for panning which can be found on lenses like the FE 70-200 F4 and the FE 100-400 F4.5-5.6 GM.
Range Focus Limiter
The E 70-350mm unfortunately does not include a focus range limiter switch on the lens body. The FE 70-300 G does include a limiter switch that allows you to select between full range or infinity to 3 meters.
Price
The Sony E 70-350mm has a RRP of $998.00 / £829.00 and the Sony FE 70-300 G has a RRP of $1,273.00 / £1,079.00, making the FE 70-300mm around $275.00 / £250.00 more expensive.
Sample Images
I promise to include some none dog shots very soon! 🙂
Sony E 70-350 Sample Photos
Sony a6400 + E 70-350 @ 350mm | 1/2000 | f/6.3 | ISO 640 | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Sony a6400 + E 70-350 @ 350mm | 1/2000 | f/6.3 | ISO 640 | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Sony a6400 + E 70-350 @ 350mm | 1/2000 | f/6.3 | ISO 640 | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Sony a6400 + E 70-350 @ 350mm | 1/2000 | f/6.3 | ISO 640 | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Sony a6400 + E 70-350 @ 350mm | 1/2000 | f/6.3 | ISO 500 | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Sony a6400 + E 70-350 @ 160mm | 1/2000 | f/5.6 | ISO 1000 | Cropped | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Sony a6400 + E 70-350 @ 210mm | 1/2000 | f/6.3 | ISO 1000 | Cropped | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Sony a6400 + E 70-350 @ 250mm | 1/2000 | f/6.3 | ISO 2000 | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Sony FE 70-300 Sample Photos
Sony a6400 + FE 70-300 @ 300mm | 1/2000 | f/5.6 | ISO 400 | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Sony a6400 + FE 70-300 @ 300mm | 1/2000 | f/5.6 | ISO 400 | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Sony a6400 + FE 70-300 @ 300mm | 1/2000 | f/5.6 | ISO 400 | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Sony a6400 + FE 70-300 @ 300mm | 1/2000 | f/5.6 | ISO 400 | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Sony a6400 + FE 70-300 @ 300mm | 1/2000 | f/5.6 | ISO 400 | Full Resolution SOOC Download: JPEG | RAW **
Still to Come
I’ll be adding sharpness comparisons, bokeh, color rendition, flare control, chromatic aberrations, stabilization, and minimum focus distance.
Please do let me know in the comments below if you’d like to see a specific comparison, or have a suggestion as to how I can improve my comparisons here.
If you are not already a member of one of the Sony Alpha Facebook Groups that I run then please do consider joining one of the groups. There are many groups including: landscape, portrait, wildlife, sports, street, video, a6400, a7III, a9 and a7r IV. Hopefully you’ll find one that you like the most!
* Check Prices & Deals for Sony E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G OSS
US: (#afflinks) Amazon.com | Adorama
UK: (#afflinks) Amazon.co.uk | Wex Photo | Park Cameras
* Check Prices & Deals for Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
US: (#afflinks) Amazon.com | Adorama
UK: (#afflinks) Amazon.co.uk | Wex Photo | Park Cameras
* Affiliate Links
Within this article there are affiliate links (denoted with #afflinks). If you decide to buy something after clicking a link I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information on affiliate links click here. Thank you.
Isn’t the 70-300 FF? Why is your BBQ picture not 1,5x for effective 450mm vs the 350mm on your APSC?
Yes the FE 70-300 is a full-frame lens but when shooting on the a6400 (APS-C) it will still have the same field of view as the E 70-350 (at 300mm on APS-C).
Thanks for the comparison. You have stated no less than three times that the second set of example images were shot with the lenses stopped down one-stop. This is simply not true! On the new 70-350mm lens, stopping down from the maximum aperture of F6.3 to F7.1 is one-third of a stop. A complete stop would be an aperture of F9! Likewise stopping down the full-frame 70-300mm lens from its maximum aperture of F5.6 to F6.3 is also one-third of a stop. In this case a complete stop would obviously be F8! This makes both lenses actually a lot better… Read more »
Many thanks for picking up on that David! Definitely my mistake here and I’ve corrected the wording. Thanks for taking the time to comment! All the best, Tim
Could you include corner sharpness and smaller apertures (f/8 etc) when you add more sharpness comparisons? I’m considering these lenses as compact lightweight options to cover the longer focal lengths for landscape photography.
I will include corner sharpness. Hope to add some big updates here next week.
Could I ask you to list the f-stop v focal length increments?
Hi Stacy, I’ve already listed these above 🙂 The Sony E 70-350 G has a focal length of 70mm to 350mm and a variable aperture of f/4.5 – 6.3. From 70mm to 82mm its f/4.5, 83mm to 113mm it’s f/5, 114mm to 199mm it’s f/5.6, and 200mm to 350mm is f/6.3. The Sony FE 70-300 G has a focal length of 70mm to 300mm and a variable aperture of f/4.5 – 5.6. From 70mm to 82mm it’s f/4.5, 83mm to 153mm it’s f/5, 154mm to 300mm it’s f/5.6.
I have seen comments about pronounced distortion on the 70-350.
Please include distorton in your comparison. Thank you.
Don’t worry I will be covering distortion as well!
Is the A6400 firmware updated to correct this 70-350 lens?
Will be the older A6500?
Ho Jose. There is no new recent firmware update for the a6400 that mentions support of this lens, however it’s not always required. I just did a quick test with my a6400 and with in camera corrections turned on corrections are being applied. Unfortunately I don’t have my a6500 anymore so I can’t check with this camera.
I have the 70-300, I’m not sure it’s worth the upgrade. I’d have to sell my current lens to get the 70-350 (hopefully without losing money in the process), just to get 50mm of extra range and save 220g (and lose bokeh and a bit of aperture).
Wish they could release a 200-600 for APS-C, much smaller/lighter than the one they released for FF.
I’ve yet to compare these two lenses side-by-side (hopefully mine arrives this month) but if you already own the FE 70-300 it will probably be difficult to justify selling it for the 70-350 unless the image quality and autofocus performance really blows it away. I’d also like to see a longer more affordable APS-C lens like the excellent 200-600. Fingers crossed!