Prepping for a month in Japan and need one lens for my Z6ii. I read the 24-120mm is the GOAT for travel but then some say f/4 is way too slow for Tokyo at night. My budgets around $1200 so I'm stuck between reach or speed. What's the actual best all-around lens?
Unfortunately, i had issues with the f/4 when i was in Shinjuku last fall. It just didnt cut it for those neon night vibes... i kept wishing for more light. Tbh, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 might be a better move for your budget if you want that extra stop. Its not as sharp as the S-line glass but works. Quick tip: dont be afraid to push ISO to 6400 on the Z6ii if you stay at f/4!
Honestly, you absolutely have to go with the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S! It was my main glass in Kyoto and Osaka last year and it literally never left my camera body. Total game changer! People get so caught up in the f/4 vs f/2.8 debate for night shots but seriously, the Z6ii sensor is an absolute beast in low light. Pushing your ISO to 6400 or even 12800 is totally fine because the grain looks super filmic and nice, not muddy at all. Plus, Tokyo is bright. All those neon signs in Shinjuku and Shibuya provide way more ambient light than you would ever expect. Quick tip for the night stuff: trust the IBIS on your Z6ii. Handheld shots at 1/10th of a second come out tack sharp even at f/4. The extra reach you get at 120mm is so much more valuable for compression and picking out cool details in the architecture than that one extra stop of light you get from a shorter zoom. If you are really worried about speed, just grab a tiny Nikon NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 as a just in case backup. It literally fits in a jacket pocket! But for your main lens, that 24-120mm is amazing and the sharpness is just mind-blowing. You are gonna love Japan, it is the most photogenic place on earth!
Late to the party but this whole thread is 💯. Glad I found it.
