Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120/4 S Lens (24-120mm f/4)

Overall Rating:

This lens is 3 years old and made in Thailand. It has four aspherical elements (one ED) and four ED elements (one aspherical). It's a very modern lens designed for today's high resolution sensors. This is an S line lens which means it gets Nikon's weather sealing to protect it against the elements. It also indicates superior optics. It features a stepper autofocus motor which is silent for video usage. It is a varifocal zoom in that it changes focus as it is zoomed. This lens was originally on the Nikon Lens Roadmap as a 24-105mm/2.8-4. Oh, Nikon. It came as a great surprise when introduced as a 5× zoom. The Z 24-120/4 debuted at a price of $1100 (USD), and was introduced when 45MP cameras were modern.

For some photographers, the Nikkor Z 24-200/4-6.3 VR may be a better choice because of its extra reach, lower price, lower weight and smaller size.

Performance

There is almost no color fringing particularly in the center. There is some vignetting to be found wide open, and is nearly gone by f/5.6. Some light distortion is present, which is not unexpected for a 5× "normal" zoom.

Color fringing detail at 3-to-1.

The autofocus is zippy and dead silent. It is a good choice for video w/on-camera mic.

SHARPNESS: Lens is sharpest at its normal focal lengths around f=35mm to f=50mm. From f=28mm to f=70mm, it is great. At f=120mm/4, there is some slightly noticeable softening. Use f/6.3-f/7.1 for maximum sharpness.

This lens performs very similarly to the Nikkor Z 24-70/4 S at the same focal lengths. Both are S-line lenses.

To be certain, this lens mops the floor with its predecessor, the F-mount Nikkor AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens.

This lens has a very decent maximum reproduction ratio of 1:2.6. So this lens focuses very closely at f=120mm for nice shots of flowers, for example.

There is very little to no focus breathing making this a fine lens to use with a depth of field calculator, and an excellent choice for video. There is a little coma to be concerned with but the lens is a bit slow to be used for night photography.

Compared to the Nikkor Z 24-70/4 S

As can be seen above, these lenses are not so different. The Z 24-70/4 S is more compact thanks to its "packed" or collapsed size. If bringing only a single lens and size is paramount then the Z 24-70/4 S makes the most sense. If reach is more important and a little extra size is acceptable, then bring the Z 24-120/4 S.

Infrared

Infrared performance not tested.

Bokeh

The bokeh is good. Like all Nikkor Z lenses, the diaphragm is round so specular highlights look natural. There are some rings forming in out of focus specular highlights at wider angles, but it is minor and does not really create distraction.

Ghosting & Flaring

This lens exhibits very little ghosting and no flaring when photographing a subject with a bright background like against the sun. This is thanks to the very advanced coatings all Nikkor Z lenses appear to have.

Compatibility

Because this is a Z-mount lens designed for Nikon's latest mirrorless cameras, it is not compatible with older DSLR cameras.

Construction

This lens features a Fn button and a control ring which can be assigned different functions depending on the camera.

This lens is weather-sealed and has a metal mount and some metal internals.

The diaphragm has nine blades and is rounded.

The zoom function is solid and has no creep.

Specifications

Images

Related links:

• Nikon Nikkor Lens Reviews
• All Lens Reviews