Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II is a Fixed aperture Auto Focus (AF)
Telephoto Prime lens with 35mm FF max sensor coverage, and it is designed to be used with
A Mount cameras.
Sony replaced the older Sony 300mm F2.8 G with this model. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:
Compare Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II vs Sony 300mm F2.8 G
What type of photography is the Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II lens good for?
The choice of photography type for which you intend to use the Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II is a crucial decision factor. Below, we have assessed its suitability for various photography scenarios:
There are 2 more lenses that have the same focal range and aperture values with the Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II that are compatible with the Sony Alpha mount, you can find the review and comparison links of these lenses below.
Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount with Same Focal and Aperture Range
Reasons to Buy the Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II Lens
Here we've included a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II lens in a list form to assist you in determining whether it offers the features you need.
| Autofocus |
| Focus Range Limiter |
| Focus Distance Limiter |
| Covers Full-Frame Sensor |
| 9 Diaphragm Blades for Smooth Bokeh |
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Lens Mount
Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II is compatible with cameras that have a Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony Alpha lenses are Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II.
Size, Weight and Filter Thread
The size and weight are crucial factors to consider when searching for your next lens. Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II has a maximum diameter of 122mm and a total length of 243mm when not extended. It weighs 2300g / 81.1 oz.
Focal Range
Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II has a fixed focal length of 300mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides an 35mm (FF) equivalent of 450mm.
Optical Image Stabilization
Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II doesn't have an optical image stabilization system so the only option to stabilize the image taken with this lens is to mount on a camera body with IBIS (sensor based In-body image stabilization).
Zoom Method
Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II features Rotary (extending) zoom method where the length of the lens changes as you zoom in or out. This makes it possible to design the lens with a smaller minimum length ( generally when it is zoomed out) compared to internal zoom lenses. The disadvantages of this design are being harder to seal against dust and moisture, weight balance shifting while zooming and zoom creep in certain lenses.
Maximum Magnification Ratio
Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II has a Max Magnification Ratio of 0.18x with a minimum focusing distance of 2m. 0.18x ratio is quite low, making this lens unsuitable even for modest close-up photography.
Below are the 3 Telephoto Prime type Sony Alpha mount lens alternatives with highest max magnification ratios:
Aperture
The Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II features a maximum aperture of F2.8 and can be stopped down to a minimum aperture of F32. An aperture of F2.8 provides a solid balance, offering capable low-light performance and giving you plenty of flexibility when shooting indoors or during golden hour. The combination of a longer 300mm focal length and a bright F2.8 opening makes it incredibly easy to isolate your subject, melting away busy backgrounds into smooth, professional bokeh. The minimum setting of F32 is excellent for deep depth of field work like macro photography, though you may want to avoid the absolute smallest settings to skip the sharpness loss caused by optical diffraction.
Optical Formula
Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II's optical formula consists of 13 elements in 12 groups .
Popular Comparisons of Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II
Here are the 8 most popular comparisons of the Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II amongst Camera Decision readers.
Top Alternatives of Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II Lens
In addition, it would be interesting to check which lenses from other mounts are most commonly compared with the Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II.
Top Alternatives of Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II in Other Lens Mounts
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