Ive been using my Nikon Z6 for about a year now mostly with the 50mm prime but I'm honestly just tired of missing shots because I cant zoom in fast enough or I'm stuck in a tight space. I really need a solid everyday zoom but I'm torn between a few options. I did some digging and the 24-70mm f/4 S seems like the obvious choice because its so tiny and cheap on the used market right now. But then I see everyone on YouTube saying the 24-120mm f/4 S is the ultimate one-lens solution and basically stays on their camera 90 percent of the time.
My main issue is that the 24-120 is way more expensive and I'm worried it might feel too front-heavy on the Z6 body since it doesnt have a huge grip. I'm planning a trip to the Olympic Peninsula next month and I dont want to be miserable carrying a brick around my neck all day while hiking but I also dont want to regret not having that extra reach for wildlife or compressed landscape shots.
Here is what I am looking for:
- Budget: Trying to stay under $900-ish (totally fine with used gear)
- Weight: Needs to be manageable for 5+ mile hikes
- Quality: Sharp enough for some decent sized landscape prints
- Range: Must start at 24mm because I love wide shots
I also saw some mention of the 24-200mm superzoom but I heard the image quality drops off a lot at the long end and the aperture gets really slow really fast which scares me for low light stuff. Is the 24-120 actually worth the extra bulk and cost over the basic kit lens for a hobbyist like me? Or should I just get the cheap 24-70 and maybe a longer prime later...
In my experience, buying the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S used leaves plenty of budget for a prime later. Keep it on a Peak Design Capture Clip to ease hiking fatigue.
I had the exact same choice to make and went with the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S used. I've been super satisfied with it on my Z6. Honestly, the weight isn't bad at all for day hikes, and I have zero complaints about the sharpness. That extra reach is totally worth the price bump over the 24-70. It just works well for everything.
^ This. Also, if you look at the actual specs, the 24-120 is only about 130 grams heavier than the 24-70 f/4. It sounds like a lot on paper, but in hand on a Z6, you honestly barely feel the difference because the balance is actually really good. I have done several 8-mile hikes with that setup on a backpack strap clip and had zero shoulder strain. The constant f/4 is huge too when you are shooting in deep forest cover on the Olympic Peninsula. If you buy used, you can find it close to your budget and it holds its value way better than the basic kit. You wont regret having the extra reach.
