I’m trying to pick a 24-70mm zoom for my Nikon Z setup (mostly shooting travel and family stuff, plus some casual portraits), and I’m getting lost between the Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S, the Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S, and third-party options like Tamron/Sigma (with an adapter if needed). I’d love sharpness and good autofocus, but I also care about size/weight since it’ll live on the camera a lot. Budget is flexible, but I don’t want to overpay if the real-world difference is small. For a Z6/Z7-style body, which 24-70mm is actually the best overall choice and why?
@Reply #6 - good point! The weight factor is a massive deal, but I am honestly a bit disappointed with the current market prices for the high-end native glass. If youre looking at this from a technical budget perspective, there is a way to save a ton of cash. Unfortunately, many people overspend on the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S when they could get 90% of the performance elsewhere. I had issues with the weight of adapted F-mount glass and the older AF motors just arent as good as expected for candid family stuff. They hunt way too much. Tbh, the smart move is to hunt for a used Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S. Since it was the kit lens for years, the market is flooded and you can grab them for a steal. Technically, the MTF charts show its basically flawless at f/5.6. If you really need the light gathering, check the Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8. Its way more budget-friendly than the S-line 2.8. The corner sharpness wide open is a bit of a letdown compared to the pro version, but for travel and family, you wont even notice. Let me know if you want the specific sharpness data, happy to help you compare the numbers.
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Noted!
This ^
