Nikon Z 24-120mm 4.0 S

It's not surprising that the Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S is so popular among Nikon shooters. Who doesn't like the idea of a 5x zoom ratio on a straight f/4 lens, after all? The optical performance is mostly impressive with just a few caveats. The center sharpness is brutally high, and the border quality remains impressive. The only fall from grace is some field curvature in the corners at the wide end. For best results at 24-28mm and "infinity scenes" (e.g., landscapes), you should pull the focus towards you. Just like most modern zoom lenses, the native distortions are high but perfectly auto-corrected. Vignetting is quite typical for such a lens, as is the bokeh. Sunstars are quite nicely rendered. The build quality of the Nikkor is very decent, although the duo-cam zoom design is a bit of a concern. Regardless, the lens feels sturdy, and the weather sealing should provide some protection when the going gets tough outdoors. The AF is both snappy and silent. Given that Nikon's full-format cameras all feature in-body IS, the lack of an optical image stabilizer is a reasonable design choice. Overall, an attractive offering at a reasonable price point.

Editor's Choice - Superb handling and superb performance make this an ideal general purpose and travel zoom.

Nikon's Z 24-120mm f4 S is a worthy and well featured successor to the venerable AF-S 24-120mm f4G VR which the new lens surpasses in every aspect. It produces very sharp images with almost no field-curvature or colour aberrations and can confidently be used wide open and in challenging contra-light situations. Its Bokeh is relatively nice for a focal ratio of f4.0 and the vibration reduction of the camera provides a respectable 4 stops of stabilization. So the Z 24-120mm f4 S is the perfect choice for those wanting more reach than the standard 24-70mm lens and value a constant f4.0 focal ratio. Highly Recommended.