Thanks for an in depth review. I use the 24-120mm with the Nikon D500 so as someone has mentioned, in effect it becomes 36-180mm. I find it works splendidly even at the extreme end of the focal length I suspect because the crop sensor is using the sweet spot of the lens and cutting out the extremities of the glass? I snap fast moving, medium sized birds in flight no problem. The only thing you have to watch, nothing to do with the lens, is the D500’s unerring ability to blow out the highlights, so I always keep it stopped down a full stop, sometimes more when it’s bright. Mention this just in case anyone wants to try this combination.
Carl Sanders
September 22, 2024 8:04 am
Tested against other gold ring lenses, D850/ 800 series camera bodies, on par with the Nikon 24mm – 70mm and Nikon 14 – 24mm for sharpness. Negative lens characteristics can, if it concerns, be corrected with software. Terrific lens and purchased at a fraction on, “Make an offer” bid site!
Andrew Howson
July 2, 2021 3:59 am
I have had this lens since it came out and find it hard to criticise. I agree that it struggles with really quick moving objects but then I don’t shoot birds but for travel, landscape, architecture, portraiture… it’s great, maybe carry an 85mm if you want to throw out the background more. After now more than ten years, the hood is worn and doesn’t clip on. Nothing else to complain about.
I’ve used this lens for only a year now, but I haven’t had any issues with dust. I mostly use it for landscape photography and I’m at the ocean/beach almost every weekend. It’s not on a professional level – I won’t use it in stormy conditions, but at my age I mostly avoid stormy conditions too!
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.
well, 24-85 f3.5-4.5 is the same tack sharp at f5-6 and costs 50% of 24-120 (comparing both 2nd hand). dxo says they both have max 8mpix on a d700 & 16mpix on d850. so, in 3/4 of cases you’d be wasting your money, you could instead put that money into a 70-200 f4 which is excellentissime.
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 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).
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 …
Thanks for an in depth review. I use the 24-120mm with the Nikon D500 so as someone has mentioned, in effect it becomes 36-180mm. I find it works splendidly even at the extreme end of the focal length I suspect because the crop sensor is using the sweet spot of the lens and cutting out the extremities of the glass? I snap fast moving, medium sized birds in flight no problem. The only thing you have to watch, nothing to do with the lens, is the D500’s unerring ability to blow out the highlights, so I always keep it stopped down a full stop, sometimes more when it’s bright. Mention this just in case anyone wants to try this combination.
Tested against other gold ring lenses, D850/ 800 series camera bodies, on par with the Nikon 24mm – 70mm and Nikon 14 – 24mm for sharpness. Negative lens characteristics can, if it concerns, be corrected with software. Terrific lens and purchased at a fraction on, “Make an offer” bid site!
I have had this lens since it came out and find it hard to criticise. I agree that it struggles with really quick moving objects but then I don’t shoot birds but for travel, landscape, architecture, portraiture… it’s great, maybe carry an 85mm if you want to throw out the background more. After now more than ten years, the hood is worn and doesn’t clip on. Nothing else to complain about.
Andrew
These hoods are every bit as good as the Nikon hoods. I use them myself.
tinyurl.com/2vuv8pux
Russ
Thanks for the reviews. Can any one share his/her experience if this sucks too much air/dust ?
I’ve used this lens for only a year now, but I haven’t had any issues with dust. I mostly use it for landscape photography and I’m at the ocean/beach almost every weekend. It’s not on a professional level – I won’t use it in stormy conditions, but at my age I mostly avoid stormy conditions too!
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.
well, 24-85 f3.5-4.5 is the same tack sharp at f5-6 and costs 50% of 24-120 (comparing both 2nd hand). dxo says they both have max 8mpix on a d700 & 16mpix on d850. so, in 3/4 of cases you’d be wasting your money, you could instead put that money into a 70-200 f4 which is excellentissime.
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 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).
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 …