Nikon NIKKOR Z 24–70mm f/2.8 S Review: A Premium Workhorse Zoom Lens

The Nikon NIKKOR Z 24–70mm f/2.8 S is a professional-grade standard zoom lens designed for Nikon’s Z-mount mirrorless cameras. With a constant f/2.8 aperture, high-end optics, and advanced coatings, it’s built for professional photographers and serious enthusiasts who need a versatile, high-performance lens.

But how does it perform in real-world use? Let’s take an in-depth look.

Key Specifications

• Focal Length: 24-70mm
• Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
• Minimum Aperture: f/22
• Lens Mount: Nikon Z
• Format: Full-frame (FX)
• Elements/Groups: 17 elements in 15 groups
• Minimum Focus Distance: 0.38m (15 inches)
• Filter Size: 82mm
• Weight: 805g (1.77 lbs)

Build Quality & Design: Premium and Professional

The NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is built like a true pro lens. It features:

✅ Robust, weather-sealed construction – Ideal for harsh environments.
✅ OLED display panel – Shows aperture, focus distance, and depth of field.
✅ Customizable control ring – Can be assigned to focus, aperture, or exposure compensation.
✅ Fluorine-coated front element – Repels dust, water, and fingerprints.

Despite its solid build, the lens remains relatively lightweight for a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, making it a great choice for travel and event photography.

Image Quality: Sharpness & Clarity at Every Focal Length

Nikon has packed top-tier optics into this lens, delivering exceptional sharpness and contrast.

✅ Sharpness & Resolution

📷 At f/2.8, center sharpness is outstanding across the zoom range.
📷 Edges are slightly softer at 24mm and 70mm, but stopping down to f/4 or f/5.6 improves uniform sharpness.
📷 Excellent micro-contrast, making details pop.

✅ Color & Contrast

🌈 Nikon’s ARNEO and Nano Crystal Coatings significantly reduce flare and ghosting, even in backlit situations.
🌈 Colors are rich and natural, with strong contrast straight out of the camera.

✅ Bokeh & Background Blur

📸 At f/2.8, the lens produces a smooth, natural bokeh, making it great for portraits.
📸 The rounded 9-blade diaphragm ensures beautiful out-of-focus highlights.

Autofocus Performance: Fast, Silent, and Accurate

The multi-focus system in this lens ensures lightning-fast and silent autofocus, making it ideal for:

✔ Portrait photography – Quick and accurate eye detection.
✔ Event & wedding photography – Fast enough to capture fleeting moments.
✔ Videography – Near-silent focusing, avoiding distractions in video recordings.

The manual focus ring is smooth and precise, offering fine control for videographers and landscape shooters.

Low-Light Performance: A Stellar f/2.8 Performer

With its constant f/2.8 aperture, the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is an excellent low-light performer.

✨ Great for indoor and night photography – Allows for lower ISO and cleaner images.
✨ Minimal focus breathing – Excellent for video recording.

Paired with Nikon Z cameras’ in-body stabilization (IBIS), handheld low-light shooting is even easier.

Who Is This Lens For?

The NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is perfect for:

✅ Professional photographers – Wedding, portrait, and event shooters who need reliability.
✅ Landscape & travel photographers – Sharpness and weather sealing make it a great all-around lens.
✅ Videographers – Silent AF and minimal focus breathing make it video-friendly.

However, if you’re a casual shooter or hobbyist, the more affordable NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S might be a better choice.

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros:

✔ Exceptional sharpness & clarity
✔ Fast, silent autofocus
✔ Beautiful bokeh for portraits
✔ Weather-sealed, professional build
✔ Top-tier coatings for flare resistance
✔ Great low-light performance

❌ Cons:

❌ Expensive ($2,299 MSRP)
❌ Slight vignetting at f/2.8 (easily corrected in post)
❌ Larger and heavier than f/4 version

Final Verdict: A Must-Have Pro Zoom Lens

The Nikon NIKKOR Z 24–70mm f/2.8 S is one of the best standard zoom lenses available for Nikon’s Z-mount system. With top-tier optics, fast autofocus, and excellent build quality, it’s a must-have lens for professionals who demand the best performance.

💰 Is it worth the price? If you need the ultimate 24-70mm zoom, YES. But if you’re on a budget, the f/4 version is a more affordable alternative.

Would you add this lens to your camera bag? Let us know your thoughts! 📸🔥