Nikon Z 24-70mm 4.0 S

The Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S may be an oldie in the Nikon lens lineup, but it still does a good job. Other than the corner quality at 70mm f/4, it's pretty sharp for a zoom lens. Vignetting, image distortions and CAs aren't great in RAW images but that's what image autocorrection is for in these categories. The quality of the bokeh is a bit mixed. Specular highlights are rendered a bit rough but the out-of-focus blur is quite good for such a lens. The build quality is very good although we have our reservations regarding the retractable design and the duo cam zoom mechanism. Having said this, it's very compact and lightweight. Despite the age of the lens, the AF is still pretty good by today's standards. Overall, it's still worth considering the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S when purchased as part of a camera kit whereas it seems a bit overpriced as a standalone offering compared to the Z 24-120mm f/4 S.

Highly Recommended – A compact, light and versatile standard zoom lens for Nikon Z full frame cameras.

Nikon’s 24-70mm f/4 lens is a “kit lens” of sorts which accompanies the new Z 7 and Z 6 cameras - or it can be bought separately (though it’s much cheaper to buy it as part of a bundle). It is one of two lenses which are available to buy for the brand new camera series at the time of writing - the other being a 24mm f/1.8 S lens. A third lens, a 50mm f/1.8 is due to arrive some time before the end of 2018. The “S” line is the very first line of proprietary lenses for the Z mount, with speculation that there will be other lines available at some point. The S line is designed to be the sharpest and best available, which goes some way to explaining their high asking price.

The Nikon Z 24-70mm f4S is a no-brainer for owners of Z-series mirrorless bodies: optically it is as good as the renowned 24-70mm f2.8E VR with a one stop advantage in image stabilization and almost no loCA. It also delivers very usable close-up performance and retains its high contrast even in contra-light situations. Plus by being roughly half the size and weight it's much more portable and a perfect match for the compact Z-series bodies it's designed for. The new Z Nikkor also focuses as fast and reliably and is sealed as thoroughly as the 24-70mm f2.8E VR. The only drawback of the Z 24-70mm f4S is its relatively ordinary f4.0 focal ratio, but that's easily compensated for by the relatively low price - and did I mention the small size and weight?. So if you're getting a new Z body, be sure to bag yourself this excellent zoom in a kit bundle: Highly Recommended!