Sony FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS
Launch MSRP
$500- Weight
- 295g
- Filter
- ⌀55mm
- Min focus
- 0.30m
- Max mag.
- 0.19×
- Formula
- 9E / 8G
- Released
- 2013
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 3x Aspherical
- 1x ED
- Aperture range
- f/3.5–5.6 — f/22
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 295g
- ⌀ × length
- 72.5 × 83.0mm
- Filter
- ⌀55mm
- Weather sealed
- Yes
- Aperture ring
- No
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Optical
- Teleconverter
- Not supported
- AF speed score
- 7.3 / 10
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 0.30m
- Max magnification
- 0.19× (1:5.3)
Optical character
This was the original kit zoom for the first Sony A7 in 2013, and it shipped with many A7-series bodies for over a decade. It weighs 295g, takes 55mm filters, and pairs Optical SteadyShot with a dust and moisture resistant barrel, which was unusual for a kit lens.
The optical design uses nine elements in eight groups, including three aspherical elements and one ED element. Close focus is 0.3m at 28mm (0.45m at 70mm), giving 0.19x. It is a lens for getting started, and most owners later replace it with something faster or sharper.
Reviewer consensus
Reviewers found the centre sharp even wide open, but the borders and corners are soft at 28mm and 70mm until about f/8, which limits it on high-resolution bodies. Uncorrected distortion is moderate barrel at 28mm and strong pincushion at 50-70mm, and Sony corrects it in camera. Lateral CA is visible but acceptable.
AF is quiet and quick enough for general use, and build quality is decent for a kit lens. Testers generally rated it below the ZEISS 24-70mm F4 and, later, below the FE 28-60mm and third-party 28-75mm zooms.
Owner sentiment
Owners value it as a cheap, light, stabilised walkaround lens, and it is widely available used or as a white-box kit lens for little money. Weather sealing and the OSS are appreciated on older bodies without IBIS.
The common complaints are soft corners, a slow aperture, and dull rendering compared with primes. The rubber rings are known to collect dust and lint.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +Light 295g with 55mm filters
- +Optical SteadyShot
- +Dust and moisture resistant
- +Very cheap used or as a kit lens
Weaknesses
- −Soft borders and corners wide open
- −Strong pincushion distortion at 50-70mm
- −Slow f/3.5-5.6 aperture
Six-axis rating
- Sharpness
- 6.9
- Bokeh Rendering
- 6.4
- Autofocus Speed
- 7.3
- Flare Resistance
- 7.2
- Build / Sealing
- 7.4
- Value / Size
- 7.8
Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.
Technical specifications
| Mount | Sony E (FE) · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 28–70mm |
| Category | Standard |
| Maximum aperture | f/3.5–5.6 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 |
| Construction | 9 elements in 8 groups |
| Special elements | 3x Aspherical · 1x ED |
| Aperture blades | 7 |
| Focus type | Autofocus |
|---|---|
| Drive | Internal focus (motor type not published) |
| Minimum focus | 0.30m |
| Max magnification | 0.19× |
| Stabilisation | Optical |
| Teleconverters | Not supported |
| Weight | 295g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 72.5 × 83.0mm |
| Filter thread | ⌀55mm |
| Weather sealing | Yes |
| Aperture ring | No |
| De-clickable aperture | No |
| Release year | 2013 |
| Launch MSRP | $500 USD |
Sources
Specifications
- opticallimits.com/sony/sony-fe-full-format/sony-fe-28-70mm-f-3-5-5-6-oss-revi
- sony.jp/ichigan/products/SEL28702/
- sony.jp/ichigan/products/SEL2870/spec.html
Similar focal length alternatives
- VSFE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS vs 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary
- VSFE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS vs FE 28-70mm F2 GM
- VSFE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS vs FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS II
- SigmaContemporary
28-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary
28–70mmF2.8- WT
- 470g
- FLT
- ⌀67mm
- MFD
- 0.19m
- MSRP
- $899
AF - SonyG Master
FE 28-70mm F2 GM
28–70mmF2- WT
- 918g
- FLT
- ⌀86mm
- MFD
- 0.38m
- MSRP
- $2,900
AFWRRING·DC - Sony
FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS II
28–70mmF3.5–5.6- WT
- 293g
- FLT
- ⌀55mm
- MFD
- 0.30m
- MSRP
- $450
AFSTABWR
