{"id":70679,"date":"2025-05-11T05:31:26","date_gmt":"2025-05-11T04:31:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=70679"},"modified":"2025-05-11T06:42:24","modified_gmt":"2025-05-11T05:42:24","slug":"review-comparison-nikon-z-24-120mm-f-4-s-how-it-compares-to-z-24-70-4-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-comparison-nikon-z-24-120mm-f-4-s-how-it-compares-to-z-24-70-4-s\/","title":{"rendered":"REVIEW\/COMPARISON: Nikon Z 24-120mm F\/4 S \u2013 How It Compares to Z 24-70\/4 S"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n

Nikon Z 24-120mm f\/4 S is often said to be one of the best all-around midrange zooms Nikon has made. It offers a versatile zoom range and a fixed aperture, and it\u2019s part of Nikon\u2019s premium S-line series. It\u2019s also newer than the Nikon Z 24-70\/4 S I reviewed<\/a> recently \u2014 a lens I liked quite a bit. With its broader zoom range, Nikon Z 24-120\/4 S promises more flexibility.
But is it the better lens overall? Let\u2019s dive into this review and see how it compares to the Z 24-70mm S!<\/p>\n

\"camera-icon2\"I tested this lens on a 46 Mp<\/a> Nikon Z7ii<\/a> (Sample images were taken with a Nikon Zf<\/a>)
\n\"\"You can see this review as\u00a0a\u00a0YouTube\u00a0video\u00a0here<\/a>!
\n\"\"Sample images in high resolution here<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"\"
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 24-120mm F\/4 S | @24mm f\/4.5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zfc | Nikon Z Nikkor 24-120mm F\/4 S | @165mm f\/5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 24-120mm F\/4 S | @24mm f\/4.5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 24-120mm F\/4 S | @102mm f\/4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 24-120mm F\/4 S | @24mm f\/16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 24-120mm F\/4 S | @120mm f\/8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 24-120mm F\/4 S | @120mm f\/4.5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 24-120mm F\/4 S | @mm f\/4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 24-120mm F\/4 S | @28mm f\/4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 24-120mm F\/4 S | @mm f\/16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most of the sample images in this review and many more can be found in higher resolution here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Specifications<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Focal Length<\/td>\n24-120 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Angle of View<\/td>\n84\u00b0 – 20\u00b020′ (FX)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
# of Aperture Blades<\/td>\n9 (rounded)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max Aperture<\/td>\nf\/4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Aperture<\/td>\nf\/22<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Focus Distance (Magnification)<\/td>\n0.35 m (0.39x)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Size<\/td>\n77 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lens Mount<\/td>\nNikon Z<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n~ 630 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Size (D x L)<\/td>\n84 mm x 118 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/Group<\/td>\n16 elements in 13 groups<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buy new:<\/strong> Amazon (anywhere)<\/a>, B&H<\/a>, for $997 (Affiliate links)<\/em>
\nBuy used<\/strong>: eBay.com<\/a>, ebay.de<\/a>, ebay.co.uk<\/a> from $670 (Affiliate links)<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Disclosure<\/span><\/h2>\n

One of our readers, Wolfgang, kindly loaned this lens for a couple of months for test and review purposes.<\/p>\n

Variations<\/span><\/h2>\n

Nikon has had several 24-120mm lenses with F mount, AF 24-120\/3.5-5.6D, AF-S 24-120\/3.5-5.6G VR, and AF-S 24-120\/4G ED VR.<\/p>\n

Handling and Build Quality<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Nikon Z 24-120mm f\/4 S is mostly constructed from durable hard plastic, with a metal lens mount.\u00a0The build feels solid and tight, with no noticeable play or wobble, it feels like a premium lens in the hand. Combined with its 16 internal lens elements, it weighs in at 630 g\u2014not too heavy, not too light. it is slightly large though. Here you can see a comparison between this lens and the Z 24-70\/4 S.<\/p>\n