I have been shooting with Nikon gear for over a decade now, starting way back on the old D7000 and eventually transitioning to the Z6ii when it first dropped, but honestly, Im getting so sick of swapping lenses in the middle of a shoot. I do mostly event work and some street photography around Chicago, and carrying a bag full of primes is killing my back during these 8-hour shifts. I thought picking up the 24-70mm f/4 would be the perfect compact solution, but man, I find myself hitting that f/4 wall way too often when the lighting gets low inside these dark venues. It is just super frustrating when the focus hunts because the aperture isnt fast enough and I end up having to crank my ISO into grain city.
Im looking for something that just stays on the camera 90 percent of the time. My budget is probably around 1500 to 2000 bucks tops, and I really need it before a wedding I have coming up in mid-October. Is it even worth trying to find a decent used 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens, or is that thing just too much of a brick to lug around for an entire day? Maybe I should look at that 24-120mm f/4 instead, even if it is still an f/4? I have heard the sharpness is insane on that one but Im scared I will still have the same low light headaches I have now. I just want one reliable piece of glass that doesnt make me want to quit photography every time I have to change it out in a crowded room. Does anyone actually love their 24-70 f/2.8 or is the weight trade off just not worth it compared to the newer options?
Building on the earlier suggestion, I ditched my f/4 glass for the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S. Yeah, it is a bit heavy, but the trade-off is worth it for the light gathering alone. I stopped missing shots in dark reception halls entirely. If you cant swing the weight, maybe check out the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD if you can find a good adapter setup, but honestly, just stick with the native S-line glass for that wedding.
Like someone mentioned, lugging that heavy gear around is a total drag. If you cant deal with the brick that is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S, maybe look at the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD for Nikon Z.
- It is heavy but versatile enough to replace your whole bag.
- The wider aperture saves me in dark venues constantly.
- It is pricey but worth every penny for event work.
Honestly, I feel your pain. Dragging that much glass around Chicago for 8 hours is a nightmare for your spine. I used the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S for a while, but yeah, that f/4 aperture is just disappointing when you're stuck in a dim venue. You end up with so much noise that it ruins the shot. I really wanted to love the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S, and while it is basically the sharpest lens Nikon makes, it is definitely a brick. I had issues with the weight distribution after a long wedding day; my wrist was killing me by the time the reception started. It's technically perfect but not exactly fun to lug around. If you want my honest take, skip the 24-120mm because you'll still be fighting that f/4 wall. Instead, look for a clean used copy of the 2.8 zoom. It fits your budget if you hunt around on MPB or Keh, and the extra stop of light is a total lifesaver. If that's still too heavy, just grab the Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S and keep it in your pocket. It's super light, sharp as heck, and will save you when the light drops. Just bite the bullet on the weight of the zoom or you'll regret the grain, trust me.