Best Telephoto Lenses
Top telephoto lenses ranked by transparent trust scores.
8 products ranked
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Top Pick
9.4
Excellent
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II
Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
#1
9.4
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Fastest AF in 70-200mm class
- Dramatically lighter than predecessor
- Exceptional sharpness throughout range
Cons
- Premium price point
- Extends when zooming to 200mm
Don't buy this if…
- The extending barrel design means the lens changes length significantly when zooming, which may affect gimbal balance.
#2
9.2
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #2 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Incredible 100-500mm zoom range
- Excellent 6-stop image stabilization
- Professional L-series weather sealing
Cons
- Variable aperture darkens at 500mm
- Heavy at 1370g
Don't buy this if…
- At 500mm f/7.1, the slow aperture demands good light or high ISO—it struggles in overcast or shaded conditions.
#3
9.0
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #3 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- S-line optical quality
- 5.5-stop VR stabilization
- Impressive 0.38x macro capability
Cons
- Not internally zooming
- Slower max aperture than f/2.8 options
Don't buy this if…
- Compatible with Z TC-1.4x and TC-2.0x teleconverters but loses AF speed and maximum aperture with each.
#4
8.7
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #4 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Exceptional reach at 600mm
- Strong value vs first-party options
- Weather-sealed construction
Cons
- Heavy at 2100g
- Variable aperture limits low-light use
Don't buy this if…
- At 2100g plus camera body weight, extended handheld shooting is physically demanding—a monopod is strongly recommended.
#5
8.5
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #5 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Extraordinary 800mm reach
- Relatively affordable for super-tele
- Built-in 5.5-stop IS
Cons
- Very slow f/9 aperture at 800mm
- No teleconverter compatibility
Don't buy this if…
- At 800mm f/9, the viewfinder can appear dark and AF performance degrades significantly in anything less than bright daylight.
#6
8.3
Good
Consensus
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Ranked #6 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Internal zoom maintains balance
- Teleconverter compatible up to 1200mm
- G-series optical performance
Cons
- Heavy at 2115g
- Slow autofocus with teleconverter
Don't buy this if…
- The internal zoom design makes this lens physically large at all focal lengths, requiring a large camera bag.
#7
8.1
Good
Consensus
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Ranked #7 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Extremely lightweight at 545g
- Affordable telephoto reach
- Common 67mm filter thread
Cons
- Slow variable aperture
- Some softness at 300mm wide open
Don't buy this if…
- Image quality degrades noticeably at 300mm wide open—stopping down to f/8 is recommended for best sharpness.
#8
7.9
Good
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #8 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Class-leading optical sharpness
- Beautiful portrait bokeh
- Premium S-line build quality
Cons
- Heavy at 1360g
- Extends when zooming
Don't buy this if…
- The extending barrel design means the lens is not internally zooming, which affects weather sealing at full extension.
Quick Comparison
How We Rank
Composite trust score from expert reviews, user sentiment, complaint analysis, and value assessment.
Trust Score
Weighted composite of all factor scores
Expert Score
Aggregated expert review ratings
User Sentiment
Community votes and review analysis
Value Score
Price-to-performance ratio
Freshness
Recency of reviews and data
Change Log
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