Hi Nasim, Wonderful review! I will be turning 70 in a few months, and plan to upgrade from my crop sensor (Canon 60D), to a full frame (Nikon D750). I am tired of waiting for Canon to come out with a full frame camera comparable to the D750. As I do not have too much money invested in lenses, I will bite the bullet and make the switch (unless Canon surprises me for my birthday with a great upgrade to the 6D).
The D750 seems like a bon brainer; the lens selection is more difficult. I do a lot of travel photography, and I am looking for a good walk around/travel/all purpose lens. I considered the Nikon 24-70 and the Tamron 24-70, which has image stabilization. Both are too heavy and expensive for me. And, the reach is not sufficient for my needs. I considered the 28-300 but it is not sharp enough, and it is also too heavy. That leads me to the 24-120. After checking my shooting range, I discovered that 85% of my crop shots are between 18-80 (on the Tamron 18-270). This is about 27-120 on a full frame. So, the 24-120 should work out fine. However, many of the reviews I read were not all that favorable. Until yours! Your review has swayed me! When I do buy, it will be the Nikon D750 and the Nikon 24-120. And, with the current price when the two are paired together, I think the combination can’t be beat. Thanks again for your great review!
Francis Bacon
August 28, 2019 3:42 pm
Thanks for the reviews. Can any one share his/her experience if this sucks too much air/dust ?
Raj
June 23, 2018 8:16 am
Hi Mohd,
The 18-105mm is a good lens, but is slower at it’s maximum aperture of f/5.6. The 24-120mm is better as it’s a constant f/4 rating.
However, the 24-120mm is also an FX lens. This means that on the d7100 camera (which is a DX or crop sensor or APS-C camera), the effective focal length becomes 36-180mm. If you are currently using the 18-105 for some wide angle shots, you may feel the 24-120 mm doesnt do that as you used to.
The 24-120 mm makes more sense if you are planning to upgrade your camera to FX format (like the d750 or d810).
Sanjay
July 6, 2019 4:05 am
I am currently using a Nikon D5300 and pair this with the 18-105, I am thinking of this lens as an alternative to my existing lens, this will effectively be 36-180 on my dx body. My question is whether I should go for this and sell my existing 18-105? I wont be getting wide shots with this so can anyone suggest me an apropriate paring with 24-120 so that wides are also covered in the focal range.
Thanks.
Shane
March 6, 2019 10:20 pm
Great review, very detailed. Your site, specially the lens and wildlife tutorials is my go to reference. After reading the review, just ordered this lens as a travel lens for my D500. Thank you.
Usama
January 31, 2019 4:27 am
Great article.
I am not a professional photographer but recently did whole wedding shoot from this 24-120mm lens only. Great quality, It is tack sharp near f5-6 range. Despite having two primes (50mm+85mm) but the versatility of this lens didnt allow me to use primes. The bokeh is not creamy but it was reasonable as the decor of the venue was great and i like the background in the pictures. In such events, you dont have chance to loose the moment.
When using it with on camera flash (not pop up flash), it produced stunning pictures. Now f4 is new standard and most recent camera perform great on high iso.
Asa
October 1, 2018 2:08 am
Hello and thank you for this comprehensive useful review, well done!
I Currently own the D850, and I’m looking to add an everyday quality zoom lens suited for travel, portrait, street, some landscape, basically if I go on the road or on a trip this will be the lens mounted, aside from special cases where I will change. (I also own Tamron 15-30mm ƒ2.8, Nikon 50mm ƒ1.8G, Tamron 90mm ƒ2.8 Macro, Nikon 200-500mm ƒ5.6) I am wondering if I should get the 24-120mm ƒ/4 or go with the 24-70mm G2 by Tamron. I know the G2 is a very sharp high performance lens, Do you think the 24-120 can match the 24-70 G2 quality? Does it hold up on the D850? Would love to hear you opinion Thank you!
I used to have the same quesiton, until i decided to test the G2 and the lens present focus issues (heavy front focusing) and i read similar reviews talking about that issue. I have the 24-120 i do like the lens, but i dont know i get the 24-70 G or the 24-70 Vr. They cost almost twice and they are really heavy.
Raj
June 22, 2018 8:47 am
Hi Nasim,
Wonderful review indeed! Would you advise if the Nikkor 24-120mm f/4 is a better combination than the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 + Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8 ? Thank you so much in advance …
mohammad
April 24, 2018 11:38 am
Hi I have Nikon d7100 with 18-105 . I want to upgrade my lens with better lens with constant f and sharpness. I decide to buy 24-120 f4, is it worth or not? can anyone help me?
Arnav
April 23, 2018 12:14 pm
Really good colors. Are these directly off the sensor or do u post process?! Which program/filter do u use!!!
Hi Nasim,
Wonderful review!
I will be turning 70 in a few months, and plan to upgrade from my crop sensor (Canon 60D), to a full frame (Nikon D750). I am tired of waiting for Canon to come out with a full frame camera comparable to the D750. As I do not have too much money invested in lenses, I will bite the bullet and make the switch (unless Canon surprises me for my birthday with a great upgrade to the 6D).
The D750 seems like a bon brainer; the lens selection is more difficult. I do a lot of travel photography, and I am looking for a good walk around/travel/all purpose lens. I considered the Nikon 24-70 and the Tamron 24-70, which has image stabilization. Both are too heavy and expensive for me. And, the reach is not sufficient for my needs. I considered the 28-300 but it is not sharp enough, and it is also too heavy. That leads me to the 24-120. After checking my shooting range, I discovered that 85% of my crop shots are between 18-80 (on the Tamron 18-270). This is about 27-120 on a full frame. So, the 24-120 should work out fine. However, many of the reviews I read were not all that favorable. Until yours! Your review has swayed me! When I do buy, it will be the Nikon D750 and the Nikon 24-120. And, with the current price when the two are paired together, I think the combination can’t be beat. Thanks again for your great review!
Thanks for the reviews. Can any one share his/her experience if this sucks too much air/dust ?
Hi Mohd,
The 18-105mm is a good lens, but is slower at it’s maximum aperture of f/5.6. The 24-120mm is better as it’s a constant f/4 rating.
However, the 24-120mm is also an FX lens. This means that on the d7100 camera (which is a DX or crop sensor or APS-C camera), the effective focal length becomes 36-180mm. If you are currently using the 18-105 for some wide angle shots, you may feel the 24-120 mm doesnt do that as you used to.
The 24-120 mm makes more sense if you are planning to upgrade your camera to FX format (like the d750 or d810).
I am currently using a Nikon D5300 and pair this with the 18-105, I am thinking of this lens as an alternative to my existing lens, this will effectively be 36-180 on my dx body. My question is whether I should go for this and sell my existing 18-105? I wont be getting wide shots with this so can anyone suggest me an apropriate paring with 24-120 so that wides are also covered in the focal range.
Thanks.
Great review, very detailed. Your site, specially the lens and wildlife tutorials is my go to reference. After reading the review, just ordered this lens as a travel lens for my D500. Thank you.
Great article.
I am not a professional photographer but recently did whole wedding shoot from this 24-120mm lens only. Great quality, It is tack sharp near f5-6 range. Despite having two primes (50mm+85mm) but the versatility of this lens didnt allow me to use primes. The bokeh is not creamy but it was reasonable as the decor of the venue was great and i like the background in the pictures. In such events, you dont have chance to loose the moment.
When using it with on camera flash (not pop up flash), it produced stunning pictures. Now f4 is new standard and most recent camera perform great on high iso.
Hello and thank you for this comprehensive useful review, well done!
I Currently own the D850, and I’m looking to add an everyday quality zoom lens suited for travel, portrait, street, some landscape,
basically if I go on the road or on a trip this will be the lens mounted, aside from special cases where I will change.
(I also own Tamron 15-30mm ƒ2.8, Nikon 50mm ƒ1.8G, Tamron 90mm ƒ2.8 Macro, Nikon 200-500mm ƒ5.6)
I am wondering if I should get the 24-120mm ƒ/4 or go with the 24-70mm G2 by Tamron.
I know the G2 is a very sharp high performance lens, Do you think the 24-120 can match the 24-70 G2 quality?
Does it hold up on the D850?
Would love to hear you opinion
Thank you!
I used to have the same quesiton, until i decided to test the G2 and the lens present focus issues (heavy front focusing) and i read similar reviews talking about that issue. I have the 24-120 i do like the lens, but i dont know i get the 24-70 G or the 24-70 Vr. They cost almost twice and they are really heavy.
Hi Nasim,
Wonderful review indeed! Would you advise if the Nikkor 24-120mm f/4 is a better combination than the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 + Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8 ? Thank you so much in advance …
Hi
I have Nikon d7100 with 18-105 . I want to upgrade my lens with better lens with constant f and sharpness.
I decide to buy 24-120 f4, is it worth or not?
can anyone help me?
Really good colors. Are these directly off the sensor or do u post process?! Which program/filter do u use!!!