On two separate occasions, I shot my 24-85 G VR glass and my 24-120 f/4 VR together at the 24mm focal length. On both occasions,I found the corners and edges on the 24-85 to be noticeably sharper than those on the 24-120 lens.
Harald
July 27, 2024 1:13 pm
Dxomark rank this lens even higher as the 24-120mm VR. Quite sure it seems you got not the best sample here. I had both and tested them for some months on a D750. I sold the 24-120 vr at the end because it was at best on par and in some regards even behind. The 120mm on the long end was the weaker point of the lens. So cost and weight were not worth it therefore. The 24-85mm VR is still in use and was the better option here.
Russ
July 5, 2024 6:38 pm
After using both of these lenses quite a bit, I believe that the 24-120 f/4 delivers nicer results. However, I do not hesitate to grab and use my 24-85 G VR lens. It does deliver quality results.
Russ
April 20, 2024 6:47 pm
A nice performing little lens. However, at the 24mm setting, the edges and corners never really sharpen up. At the 24mm setting, the edges and corners sharpen up quite quickly and nicely on my 24-120 f/4 glass. I haven’t yet compared the two lenses at their 85mm settings. That will come soon.
Does anyone not crop out the edges and corners more often than not? That would eliminate most of the concerns of this lens.
Robert Scott
February 24, 2022 6:33 am
I have not been disappointed with mine and find it very convenient. If maximum IQ is necessary, I’ll put on one of the f/1.8G primes in the appropriate focal length. The 24-85 is just so handy, light and compact for what it does. Along with the excellent AF-S 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G, you can have a very versatile two-lens walk-around kit.
nadeem
July 25, 2021 6:25 am
thank you for a great review — i never purchase withour reading your review — really wonderful detailed analysis
for my use i found the 24-70 2.8 (all versions), 28-70 2.8 and 35-70 2.8 unbeatable.
with just on the fly field use, found 24-85 much easier to carry and not much different to 24-120 F4 in practical terms for me which i sold off — my other mid range is a 28-105. I really like that lens. the weight of the 24-120 F4 was a deal breaker for me (and the very reason i dont own the 2.8 lenses as much as i like them)
i dont disagree with your findings but i just am big fan of the 24-85 3.4-4.5 G lenses (i have both VR and non VR versions) over the 24-120 F4
if i really need something special then i either use my 35mm 1.8G or 85mm 1.8G or for a zoom go to my old trustee 17-35 2.8 –
(sold off 28mm 1.8G as found focus ‘shift’ as you mention a huge problem – )
Tim Wheeler
April 25, 2020 4:36 am
Poor Man’s 24-120. I got one of these a couple of years back when I saw a nice used copy for £250 U.K. (a good price then.) I am a fan. I wouldn’t pretend it’s brilliant wide open, but at f6.3-f10 it’s great. I do mainly portraits in home studios and occasionally commercial studios. Although I have 35mm f2D, 50mm 1.8G, 70mm 2.8 macro, & 85mm f1.8G primes, I’ll quite often use the 24-85VR for sheer convenience as it doesn’t fall that far short once stopped-down a bit.
Calvin
December 9, 2019 9:25 am
Nasim, I rented this lens when I had to send my 24-70 to Nikon for repair. I was considering keeping the rental until I read your review. Can you suggest an alternative if I need a backup for my 24-70. Thanks.
Me
November 11, 2019 5:46 pm
Ken Rockwell would beg to differ with your review of this lens. I suggest readers check his review out – yours is biased to the idea that only Nikon’s pro lenses can take quality photos. Such elitist BS.
I had both and sold the 24 -120mm/4. The 24-85mm outperformed the other in all regards.
Nadeem
September 15, 2019 7:22 am
Thank u Naseem Find ur scientific analyses quite representative of real life experience
For me the 24-85 f2.8 -4 comparison was v useful. I have done a U-turn from 24-70 2.8 to smaller lenses however struggled with resolution stopped down
The 24-85 VR is a good lens but I found it over saturating colours (despite tweaking) and weaker wide end certainly not in 24-120 F4 league which remains my reliable workhorse (thanks to u)
I have gone back to 24-85 2.8-4 for informal walk about photos – for me I need the sharper wide end contrary to the VRs sharper long end which I sold off. Don’t think anyone wud vote for that but suites me for my purposes – definitely it’s nothing like pro 2.8 zoom
On two separate occasions, I shot my 24-85 G VR glass and my 24-120 f/4 VR together at the 24mm focal length. On both occasions,I found the corners and edges on the 24-85 to be noticeably sharper than those on the 24-120 lens.
Dxomark rank this lens even higher as the 24-120mm VR. Quite sure it seems you got not the best sample here. I had both and tested them for some months on a D750. I sold the 24-120 vr at the end because it was at best on par and in some regards even behind.
The 120mm on the long end was the weaker point of the lens. So cost and weight were not worth it therefore. The 24-85mm VR is still in use and was the better option here.
After using both of these lenses quite a bit, I believe that the 24-120 f/4 delivers nicer results. However, I do not hesitate to grab and use my 24-85 G VR lens. It does deliver quality results.
A nice performing little lens. However, at the 24mm setting, the edges and corners never really sharpen up. At the 24mm setting, the edges and corners sharpen up quite quickly and nicely on my 24-120 f/4 glass. I haven’t yet compared the two lenses at their 85mm settings. That will come soon.
Does anyone not crop out the edges and corners more often than not? That would eliminate most of the concerns of this lens.
I have not been disappointed with mine and find it very convenient. If maximum IQ is necessary, I’ll put on one of the f/1.8G primes in the appropriate focal length. The 24-85 is just so handy, light and compact for what it does. Along with the excellent AF-S 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G, you can have a very versatile two-lens walk-around kit.
thank you for a great review — i never purchase withour reading your review — really wonderful detailed analysis
for my use i found the 24-70 2.8 (all versions), 28-70 2.8 and 35-70 2.8 unbeatable.
with just on the fly field use, found 24-85 much easier to carry and not much different to 24-120 F4 in practical terms for me which i sold off — my other mid range is a 28-105. I really like that lens. the weight of the 24-120 F4 was a deal breaker for me (and the very reason i dont own the 2.8 lenses as much as i like them)
i dont disagree with your findings but i just am big fan of the 24-85 3.4-4.5 G lenses (i have both VR and non VR versions) over the 24-120 F4
if i really need something special then i either use my 35mm 1.8G or 85mm 1.8G or for a zoom go to my old trustee 17-35 2.8 –
(sold off 28mm 1.8G as found focus ‘shift’ as you mention a huge problem – )
Poor Man’s 24-120. I got one of these a couple of years back when I saw a nice used copy for £250 U.K. (a good price then.) I am a fan. I wouldn’t pretend it’s brilliant wide open, but at f6.3-f10 it’s great. I do mainly portraits in home studios and occasionally commercial studios. Although I have 35mm f2D, 50mm 1.8G, 70mm 2.8 macro, & 85mm f1.8G primes, I’ll quite often use the 24-85VR for sheer convenience as it doesn’t fall that far short once stopped-down a bit.
Nasim, I rented this lens when I had to send my 24-70 to Nikon for repair. I was considering keeping the rental until I read your review. Can you suggest an alternative if I need a backup for my 24-70. Thanks.
Ken Rockwell would beg to differ with your review of this lens. I suggest readers check his review out – yours is biased to the idea that only Nikon’s pro lenses can take quality photos. Such elitist BS.
I had both and sold the 24 -120mm/4. The 24-85mm outperformed the other in all regards.
Thank u Naseem
Find ur scientific analyses quite representative of real life experience
For me the 24-85 f2.8 -4 comparison was v useful. I have done a U-turn from
24-70 2.8 to smaller lenses however struggled with resolution stopped down
The 24-85 VR is a good lens but I found it over saturating colours (despite tweaking) and weaker wide end certainly not in 24-120 F4 league which remains my reliable workhorse (thanks to u)
I have gone back to 24-85 2.8-4 for informal walk about photos – for me I need the sharper wide end contrary to the VRs sharper long end which I sold off. Don’t think anyone wud vote for that but suites me for my purposes – definitely it’s nothing like pro 2.8 zoom
The discussions here are fantastic too.,.
Keep up the good work