New On sale 28%

Sony G SEL70300G 70-300mm

★★★★★ 4.7 (684)

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 29
Mount Sony E
stabilization Yes
Weather Sealed Yes
Weight 854 g
af type Linear Autofocus Motor
lens type telephoto
Sony G SEL70300G 70-300mm lens
66 Overall Score
Also available in:

Snapshot

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Strong optical (94th percentile) 94th
  • Strong versatility (91th percentile) 91th
  • Strong social proof (88th percentile) 88th
  • Strong stabilization (81th percentile) 81th

Cons

  • Below average aperture (8th percentile)
  • Below average bokeh (10th percentile)
  • Below average macro (24th 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
88/100Our AI sentiment readmedium confidence · 13 sources · May 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 reviews16921126771181351135111211212Q1 '17Q4 '17Q3 '18Q2 '19Q1 '20Q1 '21Q1 '22Q2 '23Q2 '24Q1 '25
Avg ratingHappy (4-5★)Unhappy (1-2★)Bar height = number of reviews
  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 101 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.

The proof

Performance

Performance Percentiles

AF 54.5
Bokeh 10.2
Build 42.4
Macro 23.5
Optical 94.2
Aperture 7.9
User Sentiment 80.8
Versatility 90.7
Social Proof 88
Stabilization 81.3

Specifications

Full Specifications

Optics

Type telephoto
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 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 SEL70300G 70-300mm Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES50200 Viltrox 13mm F1.4 f/1.4 E STM Auto Focus Ultra Wide Angle
Focal Length 70-300mm 16-300mm 18-300mm 28-400mm 50-200mm 13mm
Max Aperture 29 f/3.5 f/3.5 f/4 f/2.8 f/1.4
Mount Sony E Sony E Fuji X Nikon Z Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Stabilization true true true true true true
Weather Sealed true true false true true false
Weight (g) 854 615 92 726 655 415
AF Type Linear Autofocus Motor HLA VXD linear motor STM linear motor STM
Lens Type telephoto zoom zoom zoom telephoto Wide-Angle
Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare
Product AfBokehBuildMacroOpticalApertureUser SentimentVersatilitySocial ProofStabilization
Sony G SEL70300G 70-300mm 54.510.242.423.594.27.980.890.78881.3
Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Compare 54.584.35985.998.976.9099.67899.1
Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Compare 98.374.996.687.774.676.930.199.283.181.3
Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR Compare 86.977.851.681.39771.2098.983.198.3
Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES50200 Compare 98.386.155.323.195.983.791.788.365.996.4
Viltrox 13mm F1.4 f/1.4 E STM Auto Focus Ultra Wide Angle Compare 86.996.642.189.482.696.480.834.27481.3

Price

Value & Pricing

From $1,000 10 offers across 5 retailers
Newegg 1 offers From $1,000
Best Buy 5 offers From $1,084
Amazon 2 offers From $1,398
B&H Photo 1 offers From $1,398
Adorama 1 offers From $1,398

Price History

New Refurbished
$800 $1,000 $1,200 $1,400 $1,600 $1,800 May 17May 30Jun 7Jun 16 $1,500

Usage Scores

Macro (50.9)Overall (66.4)Budget (66.7)Street (48.5)Travel (67.6)Portrait (38.9)Landscape (74.1)Professional (58.1)Video Cinema (51.9)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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