Hey everyone !
This is the first look at the Nikon Z 24-120mm f4S.
in this video we will take a look at
the build & design of the lens
Picture quality compared to the 24-70mm and 24-200mm
If you are interested in my photography then follow me on instagram instagram.com/nikonricci/
As always thank you so much for watching
Goodbye
#Nikon #NikonZ9 #24120
Hey yes its finally here sorry for the delay in getting this video out but iv been using the 24-120 a lot so hopefully that is visible in the range of sample images I have I hope you find this first look video useful Let me know if you have any questions below ! thank you for watching !
Hi Ricci, thanks so much for this video, just curious what the edge sharpness falloff is like at 24mm vs the 24 - 70mm f4?
@riccitalks Could you do a short video about the AF performance if the lens? I shoot events outdoors such as mountain bike and running events. I have the z24-120 on preorder.
Thank you, Ricci, for all the great information, including this lens. I'm anxious to hear more about the 100-400! :)
Top class video as always. Thank you Ricci.
Great stuff as always Ricci, thanks for sharing.👍👏👏👏
your videos are better than all Nikon PR did all those years! Thank you so much!
Excellent work, Ricci, thank you very much! This Z version of the Nikon's 24-120 "legendary" range is going to be the 3rd version that I'm going to have. I was really happy with my older versions, so I'm quite sure this is going to be a "must" lens for type of pictures I use to take.
So glad we have this channel thats sensible and no cheesy or annoying with nonsense…Thank you!
I am impressed with this lens but I am not surprised though. And very nice photos too, Ricci. Thanks for sharing.
Amazing! Thanks Ricci - been waiting for this review for a month!! The human eye is designed to see minute differences in human faces. It's really a pet peeve when lens reviews don't put up portrait shots. Thank you for adding a few! Also I was hoping you would talk more about macro ability of this lens. You didn't say much but your photos said alot. The bolt shot and the front view of the crashed boat shot were stunning!
Superb video
Thanks for the great review. UPS truck is on the way, I will get my 24-120 today
Ricci, as always, your insight is keen on everything Z. Great review and comparison of the lenses. Tough choice for some, no brainer for others. To pull the trigger is just a matter of when. Thanks again for your no drama video bringing us news we can use. Keep up the great work you do. We all appreciate it!👍
Thanks a lot !
Yep, 24-120 is going in my kit bag, just having that extra reach makes the lens so much more versatile, combine it with a wide angle zoom and that covers 99% of my photography needs. Damn good video, thanks.
Thanks for the very useful review and comparison to the other Nikon lenses! Very clear and well made video. Subscribed!
Another excellent video yet again 👏
it's really impressive that this lens even outperforms the 24-70 f4 a little bit across the range. Best standard zoom for landscape to pair with 14-30 and 100-400.
The Z-mount system has become amazing! Unfortunately I went for the E-mount system in 2018, but hope Nikon will hear about this and make me a Nikon ambassador and give me a Z9 for free :-)
Yes, that creates a terrific f4 (ish) trinity with a nice long reach and helpful overlap.
We don't actually know that yet though. I don't think Ricci showed any corner performance comparisons. Given the longer zoom range, it's quite possible the 24-120 has worse corners than the 24-70/4. Of course it's also possible they're equal or better too. Either way, we'll soon find out.
just to be clear I didn’t leave them out for any other reason than time I will absolutely look at corners when I have a full production unit. The test shot I set up had nothing in the corners so I would of had nothing to show without making a new test set up. Also in general I always try and give a small in sight in a first look video with much more in-depth comparisons with the full test videos :) I actually thought that testing against the 24-200 was too much for a first look but added it in because I knew a lot of people would want to see it as soon as
@@RicciTalks thanks for the follow-up. I’ll edit my comment to remove any unfair insinuation about the 24-120’s corners. Looking forward to a full review of a production unit. And to be clear about my own biases, I actually have one on order instead of the 24-70/4. Not trying to be snarky about this lens.
Really looking forward to receiving this lens, I pre-ordered it immediately. I don't quite understand those that say "I can just get the 24-70 2.8 instead". The 2.8 is amazing but comparatively speaking, it's almost double the cost and doesn't offer same versatility of reaching 120mm. Thanks for another great vid Ricci!
I have mine on preorder the day it was announced and I'm hoping I can get my hands on it sometime soon. Thanks for the video as always!
Thanks for the review. I have this lens, and the Z9 on preorder. Can't wait.
Thanks for watching!
Brilliant lens, nice presentation. Thank you. I'll stick to my Z 24-70/2.8 for now. :)
Thank for the review! I would like to have longer than 70mm, but I love the 24-70 f/2.8, and I think I'll stick with that as day-to-day lens. Weight is not an issue for me and I already have that lens, so this is not an easy choice - 70 @ 2.8 and 120 @ 4 likely look the same in terms of background separation, but still, 2.8 and sharper. I probably would choose a 24-105 @ 2.8 :)
Nice to see the z9 in the background
I ended up getting the 24-200 and I have been very with it. It works well as my all around lens. And because of the size and weight I will typically take it on my trekking adventures when I am headed to a new place. Thank you for the review!
Loved it! Waiting for mine to come soon!
Great test. I have the Nikon Z 24-120 and it is a great tool in my bag. The colors and sharpness. And did I say F4. On my Z 7ll . It is a great lens.
Excellent video Ricci! Thanks for showing the comparisons. I'm really considering the 24-120 F/4S now lol
Thanks for this excellent and useful review!
Thanks Ricci another great video. Its a nice lens, and I love the Z Mount Lenses Nikon are knocking out, but for me, I prefer the 24-70 F2.8 as I'd rather have the flexibility with the aperture rather than the focal length - but this would be down to individual preference depending on what you are shooting. Keep knocking out the videos they are extremely helpful
Thanks. I'm planning to buy a Z6II, (or maybe a Z6III, or Z8) next year when I can travel. Hopefully I can get this as a kit lens. Seems perfect for me as an amateur. I'll pick up a longer zoom as well, when they make something like a 70-300 variable aperture, which is cheaper and lighter than the 100-400.
Great video Ricci. The 24-120 is the Lens I’ve been waiting for. I have the 24-70 f4 which is a little jewel, but I’d probably trade it in. I’d mostly use the 24-120 for portraits coupled with z 85 f1.8 and f 70-200 f4. Great job Nikon.
Man I love the tree at 7:52 !! Thank for the video. Y'all really outdid it with S glass.
A very nice lens for sure !
If my kit wasn't quite so filled out, I'd grab this. I have the 24-200 and 50mm 1.8 in my every day walk around kit, and the 24-70mm 2.8 S when I'm working. It would be a fantastic kit with the Z6 or Z6 II for sure.
Many thanks for this video, Ricci - I've been anxiously awaiting your valuable input since your earlier, quick-look video. No real surprises here, in terms of where you rank this lens among the z24-70 f/2.8, the z24-70 f/4, and the z24-200. Of course I expected it to be somewhat less sharp than the 2.8, and I was anticipating that it would be at least as sharp as the 24-70, and more sharp than the 24-200. That seems to be what you've concluded. When considering that the 2.8 is twice the price and 175g heavier than this new lens, the question between those two is whether the speed of the 2.8 is worth the significantly higher cost and noticeably more weight. It isn't for me. While I've been very pleased with the 24-70 f/4, over the 3 years I've had it I was a bit frustrated with its limited reach -and so the extra 50mm of reach (without any noticeable loss in quality) is what prompted me to order this new one on the day it was announced. Keep up the great work - it is most appreciated!
Yep the 24-70 2.8 remains the best lens in the range The 24-120 however is very good and offers that extra focal length so will appeal to more users
@@RicciTalks How does the autofocus perform compare to the 24-70 f4 and f2.8?
I think on a tripod at f8 they would all be similar but that would require carrying a tripod and a lot of people don’t like doing so
Thanks for making such videos Ricci. Nikon need to seriously think about including 24-120 as a kit lens with every Fx mirrorless
Excellent job mixing it up in terns of styles of photography. I know you've said in the past you were predominantly a landscape photographer, but it was nice to see a bit of portraiture show up in there. Cheers
Thanks for a good test, lots of useful comparisons, and so many helpful side by side shots. I can definitely see the appeal, although I don’t think I’m going for it myself, only because I am so happy with the 24-70 f4 and for anything beyond 70mm, I’d rather use the 70-200 S (such a stunning lens). Anyway it’s great to know that the image quality compares favorably to the 24-70 f2.8.
Would love this lens for travel, knocking about! If course I want it on a Zf full frame… mahalo nui loa for your work!
I have the F mount 24 120 F4. Very versatile lens. It has some distortion, it vignettes, but easily fixed in lightroom. It's pretty sharp at F5.6 - F8 and overall picture quality is not bad at all. Never use it anymore since I got a 24 70 F2.8 VR.
I'ved just bought this lens for my Z8. It's a brilliant all purpose lens, and is going to get a lot of use.
Hi Ricci - thanks for this video - haven't seen much of anything about the performance of this lens. I have the 24-70 f/2.8 and it's fantastic, but I decided to order the 24-120 along with the 100-400. With those two and the TC's, I'll have a fairly compact travel kit that provides considerable range. Really looking forward to more Z9 videos, as I suspect it will be awhile before mine arrives! Happy Holidays!
I could probably get by with the 14-30F4S, the 85-S, ext. tubes (macro,) and 100-400S. I would probably leave the 85-S on a Z50 (~128mm) as well.
Great video ! First time I saw some real world photos (not just video) of this lens, for landscapes, portraits etc. Very impressive. I have 24-70 2.8 and also the 24-200, but might sell the non S lens to get this one. If I want more reach I can still go on DX mode on my Z7II and still have the quality and the f/4 advantage. Thanks again.
I have been a long time fan of Nikon's 24-120mm lenses, and currently use the FX f4 version. I placed an order for the Z mount lens about a month ago and anticipate it arriving any day soon.
Wow! I can't believe this (8:11) is from zoom lens! Very impressed.
My daily driver lens on full frame cameras has been a 24-105 or 24-120 f4 for the last 10 years. I still use my 24-120 f4G VR with the FTZ on my Z5. This fills what seemed like a fairly blatant gap in the line since the Z-system was introduced. There was an F-mount. Sony, Canon, and Fujifilm all offer something nearly equivalent and have for some time. I am not pre-ordering this lens, but will eventually buy one, likely on the used market. Nikon is a great deal like one of the football teams I follow. Capable of brilliant moves, but manages to screw up just enough plays to drag defeat out of the jaws of victory.
I’ve been waiting for this video to confirm my plan to trade my 24-70 f4 lens for this one. It looks like more great Z mount glass. Thanks for posting this.
Good,, Nikon is the best
Thank you for a very useful and helpful video. Two of the lenses I have our the 34-70 f4 and the 24-200. Thinking of selling the 24-70 and getting this. Decisions, decisions....
Thanks for the review! Would love to see some samples of the close-focusing capabilities for product/food shots please.
Great pics Ricci, thanks for sharing, can't wait to get my hands on one. Cheers Matt
Any clue when these are landing in Melbs, Matt?
Thanks a lot Matt
@@geoffmaddock2655 Howdy Geoff, no ... but I think it is supposed to be this year :) Be great to have over the holidays.
Oh yes I forgot to mention, the sample photos are really nice, Ricci.
Super interested in this lens. Currently own the 35 and 85 primes (1.8S) and 14-30f4S. Traveling this autmn for my wedding and this lens just seems perfect
Very helpful video thanks!
Thank you for sharing this video.
Thank you for watching
Got a order in for the 24-120 and 100-400. With my old 16-35 f4, I don't need more, will be selling my 70-200 f mount. I will have 16-400 in 3 lenses at ~ F4 in very sharp top of the line lenses. Ohh we all need a 50mm f1.8!
Everyone should have a Z 50 1.8 :D
Looks like another Z winner and will pair nicely with my 14-30. Thanks for your work! Glad I pre-ordered on day 1.
Hi, like to know if you are happy with the perfornance of the 14-30. Thinking about buying it. Looks like a good lens with great wide-angle zoom!
It's been a great lens! Love it for street and cityscapes. And it's a very useful lens indoors.
@@RandyArellano thks!
Thank you. I had such a hard time telling the sharpness and contrast between f4 and f2.8 lenses. The only reason to get the 2.8 is the extra stop of light. I sold my 24-70 f2.8z for that reason.
Very helpful - I have the 24-70 f4 but now wish I'd held out for the 24-120 as it would suit my portraiture work ... just that little bit of extra reach.
Long awaited Video and with the awaited conclusion, thanks a lot for your work.
Thank you for watching!
@@RicciTalks And it is much ligther than the very good 24-105 f4 Art Lens from Sigma (900g) that I have used a long time with my DSLR´s. I reserved a place in my bag for the next possibility of travelling around the beloved World.
Thanks for the video. I have pre-ordered the lens. I am likely to trade in my 24-70 f4 and 24-200 variable. With the 14-30mm f4 and the 24-120mm in my bag, I will be hoping Nikon rounds out the f4 trinity. For now, I may just throw a very light 200mm AIS lens in my bag, for when I need that extra reach, but want to go light…or maybe the F mount 70-200 f4 or F mount 70-200 f2.8 if weight is not an issue. I am glad to see the 24-120 is not an optical compromise vs the 24-70mm. I will be far more comfortable trading it in, knowing that.
As a beginner in photography and recently bought a z6ii, I am happy with my two lens combo: the 50mm 1.8 and this one. Love both of them!
Do you need a adapter to connect the lens? Also if you had to choose between the two which is better to get first
Thanks for sharing, think i will stick to the 24-70f4 and 24-200 if nikon ever send my new 24-200 back from recalibrating they only had it 70 days, twice as long as i had it, Ogwen Snowdonia looking good
Had the 24120 f/4 on a D800 for many years....absolutely without question was the very best lens I've ever owned! I rented all of the more expensive 2.8 as well as primes during the same period and KEPT coming back to the 24-120 as the king. ALL of my best photos were taken with that lens! I can't wait to get this Z version and enjoy the same range/better performance on these excellent Z cameras soon. Hurry up Nikon and ship this!
and has your dream come true with this lens?
Merci pour la vidéo. J'ai revendu mon 24 70 F4S et j'ai réussi à avoir ce 24 120. (Je ne sais pas comment est le stock chez vous mais en France il est en rupture de stock partout). Quand je part en balade, c'est l'outil idéal. Je ne l'ai pas essayé en intérieur mais généralement j'utilise plutôt mon 50 1.8 ou mon sigma 24 1.4 qui sont très lumineux. Merci pour toutes vos vidéos. A bientôt
I think the z9 and 24_120 will be my go to combo with dx mode option record button feature
As always excellent review. I got 2.8.24-70. I prefer the sharper - more allowing light in - and shooting wide open option. This 120 z lens doesn’t seem as small as old F version 120mm lens. The image quality seems sharper than the f. Holding off on this one. Need to save $ for 200-600 mm. Hopefully you’ll get a break traveling so you can share more details on z9. I imagine they have kept you busy with z9 appearances. Thanks for sharing info on the new equipment. .
I’m also planning to buy 24-70 cuz I think it’s very convenient, can take it everywhere
Thank you! I was looking forward to your review as I pre-ordered it on day one and glad to see that was a good decision. It was a no brainer for me as I don't own any 24-70mm versions as too limiting, and at half the price of the 2.8, makes perfect sense to add this as my main lens. (Perfect pair with the pre-ordered 100-400mm which I held out for instead of the 2.8 70-200mm). I will keep the 24-200 for those times I want just one lens when I'm out and have no idea what to expect - surprisingly good for what it is. So I will happily soon own the 'unholy trinity' with the 14-30, 24-120 and 100-400 along with a few key primes. My wife and wallet hope and pray that this is it.....;-)
Been waiting for this review. Think I’ll be trading in my z24-70 f4 s.
Thumbs up time Ricci.... :)
Thanks Ricci for this. I feel this Z 24-120 f4 is indeed a very good lens. The price too, slightly over USD 1K is fair as well.
Thanks for the info
Thanks Ricci… as i do not own any mid range z lens i somehow hold off myself from buying 24-70 2.8…. That lens is just amazing corner to corner but in real life i miss the 70-100 focal length in my current d850 set up. So this will be glued now to my z7ii now on
I have been waiting for this. Thank you very much. I have the 24-120 f4 F mount lens and it was the attached to my D750. It is a great lens. I have been using the 24-70 F4 S on my Z6, but I miss the extra reach. I have pre-ordered mine. I have to agree with you about the Z lenses. I have the 24 - 70, which is great lens. I also have the 24 - 200, and it has been a very pleasant surprise. Thank you again for your reviews.
Thank you for watching them!
I'm really, really intrigued by this lens, the range and the constant f4 would be awesome. Now to find the $1500 CDN :P
good comparison of lenses in same genre. TY - it helps.
Hi Ricci, thank you again for this. I am glad I ordered it with the Z9. Did angelbird send you the XT Pro cards for the Z9?
Thanks for the look at the 24-120. This is definitely what I need. Since you brought up the card speed tests, would like to see how the Delkin Power series of CFExpress cards perform in the Z9. Always enjoy your no nonsense videos. Keep up the great work.
The power cards have a sustained write speed around 1,000 so they will be similar to the lexar cards I tested Not as fast as the Delkin black cards
@@RicciTalks thank you very much for the reply. Great appreciate your time and love the look of the 100-400mm but yes, sometimes you need a bit more reach. As you said, there never seems to be the perfect lens. 😂
I been waiting for this video 😀
Sorry it took so long 🤣
I went for 24-200 f4 as all purpose and 24-70 2.8. I had the 24-120 f4 AFS and it the extra stop on the 2.8 makes a huge difference in low light.
I feel it should be pointed out, just for practical purposes, that the 24-200 is a VR lens. That, combined with the in body stabilization has created a lot of keepers for me.
yup, thats a point often overlooked by the casual reviewer.
It's a no brainer for me! Although I already have the 24-70 F4 I need the longer reach for my landscape photography. On many excursions to come, where weight is a criterium, I will take only this new 24-120mm with me.
I thought I had everything I really wanted until I had a play with this one (thanks Ricci) I’m seriously considering trading my 24-70 2.8 for this, or trying to save for one, it feels so much better in my hand than the 24-70 f4 did that I had previously also much lighter and more compact than I had expected, a brilliant little lens!
Nicely presented well done good sensible review many thanks Kind Regards Roy
Got the 24-200 and been very happy with it. Even if I get the 24-120, I will still long for the extra reach.Thank you for these reviews.
Thanks for the review! What can you say about 28-75/2.8s?! Should I expect your comparison of 28-75/2.8s with other lenses?!
I was hoping to learn if the 24-70 f4 has VR, but there was so much other information covered, you've helped me to make up my mind. It just happens that I can look up whether VR is available from Nikon's site.
Love the extra reach, rarely use my 70-200 now. Saves me from having to swap lenses all the time.
Hey Ricci, thanks for all the information. I was wondering how the autofocus speed in stills is compared to the 24-70 2.8 s?
Thanks for the video! I'm curious how noticable the resolution differences would be between the 24-120mm and 24-70mm 2.8. Would you see greater sharpness in the latter, even if the 24-120mm is still sharp? Any real world comparisons (not based on test charts?). Thanks
Thanks for your presentation! I am getting the Nikon Z6ii very soon but cannot decide on my first Z lens? I mainly shoot landscapes and family. Firstly I am torn between a prime or zoom for landscapes like the Z 20mm, 24mm or even 35mm? Or 24-70F4s or 14-30F4S. Please advise if you would.
You floated that one in there but I noticed Ricci! 1/8th of a second handheld and no motion-blur apart from the water! Kudos to you! I wouldn't have even thought that possible. If I had been there I would be rueing not having my tripod with me. Not you!
No doubt that the 24-120 is the lens I was looking for… but meantime I bought the 2.8… selling it to buy this one may not be a so smart move ! ($$)… what about the precision and contrats if you compare 24-70 2.8… crop to match the 120 mm? Thanks! And welcome back 😜
Just wanted to mention how NICE the sun-stars are on this lens. Also, as per Hudson Henry. ;) I REALLY wish it had VR though, as I also shoot with a Z50. I'll take VR with a monopod over no VR with a tripod all day long.
It was a somewhat easy choice for me. I just looked up the number of keepers I shot at f/2.8 with my F-mount 24-70mm in Lightroom and it was shockingly few. I've ordered mine however it is reassuring to see the performance at f/4 compared to the 24-70mm f/2.8 Z mount at f/4 in your tests. Thanks for doing this comparison.
Small apertures can be a curse. Which camera body are you using, and what is your primary style of photography in use?
@@skyrunr I shoot fashion and beauty where DoF is critical to get tack sharp results. Here’s a couple of examples why I rarely use f/2.8. If I am photographing a subject full-length at 70mm at a distance of 5 meters and focused on the face, I have less than 40 cm of sharpness in front - if the subject extends a leg forward or if I decide to shoot from a low angle, the legs will be out of focus. If I’m doing a close-up headshot for beauty at 120mm at distance of 1 meter, I have 5 cm in front of the point of focus - if the subject tilts their head I get eyes sharp but lips get soft. Only time I use f/2.8 is event photography in dark venues but I can always trade off with good high-ISO performance.
Brilliant. I already have the 24-120 f4 on my D850. I will get the 24-120 Z - when I get the Z8
What if the Z8 never comes ?
How does focus breathing compare to 24-70F4 in other focal lengths? Is the 35cm nearest focusing distance on wide or on the long end? Ideally would be both. From your examples it’s already a lot better optically then the F counterpart, but would be good to see them side by side (lenses and examples) as to show how much the Z is better (I own the F version). Also my opinion is that 24-120 coupled with 50 1.8 makes quite a versatile and quality two lens kit (on which 14-30 can be added at a later time).
A very informative review. I am using a z6ii coupled with 24-70 f4 and a Viltrox 85. I mostly do landscape as a hobby and planning to buy a wide angle lens. I watched your 14-30 vs 20 and decided to go for 14 30. But now that 17-28 is also in the market. Which one do you think is the best considering my need. Please advise
Hi Ricci. Excellent review and images as always! I shoot a Z7 with the Nikkor 24-70 f/4 S, and am getting superb results, especially in terms of image sharpness and detail. I'm now interested in the 24-120 f4, but have a question please...In comparison with the 24-70 f/4 S, mainly at 24mm, would I be losing ANY sharpness by going with the 24-120? (Just FYI, I'm a sharpness fanatic, and usually shoot around f/8 or f/11, tripod-mounted.) Thank you sir.
Thank you Ricci for an interesting video on the 24-120. I'm sold! However one thing does bother me. I currently use the Z 24-70 F4 with the Lee85 filter system. These filters have a maximum diameter of 72mm. I notice that the 24-120 is 77mm and so to continue with the Lee85 I would need to use stepping down ring to 72mm. Do you know if this cause any vignetting? Thank you
I do portraits and used to use a 24-70 2.8 on a DX body. When that got stolen and I bought a Z6 with the kit 24-70, I definitely noticed how limiting the 24-70 was on a full frame body for my own purposes, so I've been eagerly waiting for the 24-105 Z glass for years. I have the 85mm, but while it's amazing if you have room, it's less so when indoors and movement is limited. Was pleasantly surprised when they announced the 24-120 because the extra 15mm on the long end is just icing on the cake. Pre-ordered it a few days after it was announced and look forward to testing it out.
and how do you like it?
@@gosman949 So far so good. Got it around a month and a half ago.
@@KarlBarbosa I traded my 24-70 f4 in for the 24-120 f4 yesterday. I only got $210 for my trade in. But these 24-70s are a dime a dozen now on the market. Everyone is going to the latest and greatest 24-120. Got it at a tax free event at my local camera store.
@@gosman949 Nice! It's an obvious upgrade. That being said, the 24-70 F4 is still a great kit lens.