Together with the a7 V camera, Sony announced the FE 28–70mm f/3.5–5.6 OSS II lens, a revision of its long-running standard zoom, introduced more than a decade after the original version that launched alongside the first A7 and A7R bodies. The new lens maintains the same optical structure—nine elements in eight groups, including one ED element and three aspherical elements—but incorporates updated drive technology and improved operational behavior intended to align it with the performance of current high-speed cameras.

The most significant change is the introduction of a linear autofocus motor, replacing the older focus mechanism used in the first version. This update allows the lens to support autofocus and auto-exposure tracking at up to 120 frames per second, a rate required by bodies such as the Alpha 7 V and Alpha 9-series cameras. Autofocus remains active during zooming, which is essential for continuous shooting and for video applications where focal length changes must not interrupt focus. Sony has also added compatibility with breathing-compensation functions on recent camera models, reducing angle-of-view shifts during focus transitions.

Despite the internal changes, the lens remains physically consistent with its predecessor. It weighs 293 g and measures approximately 83 mm in length, keeping it significantly smaller and lighter than faster standard zooms such as 24–70 mm f/2.8 designs. The filter diameter remains 55 mm. Sony continues to provide basic weather-resistant sealing and applies a fluorine coating to the front element to limit the effects of moisture and oil. Optical SteadyShot stabilization is still integrated, offering coordinated correction when paired with cameras that include in-body stabilization.