I just picked up a Z6ii a few months ago after finally ditching my old DSLR and I'm honestly kind of overwhelmed by the glass options. I'm heading to Italy this summer for two weeks and I really don't want to be swapping lenses while I'm trying to eat pasta and see the sights. I've been doing a lot of reading and everyone seems to rave about the 24-120mm f/4 S as the ultimate travel lens because of that extra reach but then I see people swearing by the 24-70mm f/2.8 S for the better bokeh and low light stuff. My budget is capped at about $1300 so the 2.8 is probably out of reach unless I find a crazy used deal which makes me nervous anyway. I'm worried the f/4 is gonna struggle when I'm inside those old dimly lit cathedrals or walking around at night. Then there's the 24-200mm which is cheaper but is it actually sharp enough? I just want one lens that stays on my camera 90% of the time for landscapes and street shots without feeling like I'm carrying a brick. Is the 24-120 really the gold standard for a do-it-all Z lens or am I missing a better middle ground somewhere?
Like someone mentioned, the IBIS makes those slower apertures a non-issue. If you want to save money and weight, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR is actually sharp enough for travel.
- weighs way less than the 24-120
- fits your budget easily
- massive zoom range I'd pair it with a Nikon NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 for dark churches and keep it simple. You wont regret having the extra reach outdoors tho.
Seen this come up a lot lately. In my experience, people worry way too much about f/4 being slow on mirrorless. The IBIS on your Z6ii is legit and lets you handhold slower shutter speeds than your old DSLR ever could... basically makes f/4 totally usable in cathedrals. If you're dead set on f/2.8 but cant swing the Nikon S-line price tag, look at these:
- The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 for Nikon Z is a fantastic alternative that hits your budget and stays sharp.
- Grab the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S and maybe add a cheap Nikon NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 for the evening.
- Stay away from the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR if you care about edge sharpness. Honestly weight matters more than you think when you're walking all day. That Tamron gives you the speed without the brick feeling of the Nikon 2.8. You'll lose a bit of the wide end tho, which is kinda annoying for narrow streets, but it is a solid middle ground.
In my experience shooting all over the world, that extra focal length is way more valuable than a faster aperture for travel. I've tried many lenses and the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S is the most reliable piece of glass I've owned... it just doesnt fail you. Dont worry about the f/4 in churches because your Z6ii has incredible high ISO performance. Honestly, just let the camera bump the ISO and you wont even notice the noise. My main tip for Italy is to trust the in-body stabilization for slow shutter speeds in those dimly lit spots. Its solid. If you really want a safety net, maybe grab the Nikon NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 for night walks since its tiny and cheap. But seriously, the 24-120 is the one.
Saving this whole thread. So much good info here you guys are awesome.
Like someone mentioned, having one reliable lens is definitely the safest way to go for a big trip. In my experience over the years, I have found that keeping your setup minimal is less about the weight and more about security. Honestly, when I went to Italy, I spent more time worrying about my bag than my focal length. I ended up spending my entire weekend before the flight doing some DIY reinforcements on my camera strap. I did not trust the thin factory connectors, so I actually used some high-tensile steel fishing leader and crimps to make my own tether system. It looked a bit industrial, but I knew nobody was gonna snip that thing while I was distracted by a plate of carbonara. I even went as far as sewing some extra heavy-duty canvas patches over the brand logos so the bag looked like a pile of laundry instead of a thousand dollars worth of tech. It took me hours and I think I broke three needles on my old sewing machine trying to get through the padding. My wife thought I was being paranoid but you can never be too careful with gear these days. Anyway lol sorry kinda went off topic there.
saw this earlier but just getting back to it now. honestly you might want to consider the safety side of things too before you get too hung up on the f-stops. i went through a similar panic before my last big trip and spent way too much time obsessing over the perfect setup and then realized the logistics were way more stressful. i learned a few things the hard way:
- carrying a big expensive-looking lens makes you a massive target for pickpockets in Rome.
- i actually got so paranoid that i barely took the camera out of the bag in the crowded spots.
- my pro looking strap was basically a neon sign saying rob me while i was on the metro. ended up getting way more obsessed with finding this one specific leather shop in Florence than actually shooting the cathedrals... spent three hours wandering through alleys just to find a belt lol. i think i used my phone for half the trip anyway because i was just too stressed about the gear. be careful with those crowds near the fountains tho, they're intense. but yeah.
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