Finally made the jump to a Z6ii and Im feeling super overwhelmed by the lens choices. I travel a lot for work and really need one do-it-all lens so I dont have to carry a heavy bag through airports. Im currently debating between the Z 24-120mm f/4 S and the 24-200mm. The 24-120 seems sharper and better for low light which is nice since I shoot street stuff at night, but the extra zoom on the 24-200 is tempting for when Im hiking. My budget is around 1200 bucks. Which one would you guys grab if you were stuck on one lens for everything?
Honestly, if you are traveling for work, the weight savings of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR are tempting but you lose so much character. I have lugged both around over the years and the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S is just miles ahead in terms of optical fidelity. The S-line glass is basically built for the Z6ii sensor. When you are doing street work at night, that constant aperture is a lifesaver. You dont want to be fiddling with your ISO constantly because the aperture is creeping up to f/6.3 the second you zoom in. It gets super annoying real fast. Just grab the 24-120 and do some cropping if you need that extra reach. It is sharp enough to handle it without any issues at all.
To add to the point above: the constant f/4 aperture on the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S is vital for consistent exposure settings. If you use the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR, the variable aperture will force your ISO up during zoom, creating noise. Stick with the S-line lens for better MTF charts and corner sharpness. TL;DR: Sharpness wins over reach here. Just be careful with dust since it extends.
Honestly, grab the 24-120. I use it on my Z6ii all the time and honestly dont miss the extra zoom range at all. The constant aperture is just way more useful for street stuff at night.
- Sharper images overall
- Much better build quality
- Handles low light like a champ You really wont regret it once you see the files coming off your sensor.