Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6
The 293g full-frame zoom covers 28-70mm with a linear autofocus motor and optical stabilization, keeping up with 120fps burst shooting. Its 7-blade circular aperture and three aspherical elements deliver sharp, bokeh-rich images in a dust- and moisture-resistant body. Best for travelers and wildlife shooters who need a compact, dependable everyday zoom.
Overzicht
The 30-Second Version
The Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS II is a lightweight everyday zoom with autofocus that punches way above its price class, ranking in the 96th percentile. It's a travel champion at 97.8/100, but the slow aperture and soft corners hold it back for portraits and low light. Prices range from USD 215 to USD 470 in the US, so shop around. If you want a compact walkaround lens and can find it at the low end of that range, it's a no-brainer.
Pros & Cons
Pluspunten
- Autofocus ranks in the 96th percentile, fast and nearly silent 96th
- Only 293g, easy to carry all day 95th
- Travel score of 97.8/100, ideal for walkaround shooting 86th
- Optical stabilization works with in-body IS for steadier shots 83rd
- Dust and moisture resistant, handles light rain without worry
Minpunten
- Soft corners at 28mm, especially wide open
- Significant flare in bright light, washed-out colors in sunlight
- f/3.5-5.6 aperture limits low-light shooting
- Bokeh ranks in the 31st percentile, not a portrait lens
- Plastic build feels cheap to some users
Wat eigenaren vinden
The Word on the Street
Hoe de mening van eigenaren in de loop van de tijd veranderde
ExclusiefOp basis van wanneer klanten hun reviews daadwerkelijk schreven - zo zie je of de eerste lof standhield.
- Q2 202694/100
Buyers praise the lens for sharpness, versatility, and lightweight design, with a minor note on aperture tightness during zoom.
- Sharp, high-definition photos and versatile zoom range.
- Lightweight and easy to carry for everyday shooting.
- Great value and compatibility with Sony A7 series cameras.
- Aperture tightens when using zoom function, noted by one reviewer.
- Q3 202450/100
Mixed reviews: one buyer finds it a good value kit lens for learning, another calls it the worst Sony product and a waste of money.
- Good value for price, adequate for beginners learning with Sony cameras.
- Worst Sony product, waste of money, difficult to resell.
- Opinions split between adequate starter lens and poor quality product.
- Q4 202190/100
Buyers praised the lens for its smooth, clear focus, versatility across full-frame and crop sensors, and good build quality at a reasonable price.
- Smooth and clear focus action, one of the best fast focus lenses.
- Versatile zoom for both full-frame and cropped sensor cameras.
- Sharp, precise, and good value for the cost.
- Good all-round lens for general photography and weddings.
- Q3 2021100/100
Buyers praised the lens for its sharpness, light weight, and value, with all reviews being positive.
- Sharpness and image quality are excellent, outperforming a similar Tamron lens.
- Lightweight design is appreciated for portability.
- Great value for money, especially as part of a camera package.
- Overall satisfaction with product quality and performance.
- Q4 202075/100
Buyers found this kit lens surprisingly capable for its price, praising its versatility and sharpness, though noting it's basic compared to premium lenses.
- Surprisingly good quality for a kit lens, a real workhorse.
- Good for beginners and casual use, but limited for professional work.
- Versatile focal range and image stabilization help with shaky hands.
- Not as sharp or feature-rich as high-end Sony lenses.
- Q3 202050/100
Buyers had mixed experiences: one praised it for a photography student, another criticized soft wide-angle performance, and a third found it decent for the budget.
- Wide-angle softness at 28mm, only center 50% usable, poor for landscapes.
- Good for beginners learning photography, excited recipient.
- Decent picture and video quality for the price, recommended on a budget.
- Q2 202073/100
Buyers found this kit lens usable, affordable, and versatile with stabilization, but noted softness and limited aperture.
- Good value, versatile focal range, and useful stabilization for a kit lens.
- Sharpness is acceptable but not adequate for high-resolution sensors.
- Slow aperture limits bokeh and low-light performance.
- Weather sealing and build quality are appreciated for the price.
- Q1 202073/100
Buyers found this kit lens sharp and clear for landscapes, adequate for beginners, but wished for a constant f4 aperture.
- Sharp and clear image quality, great for landscape photography.
- Good starter lens for beginners, but limited by variable aperture.
- Satisfactory as a kit lens with the A7III, producing quality photos.
- Desire for a constant f4 aperture, though acknowledging cost implications.
- Q1 201986/100
Buyers praised the lens as a great value with solid build, good image quality, and compact size. Some noted softness at 28mm but sharp at 35mm.
- Excellent value for money and build quality
- Compact size and good bokeh, ideal for Sony A7 series
- Sharpness varies: soft at 28mm, sharpest at 35mm
- Smooth operation and solid feel
- Q4 201880/100
Buyers found this lens a good value for the price, especially for lightweight travel, though image quality is acceptable rather than excellent.
- Good value for the price, worth the cost.
- Lightweight travel lens with acceptable images, but outperformed by heavier lenses.
- Smooth movement and good feel.
- Delivered ahead of expected time.
- Q3 201825/100
Buyers report severe flaring and glare issues, especially with bright lights, and feel the lens does not match the camera's quality.
- Severe flaring and glare problems, especially with bright lights, making it unsuitable for some uses.
- Lens perceived as inadequate for the Sony A7III, with suggestions for a better kit option.
- Decent for general use but not for astrophotography or low-light conditions.
- Cannot return lens as it came bundled with the camera, causing buyer frustration.
- Q2 201873/100
Buyers praised the lens as lightweight, good value, and sharp at f8, with quick silent autofocus. Some noted corner softness at maximum aperture and lack of physical switches.
- Lightweight and good value, especially as a kit lens.
- Sharp in center at all apertures, good at f8 even at edges.
- Corner softness at maximum aperture; acceptable for budget.
- No physical switches for stabilization or autofocus; must use camera menu.
- Q4 201760/100
Buyers in Q4 2017 had mixed feelings: some praised it as a great kit lens for beginners, while others criticized its optical quality and flaring.
- Good all-round lens for beginners, with quick autofocus and decent zoom.
- Lens flaring and washed-out colors in bright sunlight.
- Maximum aperture of F3.5 felt limiting for some users.
- Poor contrast and sharpness, not matching sensor capability.
- Q2 201793/100
Buyers praised the lens as excellent value, highlighting its dust/moisture resistance, compact size, silent fast focus, and OSS. One noted it's a capable kit lens for the a7.
- Excellent value and performance for the price, with high content value.
- Dust and moisture-resistant design, a nice touch for a value lens.
- Compact, light, with silent and fast focusing, plus OSS.
- Versatile but limited aperture; no bokeh, acceptable isolation only under right conditions.
- Q3 201580/100
Buyers praised this kit lens as a solid performer with good image quality, value, and build, though some noted low-light limitations and slight vignetting.
- Good image quality for a kit lens, especially in good light.
- Solid build, compact, and light; good value for money.
- Slow aperture limits low-light use without raising ISO.
- Slight vignetting at 28mm end, though not very noticeable.
Gebaseerd op 95 gedateerde klantreviews, gegroepeerd per kalenderkwartaal. Analyse per periode is in het Engels.
De feiten
Performance
The autofocus is genuinely impressive for a lens at this price point. The linear motor is fast and nearly silent, which matters for video work and for not scaring off whatever you're pointing at. In our database, the AF performance ranks in the 96th percentile, which puts it ahead of lenses costing several times more. Real-world, that means you'll nail focus on moving subjects more often than not, and the tracking while zooming is smooth enough that you won't feel like you're fighting the lens.
Optically, the story is more mixed. The 9-element, 8-group design with 3 aspherical elements and 1 ED element does a solid job in the center of the frame, especially stopped down to f/8 or so. But the corners at 28mm get soft, and that's a recurring theme in user feedback. The optical performance ranks in the 68th percentile, which is about average for this class. The stabilization helps, sitting in the 79th percentile, and it pairs with in-body stabilization on Sony bodies for noticeably steadier handheld shots. Just don't expect prime-lens sharpness across the whole frame.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 28 |
| Focal Length Max | 70 |
| Elements | 9 |
| Groups | 8 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3 |
| ED Elements | 1 |
| Coating | Multi-Layered Coating |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/3.5-5.6 |
| Min Aperture | f/22-36 |
| Constant | No |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
Build
| Mount | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 0.3 kg / 0.6 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 55 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Linear Autofocus Motor |
| Stabilization | Yes |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 300 |
| Max Magnification | 0.19x |
vs Competition
The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD is the most direct competitor, and it's a serious one. You get a constant f/2.8 aperture across a wider range, which solves the low-light and bokeh limitations of the Sony. But you pay for it in size and weight, and the Tamron costs more. If you shoot indoors or want subject separation, the Tamron is the better tool. If you want something light for travel and daylight shooting, the Sony wins.
The Sigma Art 35mm f/1.4 DG DN and Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM are primes, so they're not really the same category, but they're worth mentioning because they solve the two biggest complaints about this Sony: low-light performance and bokeh. The Sigma in particular is a low-light monster with that f/1.4 aperture. The trade-off is obvious though, you lose the zoom range entirely. The Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S and Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 are wide-angle specialists, not everyday zooms, so they're only relevant if you're shooting landscapes or astro.
| Spec | Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 | Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z | Viltrox LAB AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE | Sigma Art 17-40mm f/1.8 DC | Tamron Di III 70-180mm f/2.8 VC VXD G2 | Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 28-70mm | 24-105mm | 35mm | 17-40mm | 70-180mm | 70-200mm |
| Max Aperture | f/3.5-5.6 | f/2.8 | f/1.2 | f/1.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Mount | Sony E | Canon RF | Sony E | Fujifilm X | Sony E | Nikon Z |
| Format Coverage | full-frame | full-frame | full-frame | APS-C | full-frame | full-frame |
| Stabilization | true | true | false | false | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 293 | 1315 | 910 | 535 | 855 | 1430 |
| AF Type | Linear Autofocus Motor | Nano USM | VCM | HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) | VXD | Silent Wave Motor |
| Lens Type | zoom | zoom | prime | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Reach | Video | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Wide Angle | Portability | Versatility | Gebruikersoordeel | Affordability | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 | 95.3 | 27.6 | 95.7 | 49.7 | 55.8 | 85.7 | 63.2 | 27 | 16.4 | 62.3 | 74.4 | 77.1 | 66.8 | 67.2 | 82.9 |
| Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z Compare | 90 | 78.9 | 95.7 | 69 | 73.6 | 87.6 | 97.9 | 44.1 | 81.7 | 74.4 | 10.9 | 91.8 | 88.6 | 8.6 | 96 |
| Viltrox LAB AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE Compare | 95.3 | 69.1 | 91.1 | 46 | 29.8 | 72.4 | 92.4 | 96 | 81.7 | 53.3 | 20.4 | 33.2 | 88.6 | 33.3 | 36.4 |
| Sigma Art 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Compare | 95.3 | 53.8 | 95.7 | 54.7 | 53.2 | 87.6 | 97.2 | 75.3 | 98.7 | 68.5 | 46.6 | 75.9 | 93 | 33.5 | 36.4 |
| Tamron Di III 70-180mm f/2.8 VC VXD G2 Compare | 95.3 | 86.8 | 77.9 | 75.3 | 81.1 | 83.9 | 96.3 | 44.1 | 66.5 | 29.5 | 21.5 | 77.8 | 82.7 | 28.1 | 97.5 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S Compare | 84.1 | 86.8 | 95.7 | 55.5 | 82.8 | 81.6 | 98.6 | 44.1 | 31.7 | 29.5 | 8.9 | 79.3 | 70.8 | 12.8 | 95 |
Prijs
Value & Pricing
Here's where things get interesting. The price spread across US vendors is huge, from USD 215 to USD 470 depending on where you look. That's a USD 255 difference for the same lens, which is more than the lens itself costs at the low end. If you're shopping in the US, the listings at the lower end of that range are an absolute steal. In Canada, the spread is tighter at CAD 528 to CAD 600, a CAD 72 gap that's less dramatic but still worth checking before you buy.
For what you get, the value proposition is strong at the low end of the price range. You're getting best-in-class autofocus, decent stabilization, and weather sealing in a package that weighs less than a can of soup. At USD 215, this is one of the easiest recommendations we can make for a starter full-frame zoom. At USD 470, you're getting closer to territory where you should start looking at alternatives.
Amazon 1 aanbieding Vanaf MX$ 12.228
Price History
Lees meer
Overview
The Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS II is the lens that probably came in the box with your camera, and honestly, that's not a bad thing. It's the everyday zoom that covers the range most people actually use, from wide enough for landscapes to tight enough for portraits. At 293g, it's light enough to forget you're carrying it, which matters more than most spec sheet numbers when you're out shooting all day.
Sony clearly aimed this at the travel and walkaround crowd. The best-for scores back that up: travel comes in at 97.8 out of 100, and wildlife/sports at 93.9. The autofocus is the real story here, ranking in the 96th percentile across our database. That's the kind of performance that keeps up with fast-moving subjects, and Sony says it can even track at 120fps on the a9 III. For a kit lens, that's wild.
But this is still a variable aperture zoom with f/3.5-5.6, and that's the trade-off. You get compact size and a friendly price, but you give up low-light flexibility and creamy bokeh. The aperture performance sits in the 35th percentile, and bokeh is even lower at 31st. If you're shooting in dim rooms or want that blurred background look, this lens will make you work for it.
Common Questions
Q: Is the rattling sound when the lens is off normal?
Yes, that's completely normal. The lens elements are free to move when there's no power, so you'll feel a slight shift if you tilt the lens. Once you mount it and power on the camera, the elements engage and the movement stops. It's not a defect, just how the focus system works.
Q: Does this lens have a manual focus switch?
No, there's no physical AF/MF switch on the lens barrel. You'll need to switch between autofocus and manual focus from the camera body menu. The manual focus is focus-by-wire, meaning the focus ring sends electronic signals rather than mechanically moving the elements, which some users find less tactile than a traditional mechanical focus ring.
Q: Is this lens good for low-light shooting?
Not really. The f/3.5-5.6 aperture is slow, which means you'll need higher ISOs or slower shutter speeds in dim conditions. The optical stabilization helps with handheld shake, but it won't freeze moving subjects in low light. If you shoot indoors or at night regularly, you'd be better served by a prime lens with a faster aperture like f/1.8 or f/1.4.
Q: Will this lens work on APS-C Sony cameras?
Yes, it will mount and work on APS-C E-mount bodies, but the effective focal length becomes 42-105mm due to the crop factor. That's a useful range, but you lose the wide-angle coverage. The lens is designed for full-frame, so on APS-C you're carrying more glass than you need for the field of view you get.
Who Should Skip This
If you shoot portraits, events, or anything indoors, this lens will frustrate you. The portrait score of 56.8/100 is the weakest area by a wide margin, and the slow aperture means you'll be cranking ISO or dealing with motion blur in anything less than bright light. The bokeh is also underwhelming, so you won't get that creamy background separation that makes portraits pop. Look at a fast prime like the Sigma Art 35mm f/1.4 or a constant-aperture zoom like the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 instead.
High-resolution sensor owners should also think twice. Several users report that this lens doesn't fully exploit the detail of bodies like the A7R series, especially in the corners at 28mm. If you spent big money on a 60MP body, pairing it with a kit lens is leaving resolution on the table. You'd be better off with higher-end glass that can actually resolve that sensor.
Verdict
For travel and everyday shooting, this lens is an easy yes. The travel score of 97.8/100 isn't an accident. It's light, the autofocus is excellent, and the 28-70mm range covers almost everything you'll encounter on a trip. Pair it with a Sony body that has good high-ISO performance and you can work around the slow aperture in most situations.
For portraits or low-light work, look elsewhere. The portrait score of 56.8/100 tells the story. The bokeh is mediocre, the aperture is slow, and you'll be fighting the lens to get the look you want. If portraits are your thing, save up for a fast prime or a constant-aperture zoom. This lens is a great starting point, but it's not a replacement for specialized glass.
Usage Scores
- Macro40.1
- Algemeen66.9
- Budget85.7
- Street75.9
- Travel81.1
- Portrait48.5
- Landscape72.6
- Professional63.3
- Video Cinema69.3
- Wildlife Sports53.1
