So I finally pulled the trigger on a Z6ii for my trip to Tokyo next month and I'm totally stuck on what lens to stick on it. I spent hours reading reviews and everyone keeps bringing up the 24-120mm f/4 S because it's supposedly pro glass but then I see people swearing by the 24-200mm for travel since it's an all-in-one deal. My budget is about $1100 and I really want something that can handle everything from landscape to street shots at night without being too heavy.
Is the f/4 on the 120mm actually worth losing that extra reach or am I gonna regret not having the 200mm when I'm out there?
Honestly, I've used both over the last few years and the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S is just a different league of glass. Since you're heading to Tokyo, you're gonna want that constant aperture for Shinjuku neon or narrow alleys after dark. The Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR is handy for pure convenience, sure, but f/6.3 at the long end is a real pain when the light drops. Here is why the 120mm wins out:
- Constant f/4 is a life saver for low light compared to the variable aperture on the superzoom.
- The S-line coating handles flare and ghosting way better, which matters for city lights.
- Much sharper corners, which you'll appreciate for those landscape shots. Dont worry about the reach. You can always crop in a bit on a Z6ii if you really need to, but you cant fix a blurry shot from a slow lens. The 24-120mm is the better investment for Tokyo, hands down.
