Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S: The Best 24-70mm Zoom on the Market

[Danno_RIP]

Just read this article on Photography Life. I have always found them to be pretty reasonable, but when I read this title I have to admit that I was surprised. Regrettably a lot of the influencers on YouTube and the web in general have sold the Z6 and Z7 short. It is clear, once you take some time with one and realize the systems like focus are a bit different, these two bodies are much better the than the talking egos presented.

When I see a positive title or article like this one I am first surprised and then gun shy... but in the end I was pretty surprised. This is not a full review, but the one with the charts and tables. The full review is yet to come. But I thought it was well worth the quick read.

https://photographylife.com/nikon-z-24-70mm-f2-8-s-performance

 

[Fred Kingston_RIP]

A couple of thoughts...

That's a brand new lens and there's nothing to really compare it to... They tried comparing it to the F mount versions, and reached their conclusion but if you read their earlier article, they reached the same conclusions that DXOMark reached... In that class of lens, the 10 year old version of the Tokina showed better performance than the Nikons, Sigmas, and Tamrons...

Since Nikon has released several versions of the 24-70 2.8 since the Tokina released theirs many years ago, I would have expected Nikon to "fix or adjust" the areas they get dinged in, in various technical reviews... Since they haven't, I'll be interested to see DXOMark's technical review of that lens... but I don't hold out much hope that their conclusion is going to be "The best on the market"... JMO, of course...

 

[Woodyg3]

Meh, lens tests and reviews have proven pretty unreliable for me. Dan, if you like the lens and the results you are getting, that's all that matters. I have a couple of "cheap" lenses that give me really sharp pictures and perform well. I've had some pricey lenses that were pretty mediocre. Reviewers and DXOMark assured me I was wrong.

I also agree that the Z cameras and new lenses have gotten a lot of underserved negative press.

Keep those Z pictures coming, I'm enjoying seeing what you are doing with that new camera!

 

[Nero]

I've never trusted influencers, on YouTube or any other social media platform, especially when I found out how easy it is to artificially inflate your numbers. Plus, when you get past the hype and their "online personalities" and self-hype and the production value you see that most of them have average knowledge at best and are really just trying to be seen as a figurehead for the sake of fame and money. I'm sure there are some legitimately good ones out there, but they're a minority.

As for the article, it doesn't really seem like a fair comparison. The new 24-70mm f2.8 S lens has the benefit of a whole new mount and to me that sort of puts it in its own class. However, it can also be seen as a good way of marketing mirrorless cameras and their lenses, and it shows people that, at the very least, they don't have to worry about image quality when it comes to switching over from the lenses that they've known and loved for years to these new ones (although they could just use the FTZ adapter.)

 

[Danno_RIP]

As for the article, it doesn't really seem like a fair comparison. The new 24-70mm f2.8 S lens has the benefit of a whole new mount and to me that sort of puts it in its own class. However, it can also be seen as a good way of marketing mirrorless cameras and their lenses, and it shows people that, at the very least, they don't have to worry about image quality when it comes to switching over from the lenses that they've known and loved for years to these new ones (although they could just use the FTZ adapter.)

I have always felt good about the reviews on Photography Life. It seemed to me that they were more even handed. There are only a few like that on web. Steve Perry is another from Back Country Gallery. I agree with your comments Nero, that the results should be reassuring, especially in light of the bad press. As far as fair or not... This is a new lens. It is a new design. Comparing it to the existing Nikon version is just what everyone does when a new lens is introduced. When the latest 70-200 was introduced it was compared to the VR II. That is what is done.

Like Nero said. The cool thing is if you go mirrorless you can see that the new lens will offer comparable performance to the current F Mount while if you already have the F mount and do not want to sell all your F lenses you can use the FTZ adapter.

For me. I am getting excited about this new tech because it has upped my game in the hand held department and has encouraged me to try things that I had tried and failed at before. The IBIS helps with my tremors immeasurably. The focus and WYSIWYG EVF helps too overcome some of the health issues I deal with.

It is just fun to use... I am going to pass on the 24-70 f 2.8 because I am happy with the f4... but I will be looking at the 70-200 as long as I do not have to sell any body parts...

 

[Woodyg3]

I haven't sold any body parts to buy a lens... yet.

A big Plus One on Steve Perry's opinion. He doesn't rush his reviews out, and he does REAL LIFE photography along with any test shots he does to access gear.

Just wondering, how are you finding the battery life on your Z6?

 

[Danno_RIP]

Just wondering, how are you finding the battery life on your Z6?

I am using all the bells and whistles when I shoot right now and it really varies. The lowest I get is about 500 off a battery. Normally it is in the 700-800 range. When I shot at my nephew wedding I got over 1000 shots and still had battery left. But I am using all the bells and whistles.

I have snap bridge on backing up every photo to my phone and I do have the auto switch from view finder to live view for all of this as well so there is NO energy conservation going on. I am ok with the numbers I am getting and I do not mind packing the batteries. The settings currently work well for some of the things that I do at church. But I do need to turn on airplane mode just to see what kind of improvement there is in battery life. I have seen some pretty big numbers... now I need to see them for myself.

 

[Danno_RIP]

Just saw a second review from one of my LEAST favorite reviewers on YouTube... It was so positive I had to post it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i3_6Us-5f0

 

[Woodyg3]

Just saw a second review from one of my LEAST favorite reviewers on YouTube... It was so positive I had to post it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i3_6Us-5f0

When he stuck mostly with Lightroom tutorials and similar material, I actually liked Tony. Then he started to spew technical nonsense and produce videos meant to get hits more than to inform. When he made poorly researched claims defaming National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry, I unsubscribed from his YouTube channel and I won't watch his stuff anymore.

Anyway, it really does sound like this is a great lens. I'm glad, because that's the lens a very high percentage of photographers use a majority of the time.

Let's see more pictures, Dan! Keep that new camera warmed up and active!

 

[Horoscope Fish]

Just saw a second review from one of my LEAST favorite reviewers on YouTube... It was so positive I had to post it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i3_6Us-5f0

Confession: TN doesn't really annoy me. I don't find him subscription-worthy but neither is he cringe-worthy... Usually.

Reaction: For $2,300.00 that lens durn well BETTER blow my bobby-socks clean off; simultaneously, bilaterally and with malice aforethought.

 

[Danno_RIP]

Confession: TN doesn't really annoy me. I don't find him subscription-worthy but neither is he cringe-worthy... Usually.

Reaction: For $2,300.00 that lens durn well BETTER blow my bobby-socks clean off; simultaneously, bilaterally and with malice aforethought.

He does aggravate the fire out of me with some of his conclusions and their timing, but that is just an old engineering and marketing guys slant.

The lens price is disappointing but regrettably not surprising. It is a new Nikon Lens. It is only about $400 more that the 2015 model F mount.

 

[Danno_RIP]

When he stuck mostly with Lightroom tutorials and similar material, I actually liked Tony. Then he started to spew technical nonsense and produce videos meant to get hits more than to inform. When he made poorly researched claims defaming National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry, I unsubscribed from his YouTube channel and I won't watch his stuff anymore.

Anyway, it really does sound like this is a great lens. I'm glad, because that's the lens a very high percentage of photographers use a majority of the time.

Let's see more pictures, Dan! Keep that new camera warmed up and active!

He lost me around the same time. I do need to get out more with the camera. I have just been having a couple weeks... Hoping things will improve.

 

[spb_stan]

After using both my 24-70 2.8 g and E versions, it was very obvious that the 24-70 f/4 S lens was optically superior. No one who has used all three suggests the f mounts are better then either the f/4 or f/2.8 S lenses

Here is a test that shows what we have found. The G version without VR I find to be better than the much more expensive E version, bit both trail the S lenses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYpRziUSJOA

Ricci's tests of the 14-30 were pretty conclusive over the 14-24 2.8G
Here is an interesting comparison of the Z6 to Nikon's best low light cameras, Df and D5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhitNrQkAZY&t=13s


On of the most compelling reasons for moving to Z bodies is the Z lenses which are all sharper corner to corner than the competition. Even if some lenses can approach the center sharpness, none compete across the entire frame

I have become so impressed with the performance and handling of the Z6 that I recently sold my D850 because it is worth more now than if I delay, and it just sits in the shelf. I kept the D800 because it is worth more to me than what I could get for it. I will use the D850 money to add a Z7 to the kt and that will allow me to sell of my F glass. The sale was just before the 2.0 firmware was released. Now with the new AF, it an even more pleased with my decision to sell the D850. I loved the camera, it is very competent but the Z cameras just do more of what benefits my shooting subjects and and styles.I just shot a package of environmentals and head shots for an actor this afternoon and I had her just free pose, moving continuously and the AF tracked perfectly, 93 shots and not one missed focus. I have switched my portrait sessions from 45mpx to 24mpx since there is so little need to crop with a Z camera