Buying advice request: Sony 50-150 or 70-200 f2.8?
p.2 #1Buying advice request: Sony 50-150 or 70-200 f2.8?
Loving the 50-150. Recent acquisition - nothing amazing to share unfortunately. Suffice to say it delivers.
For me it's an adjunct to, not a replacement for the 70-200GM II 2.8. That one is indispensable to me as a travel lens along with the 2x TC. I wouldn't bring the 50-150 as a vacation lens unless I had some specific people shooting / speedy midrange plans for it.
Will be selling the 135 1.8 and Tamron 35-150 to offset the addition of the 50-150. The Tamron is great for events but I like having something wider than 35 without changing lenses so I'd always having something wider than the Tamron mounted up anyway.
The 50-150 is a better tool for that job (for me at least)
The OP stated that budget considerations weren't exactly paramount and I got the impression that going longer wasn't a big priority so the 50-150 would be a rather elegant solution.
For me it's an adjunct to, not a replacement for the 70-200GM II 2.8. That one is indispensable to me as a travel lens along with the 2x TC. I wouldn't bring the 50-150 as a vacation lens unless I had some specific people shooting / speedy midrange plans for it.
Will be selling the 135 1.8 and Tamron 35-150 to offset the addition of the 50-150. The Tamron is great for events but I like having something wider than 35 without changing lenses so I'd always having something wider than the Tamron mounted up anyway.
The 50-150 is a better tool for that job (for me at least)
The OP stated that budget considerations weren't exactly paramount and I got the impression that going longer wasn't a big priority so the 50-150 would be a rather elegant solution.
Mar 24, 2026 at 07:51 PM
p.2 #2Buying advice request: Sony 50-150 or 70-200 f2.8?
If I were shooting events with the Zony 24-70/2.8 and the Mony 70-200/2.8 SSM, the 70-200 isn't the first lens I'd look to upgrade. The 24-70GMII will save you some weight and bulk, and is a significantly better all-arounder. I know the Vario-Sonnar has its charms, but it is a tank. To me, the 24-70's the critical lens that does most of the heavy lifting in those situations, so that's where my focus would be.
Mar 24, 2026 at 10:58 PM
p.2 #3Buying advice request: Sony 50-150 or 70-200 f2.8?
tsdevine wrote:
B&H prices as of 3/24/2026 (chooses the cheapest of the options I believe you were proposing)
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens - $3,148 (or were you thinking the original GM?)
Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 FE Lens - $549
Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE Lens - $599 (currently $200 off)
Total - $4298
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3948 (currently a $50 rebate when registering)
Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter - $598 (was that the half? I left that out of the comparison)
Where am I going wrong here?
I said "new or used" and you can easily find the 70-200 GM II in the used for <$2500 and the TC for $500.
jeffbuzz wrote
The 50-150 f/2 use cases seem quite limited to me. Indoor, large venue events would seem to be one of those few legitimate situations. So that might make sense for you. However . . . I still feel like most people would be better served by a Sony 70-200 f/2.8 + 1.4x TC along with Viltrox or Samyang 50 f/1.4 and 135 f/1.8. That entire 3-1/2 lens kit can be put together new or used for less than the price of the 50-150 alone.Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens - $3,148 (or were you thinking the original GM?)
Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 FE Lens - $549
Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE Lens - $599 (currently $200 off)
Total - $4298
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3948 (currently a $50 rebate when registering)
Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter - $598 (was that the half? I left that out of the comparison)
Where am I going wrong here?
I said "new or used" and you can easily find the 70-200 GM II in the used for <$2500 and the TC for $500.
Mar 24, 2026 at 11:44 PM
p.2 #4Buying advice request: Sony 50-150 or 70-200 f2.8?
tsdevine wrote:
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3948 (currently a $50 rebate when registering)
Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter - $598 (was that the half? I left that out of the comparison)
Where am I going wrong here?
There is no ability to use TC with 50-150, why did you count it?
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3948 (currently a $50 rebate when registering)
Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter - $598 (was that the half? I left that out of the comparison)
Where am I going wrong here?
There is no ability to use TC with 50-150, why did you count it?
Mar 25, 2026 at 12:15 AM
p.2 #5Buying advice request: Sony 50-150 or 70-200 f2.8?
I said I didn’t count it, listed it separately from the total. And the person I replied to said 3 1/2 lenses…so I was confused too. But the tally I showed didn’t include the TC.
q-w-z wrote:
Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter - $598 (was that the half? I left that out of the comparison)
Where am I going wrong here?There is no ability to use TC with 50-150, why did you count it?
Edited on Mar 25, 2026 at 05:28 AM · View previous versions
q-w-z wrote:
tsdevine wrote
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3948 (currently a $50 rebate when registering)Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter - $598 (was that the half? I left that out of the comparison)
Where am I going wrong here?
Edited on Mar 25, 2026 at 05:28 AM · View previous versions
Mar 25, 2026 at 05:11 AM
p.2 #6Buying advice request: Sony 50-150 or 70-200 f2.8?
tsdevine wrote:
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3948
The 50-150 is €4399 or $5100 here
On the used market it's €4000 or $4640.
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3948
The 50-150 is €4399 or $5100 here
On the used market it's €4000 or $4640.
Mar 25, 2026 at 05:20 AM
p.2 #7Buying advice request: Sony 50-150 or 70-200 f2.8?
That is definitely worth crying about. 
Alan Parker wrote:
The 50-150 is €4399 or $5100 here
On the used market it's €4000 or $4640.
Alan Parker wrote:
tsdevine wrote
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3948 On the used market it's €4000 or $4640.
Mar 25, 2026 at 05:27 AM
p.2 #8Buying advice request: Sony 50-150 or 70-200 f2.8?
jeffbuzz wrote:
B&H prices as of 3/24/2026 (chooses the cheapest of the options I believe you were proposing)
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens - $3,148 (or were you thinking the original GM?)
Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 FE Lens - $549
Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE Lens - $599 (currently $200 off)
Total - $4298
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3948 (currently a $50 rebate when registering)
Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter - $598 (was that the half? I left that out of the comparison)
Where am I going wrong here?I said "new or used" and you can easily find the 70-200 GM II in the used for <$2500 and the TC for $500.
Ah. I took new or used as new.....or used. Buying used will generally save you money.....and if you buy a more beat up one, it will save you even more money than one that is in good shape.
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens - ~$2400 used (maybe less...maybe more)
Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 FE Lens - $549 new
Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE Lens - $599 new (currently $200 off)
Total: $3548
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3300 used (https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1925364/0)
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3475 used (https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1936509/0)
So I guess you buy the Viltrox/Samyang lenses used, since they would definitely bring the price down as I suspect they don't hold their value as well as the Sony's do. So yes, if you buy everything used, it will be less than the 50-150mm used, mostly due to the 50-150mm being pretty new and probably holding its value a bit better.
tsdevine wrote
jeffbuzz wrote
The 50-150 f/2 use cases seem quite limited to me. Indoor, large venue events would seem to be one of those few legitimate situations. So that might make sense for you. However . . . I still feel like most people would be better served by a Sony 70-200 f/2.8 + 1.4x TC along with Viltrox or Samyang 50 f/1.4 and 135 f/1.8. That entire 3-1/2 lens kit can be put together new or used for less than the price of the 50-150 alone.Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens - $3,148 (or were you thinking the original GM?)
Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 FE Lens - $549
Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE Lens - $599 (currently $200 off)
Total - $4298
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3948 (currently a $50 rebate when registering)
Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter - $598 (was that the half? I left that out of the comparison)
Where am I going wrong here?
Ah. I took new or used as new.....or used. Buying used will generally save you money.....and if you buy a more beat up one, it will save you even more money than one that is in good shape.
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens - ~$2400 used (maybe less...maybe more)
Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 FE Lens - $549 new
Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE Lens - $599 new (currently $200 off)
Total: $3548
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3300 used (https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1925364/0)
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3475 used (https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1936509/0)
So I guess you buy the Viltrox/Samyang lenses used, since they would definitely bring the price down as I suspect they don't hold their value as well as the Sony's do. So yes, if you buy everything used, it will be less than the 50-150mm used, mostly due to the 50-150mm being pretty new and probably holding its value a bit better.
Mar 25, 2026 at 05:35 AM
p.2 #9Buying advice request: Sony 50-150 or 70-200 f2.8?
q-w-z wrote:
Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter - $598 (was that the half? I left that out of the comparison)
Where am I going wrong here?There is no ability to use TC with 50-150, why did you count it?
Nice selective quoting by the way, gives a totally different impression than my actual post.
tsdevine wrote
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3948 (currently a $50 rebate when registering)Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter - $598 (was that the half? I left that out of the comparison)
Where am I going wrong here?
Nice selective quoting by the way, gives a totally different impression than my actual post.
Mar 25, 2026 at 05:41 AM
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p.2 #10Buying advice request: Sony 50-150 or 70-200 f2.8?
Alan Parker wrote:
The 50-150 is €4399 or $5100 here
On the used market it's €4000 or $4640.
Yeah, but imports are more reasonably (~3k €) priced luckily
...
tsdevine wrote
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3948 On the used market it's €4000 or $4640.
Yeah, but imports are more reasonably (~3k €) priced luckily
...Mar 25, 2026 at 05:45 AM
p.2 #11Buying advice request: Sony 50-150 or 70-200 f2.8?
tsdevine wrote:
B&H prices as of 3/24/2026 (choosing the cheapest of the options I believe you were proposing)
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens - $3,148 (or were you thinking the original GM?)
Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 FE Lens - $549
Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE Lens - $599 (currently $200 off)
Total - $4298
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3948 (currently a $50 rebate when registering)
Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter - $598 (was that the half? I left that out of the comparison)
Where am I going wrong here?
Sorry for interrupting your inner voice but that unselective quote can supposedly be read only following way (top to bottom):
Bottom line for 70-200 + 1.4/50 + 1.8/135 VS 50-150 + TC1.4x...
jeffbuzz wrote
The 50-150 f/2 use cases seem quite limited to me. Indoor, large venue events would seem to be one of those few legitimate situations. So that might make sense for you. However . . . I still feel like most people would be better served by a Sony 70-200 f/2.8 + 1.4x TC along with Viltrox or Samyang 50 f/1.4 and 135 f/1.8. That entire 3-1/2 lens kit can be put together new or used for less than the price of the 50-150 alone.Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens - $3,148 (or were you thinking the original GM?)
Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 FE Lens - $549
Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE Lens - $599 (currently $200 off)
Total - $4298
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3948 (currently a $50 rebate when registering)
Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter - $598 (was that the half? I left that out of the comparison)
Where am I going wrong here?
Sorry for interrupting your inner voice but that unselective quote can supposedly be read only following way (top to bottom):
Bottom line for 70-200 + 1.4/50 + 1.8/135 VS 50-150 + TC1.4x...
Mar 25, 2026 at 12:58 PM
p.2 #12Buying advice request: Sony 50-150 or 70-200 f2.8?
q-w-z wrote:
B&H prices as of 3/24/2026 (choosing the cheapest of the options I believe you were proposing)
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens - $3,148 (or were you thinking the original GM?)
Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 FE Lens - $549
Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE Lens - $599 (currently $200 off)
Total - $4298
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3948 (currently a $50 rebate when registering)
Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter - $598 (was that the half? I left that out of the comparison)
Where am I going wrong here?Sorry for interrupting your inner voice but that unselective quote can supposedly be read only following way (top to bottom):
Bottom line for 70-200 + 1.4/50 + 1.8/135 VS 50-150 + TC1.4x...
It's okay.... I just tried to be careful to separate out the TC, since that didn't make sense to me either in the comparison, but the person I was replying to had 3 1/2 lenses and included it. I was careful to not include it in the total. I showed the multi-lens total, then the 50-150mm total...and then below mentioned the cost of the TC. But I definitely agree with you, it doesn't really make sense in the comparison being proposed.
tsdevine wrote
jeffbuzz wrote
The 50-150 f/2 use cases seem quite limited to me. Indoor, large venue events would seem to be one of those few legitimate situations. So that might make sense for you. However . . . I still feel like most people would be better served by a Sony 70-200 f/2.8 + 1.4x TC along with Viltrox or Samyang 50 f/1.4 and 135 f/1.8. That entire 3-1/2 lens kit can be put together new or used for less than the price of the 50-150 alone.Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens - $3,148 (or were you thinking the original GM?)
Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 FE Lens - $549
Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE Lens - $599 (currently $200 off)
Total - $4298
Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM Lens - $3948 (currently a $50 rebate when registering)
Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter - $598 (was that the half? I left that out of the comparison)
Where am I going wrong here?
Bottom line for 70-200 + 1.4/50 + 1.8/135 VS 50-150 + TC1.4x...
It's okay.... I just tried to be careful to separate out the TC, since that didn't make sense to me either in the comparison, but the person I was replying to had 3 1/2 lenses and included it. I was careful to not include it in the total. I showed the multi-lens total, then the 50-150mm total...and then below mentioned the cost of the TC. But I definitely agree with you, it doesn't really make sense in the comparison being proposed.
Mar 25, 2026 at 01:12 PM
p.2 #13Buying advice request: Sony 50-150 or 70-200 f2.8?
Newenglandrocks wrote:
If your primary purpose is to shoot events, have you looked at the Tamron 35-150? I shoot 4-5 non-profit events per year, and used to carry a 24-70 in addition to the 70-200 with two bodies. With the Tamron, I can just use one body. You’re not on a high FPS body, and shooting relatively static subjects, so the Tamron might do the trick for you.
I did look into the 50-150, but the starting focal length of 50mm was a no-go for tight spaces for me personally.
100% this
I am a wedding photographer and this is my go-to lens. Near prime quality
If your primary purpose is to shoot events, have you looked at the Tamron 35-150? I shoot 4-5 non-profit events per year, and used to carry a 24-70 in addition to the 70-200 with two bodies. With the Tamron, I can just use one body. You’re not on a high FPS body, and shooting relatively static subjects, so the Tamron might do the trick for you.
I did look into the 50-150, but the starting focal length of 50mm was a no-go for tight spaces for me personally.
100% this
I am a wedding photographer and this is my go-to lens. Near prime quality
Mar 25, 2026 at 01:40 PM
p.2 #14Buying advice request: Sony 50-150 or 70-200 f2.8?
This thread definitely peaked my interest in the FE 50-150/2 GM. So I did some research and was surprised mostly by the weight of the lens. At 1340 grams it’s actually lighter than the original Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM which is 1480 grams. I used to own that lens before upgrading to the GM II.
Price wise it looks like it may come to an about even swap, give or take ~$300 for the Sony FE 70-200/2.8 GM II + FE 135mm f/1.8 GM + FE 50mm f/1.4 GM using a conservative Excellent rating on MPB.com just as a start. Weight wise it slightly less than carrying the 70-200/2.8 GMII + 50/1.4 GM which I often do.
Will have to think on this and other combinations some more for sure.
Price wise it looks like it may come to an about even swap, give or take ~$300 for the Sony FE 70-200/2.8 GM II + FE 135mm f/1.8 GM + FE 50mm f/1.4 GM using a conservative Excellent rating on MPB.com just as a start. Weight wise it slightly less than carrying the 70-200/2.8 GMII + 50/1.4 GM which I often do.
Will have to think on this and other combinations some more for sure.
Mar 25, 2026 at 03:12 PM
p.2 #15Buying advice request: Sony 50-150 or 70-200 f2.8?
It's okay.... I just tried to be careful to separate out the TC, since that didn't make sense to me either in the comparison, but the person I was replying to had 3 1/2 lenses and included it. I was careful to not include it in the total. I showed the multi-lens total, then the 50-150mm total...and then below mentioned the cost of the TC. But I definitely agree with you, it doesn't really make sense in the comparison being proposed.
I apologise too for a little too energy in the answer.
I apologise too for a little too energy in the answer.
Mar 26, 2026 at 12:49 AM
p.2 #16Buying advice request: Sony 50-150 or 70-200 f2.8?
q-w-z wrote:
I apologise too for a little too energy in the answer.
No worries, sorry my response was so strong as well.
Earlier quote
It's okay.... I just tried to be careful to separate out the TC, since that didn't make sense to me either in the comparison, but the person I was replying to had 3 1/2 lenses and included it. I was careful to not include it in the total. I showed the multi-lens total, then the 50-150mm total...and then below mentioned the cost of the TC. But I definitely agree with you, it doesn't really make sense in the comparison being proposed.No worries, sorry my response was so strong as well.
Mar 26, 2026 at 08:53 AM
p.2 #17Buying advice request: Sony 50-150 or 70-200 f2.8?
The Sony 70-200 2.8 II is the best 70-200 I've ever used. When I picked it up for the first time I wasn't convinced it was a real lens lol. It's so light it's almost concerning.
Samyang coming out with a 28 - 135 this year hopefully as well. Something to consider.
Samyang coming out with a 28 - 135 this year hopefully as well. Something to consider.
Mar 26, 2026 at 09:40 AM