In this article, I will share my experience using the multitalented Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S lens. As with my previous article on the Nikon 100-400mm (here), I won’t discuss performance in numerical terms or specifications. You can find that helpful information in the original Photography Life review (here). Instead, I’ll focus on how and why this lens has always been in my backpack, whether visiting a city, hiking mountains, or going on a photography expedition.
Table of Contents
Focal Length
I just completed my re-read of an excellent adventure photography classic written by Galen Rowell nearly 40 years ago: “Mountain Light – In Search of the Dynamic Landscape.” The book is dedicated to adventure photography more than gear, but a section talked about how necessary the 24mm and 75-150mm focal lengths were for him; in very short, they were his bread-and-butter lenses.
Things in photography have changed a lot, and trends in landscape photography today are more about the extremes – especially ultra-wides, but also using longer telephotos to extract details from expansive scenes. I was so used to my 16-35mm f/4 and 70-200mm f/4 that I never even owned a midrange zoom before switching to the Z system!
However, part of that was because I wasn’t satisfied with the Nikon offerings in the past. But now, the Z 24-120mm f/4 has changed my mind completely. I bring with me and use my 24-120mm nearly every time I go out with my camera, whether to document travel, do my best in landscape photography, or even photograph wildlife when animals aren’t shy.
It isn’t a secret that zooms are helpful for their variety of focal lengths. But this one finds the sweet spot of four considerations: focal length range, maximum aperture, image quality, and bulk. There are better midrange zooms in any of these individual respects, but to my knowledge, none are so good in all four of them.
I like to think of a zoom lens (especially one covering both wide and telephoto) as a set of primes. Rather than composing by zooming in and out, I recommend defining how you wish to render the subject, then selecting the focal length (24 / 35 / 50 / 85 / 120) correspondingly. After making your choice, move the camera position instead of zooming to get the desired composition. Although you can still zoom in and out to fine-tune the composition, this approach helps prevent thoughtless composition that can sometimes plague the use of zooms.
Optical Qualities
The Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 has a fixed f/4 aperture. It isn’t as fast as f/2.8, but it is pretty good, given the focal range. This lens does not have vibration reduction, however, the lens works well in tandem with the camera’s in-body image stabilization. If I’m not planning to take long exposures, I sometimes avoid bringing a tripod.
While the usefulness of using a tripod shouldn’t be underestimated, I found this way of working especially useful when trying to go fast and challenge the weather conditions, chasing out-of-the-ordinary situations. In doing so, however, you cannot be afraid to raise the ISO a bit.
The bokeh on this lens is not at the level of faster and brighter lenses, especially fast prime lenses or even an f/2.8 zoom of the same focal lengths. For that reason, I wouldn’t use it as my primary portrait lens, but it certainly is not uncomfortable with reportage photography. The fast and precise autofocus makes that even more true.
Finally, where image quality is concerned, I also find the Z 24-120mm f/4 plenty sharp and optimal for any landscape photography.
Other Features
Although this lens zooms externally and telescopes much longer while zooming, it feels durable and professional and can withstand extensive abuse without issues. As you’ve seen from my photos, I often shoot in very cold conditions – my low was using this lens at -37°C last March at the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic! (And this is just about the same in Fahrenheit, representing -35°F.) Unlike some of my gear in the past, I have never had an issue with the Z 24-120mm f/4 in these conditions. It feels confident and reassuring in comparison, and I cover it only when shooting in heavy rain.
A small bonus with the Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 is that it uses a 77mm filter size, which is also used by Nikon’s 100-400mm (and their 70-200 f/2.8 Z). Those who also want to carry an ultra-wide will find that the Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 shares 77mm filters as well, and it pairs nicely with the 24-120mm f/4. The same is true of the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8. However, the other Nikon ultra-wides unfortunately have different sizes (though you could conceivably use a step-up ring with the Nikon Z 17-28mm f/2.8 and its 67mm filters).
At the same time, there is nothing wrong with using 24mm as your widest lens, either. I could also say that about using 120mm as your longest lens. With this range of focal lengths, a photographer can take excellent photos now, as in Galen Rowell’s time. And there is some joy in the simplicity that comes with just carrying one lens, a 24-120mm f/4.
Personally, as I previously discussed, I go with a two-lens kit most of the time given my wildlife photography. Most often, I pair this lens with the Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lens. This combination of focal lengths forms a versatile and hard-to-beat kit for nature photography, and a great number of my photos fall within the 24mm to 400mm range.
Conclusion
I have neglected midrange zooms throughout my photographic career, preferring to alternate between wide and telephoto lenses instead. This 24-120mm f/4 changed my mind because it balances everything so well, from image quality to bulk. It is not perfect, but it is much better than “good enough” and helps me produce my desired photos in this range of focal lengths efficiently.
In practice, I found it visibly better than the Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3, a lens that has gained a reputation for its versatility when fast apertures are unnecessary. I also found it a bit better than Nikon 24-70mm f/4, but mainly, I preferred it for the longer focal length range. (Photography Life has scientifically tested all these lenses anyway and shown their nuances, but this is my personal impression.)
I had trouble selecting the photos to illustrate this essay because of the sheer number of different photos and subjects that I have captured with it. This is as versatile as the photographer could ask a lens to be. It suits my style of nature photography perfectly and supports me in any other type of photography I throw at it.
I hope you found this essay about the value of the Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S lens in my photography enjoyable. As a Nikon shooter, I have not used Sony or Canon’s 24-105mm f/4 lenses, but I suspect I would like them as well for similar reasons, even though the small boost on the long end of the focal lengths is very welcome! If you have any questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below.
Your article opened my eyes to some of the reasons I keep going back to my 24-120. My 24-200 is on the shelf most of the time. I only bring it out when I hike with the Z50. (I need the VR.)
The #1 best feature of this lens to me… The near Macro reproduction. 0.39
I get little mushrooms and flowers that the 24-200 can’t get.
Nice article!
I agree
This is the lens that is on my camera all the time. It is my go to when I need to just pick up the camera and go for a walk. I do have a range of other lenses that I use for specific shots, but the 24-120 is my go to lens for unplanned (and planned) shots that I see.
I count myself among the happy users of the Z 24-120. The F 24-120 was so soft at the edges and corners that it made many shots of my trip to the Central Highlands of Iceland unusable. The Z is orders of magnitude better. No comparison. I am also a very happy owner of the Z 100-400. The two of these together for my Z8 make a near-perfect bag. Once in a great while I want to go wider or longer, but these cover 95% of my use scenarios. So now that I’m properly equipped, I have to go back to Iceland. That’s a hardship I shall endure. ; )
Thanks for the interesting article with inspiring illustrations.
One feature of the lens that is not often talked about, but which I really enjoy is that it is surprisingly good at making sun stars. Stop down to below f8 and make sure your light source is not too large in the frame and you will get some very nice sun stars.
A disadvantage of the lens is that at close range and wide angles the lens has noticeably more distortion than the 24-70/f4 lens, which I now keep mainly for this purpose (when it is important).
I’m glad you liked the article, John.
And thank you for sharing your experience!
I have no idea about the performance increase(s), but since you don’t address that, I didn’t see one thing that didn’t apply to the G version. That’s not to say the Z version isn’t a really good lens, but I think it’s incumbent to make some kind of comparison to say it’s better or merely just as good.
Note: I’m not a huge fan of the G, having bought and sold it three times.
In the very first paragraph, the author refers the reader (with a hyperlink) to the highly technical review of the lens done by Spencer quite some time ago. In that review the Z lens is compared to the f-mount version. Its too bad you didn’t avail yourself of that review which shows that the Z lens significantly outperforms its f-mount predecessor.
Reread the article. That wasn’t it’s objective. But the 3rd sentence link will tell you what you want to know. If you want to inform yourself.
Thanks Massimo – I have taken this lens to 6 countries and used with Z9, Z7II, and last week with even the DX Z50II with sensational results. As a very long time Nikon user and NPS this lens is my #! all-around! Appreciate your review.
Thank you to add your experience, Ralph.
I’m glad you appreciate the review.
Lovely article and amazing photos! I read and watched a lot about this lens, only heard good things. Really tempted to it, even though I often prefer apertures of 2.8 and faster. Right now I go with the 24-70 2.8 and the 100-400.
Thank you for your appreciation, Till. I know the 24-70/2.8 is an excellent lens, I’m sure it is a joy using it.
Count me as another happy user of the 24-120mm f4 S lens. Its range makes it a versatile companion for landscapes and travel, as you point out. Its image quality also far surpasses Nikon’s previous generations of mid-range zoom lenses. Paired with the 100-400, it’s a pretty formidable duo.
Your sample images are excellent, by the way, as examples of the lens’s versatility, but also as fine photographs on their own. Great post.
I’m glad you liked the article Fredl. And thank you for your very kind words!
Thank you for your comments about the Nikon Z 24-120mm f4 lens. I too have enjoyed using this versatile lens for my landscape photography and for my candid family photography. One thing I didn’t see mentioned was the fact that this lens throws a beautiful sun star!
Thank you for your comment, John.
You are right, by closing to f16 this lens is able to make perfect sunstars!