I am so sick of looking at charts and reviews online honestly everything just contradicts itself at this point. I finally upgraded to a Z6ii for my trip to Iceland next month and I need one lens that can just stay on the camera the whole time because I am NOT changing lenses in that wind and grit.
I am basically torn between three options right now:
- the 24-70mm f/4 S (I can get this pretty cheap used)
- the 24-120mm f/4 S (everyone says this is the gold standard but it is really pushing my budget)
- the 24-200mm f/4-6.3 (worried about the image quality and it being too slow)
My budget is strictly under $1100 because the flight to Reykjavik already killed my savings and I need something that isnt gonna break my back while hiking for hours. The 24-120 seems like the winner for the extra reach but then I see people saying the 24-70 is just as sharp for half the price. I just want one lens that does landscapes but can also take decent shots of my family while we are out. If I go with the 24-120 am I actually getting $600 more value than the used 24-70 or am I just overthinking this? I really need to pull the trigger this week so it gets here in time to practice...
Honestly, Iceland is a beast and you are totally right about not wanting to swap lenses in that grit. I have been shooting Nikon for years and I've tried just about every Z lens they have put out so far. When you are hiking for hours, weight matters, but so does that reach when you see a puffin or a waterfall way off in the distance. Over the years, I have learned that having just a bit more zoom saves so many shots. Here is how I see your options based on my time with them:
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S: Super sharp and tiny. I love how it collapses, but 70mm feels really short for landscapes where you want to isolate a mountain peak. It is a bargain tho.
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S: This is the absolute sweet spot. In my experience, the image quality is basically identical to the 24-70 but that extra zoom range is a total lifesaver. It stays on my camera about 90% of the time.
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR: Decent travel lens, but it gets dark pretty fast as you zoom. Iceland weather is usually moody and gray, so you will really want that constant f/4. Is the 24-120 worth the extra cash? Tbh, yeah. If you buy a used one or find a sale, you can definitely stay under your $1100 limit. It handles the family shots perfectly too because of the nice compression at the long end. Just grab it and dont look back... you wont regret it when you are standing in the rain at Skogafoss and dont have to fumble with a bag.
