Nikon Z 24-70mm 2.8 S

The Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S almost made the top mark... if it wasn't for the 70mm setting. This is a bit unfortunate because the lens is actually very sharp in the low to mid range. The 70mm setting is perfectly fine for portraits and other objects placed near the image center. However, the corners are disappointing in the f/2.8 to f/4 range. Having said this, there are probably not too many applications in need of tack-sharp corners at this aperture. Stopped down to f/5.6 or f8 the image quality is impressive again. RAW images reveal some image distortions and vignetting but auto-correction suppresses these issues as usual. The same goes for lateral CAs which aren't overly pronounced anyway. Axial CAs are also low. The bokeh is a bit of a mixed bag again. Specular highlights are a bit busy but the general blur rendering is smooth in the critical image background. The build quality is up to professional standards, but we expected no less from such a pricey lens. It feels very solid and Nikon implemented some weather sealing and a flurorine coating on the front element. The AF is very fast thanks to the dual-stepping motor. The Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S may not be perfect, but if you can navigate around its shortcomings it's still an impressive tool.

The latest addition to the Nikkor Z lens line-up, the 24-70mm f/2.8 S, is aimed at professional photographers. At launch, this focal length was covered by a 24-70mm f/4 lens, but having the wider aperture is craved by many including wedding, documentary, news photographers and more. As well as being appealing for photographers, it also boasts a number of features which are likely to appeal to those using either a Z7 or a Z6 for video shooting, including quick and quiet autofocusing. Other features include a display on the Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S itself, a customisable control ring, a manual focus ring and a function button. Unlike some other lenses in the Z range (including the 24-70mm f/4 lens), the 24-70mm f/2.8 lens does not feature inbuilt vibration reduction - such reduction is found in the bodies of Z series cameras, so that may not be too much of a loss to most shooters.

The Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S gives an outstanding performance and is one of the best standard zoom lenses available.

The Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 S is an all-rounder fast zoom for Nikon's mirrorless system. With a versatile focal length range and a fast aperture for low light photography and blurry backgrounds, this lens provides sharp imagery with smooth bokeh and without distracting color fringing from chromatic aberrations. Autofocus isn't as speedy as its peers, and slightly defocused subjects can be a bit busy, but the overall performance can't be argued with.

The Nikon Z 24-70mm f2.8 S is a general-purpose zoom designed for Nikon’s full-frame Z-series mirrorless cameras and offers a one stop faster focal ratio than the Z 24-70mm f4.0 S 'kit zoom'. It performed very well in all of my tests regarding contrast, resolution, focus speed and reliability, colour aberrations, and coma, producing very good image quality on a demanding 46MP Z7 body. It is equipped with a useful OLED display, a dedicated focus ring (in addition to the multi-function ring), and a customizable function button, plus the lens is well-sealed against the elements. What’s not to like? Well, the Z 24-70mm f2.8 S is an expensive lens, clearly bigger and 300g heavier than its smaller sibling, the Z 24-70mm f4.0 S. So is it worth spending the extra and accommodating the heft, and while we’re it at, is it also the rightful successor to Nikon's professional F-mount workhorse, the 24-70mm f2.8E VR? I'd say "Yes" on both accounts. The Z 24-70mm f2.8 S delivers the highest optical quality including the best Bokeh and very usable close-up performance in a package that is smaller and lighter than the f2.8E VR and has the decisive advantage of a one stop larger focal ratio over the f4.0 S. So if you want the best 24-70mm zoom for your Nikon Z bodies, get the new Z 24-70mm f2.8 S: it comes Highly Recommended!