On paper, the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 looks unambitious, but its small size, light weight and great optical performance make it an exceptional companion for the Nikon Z7.
Pros
+
Great optics
+
Small and lightweight
Cons
-
Steep price point
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The Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S is one of two lenses to be released for the new Nikon Z7 full-frame mirrorless camera, and for the upcoming Nikon Z6 – and is the first zoom on the Nikon Z lens roadmap.
This new Z-mount lens is a million miles from the giant 24-70mm f/2.8 F-mount lenses for Nikon’s DSLR cameras. The Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S has the same zoom range as these monsters, but is much smaller and lighter.
Update: We've just posted our Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S review. This is the 'pro' version of Nikon's standard zoom for its Z-mount cameras, and it brings much more than just a faster maximum aperture.
It is one f/stop slower at f/4 compared to f/2.8, but it’s a superb match for the Nikon Z7’s size and shape, and the new camera’s in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) makes wide apertures less vital for low-light shooting.
This lens’s small size is due in part to a retracting mechanism, which activates when you turn the zoom ring firmly past its 24mm minimum position. The focus ring is customisable: in AF mode, it can be set to control the ISO or EV compensation.
Centre sharpness is terrific and edge sharpness is unusually good for a standard zoom lens, beating the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 DSLR lens and matching Sony’s legendary 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master.
Fringing: 0.19
(nearer 0 is better)
Colour fringing is well controlled, even right at the edges of the frame. It’s an uncommonly good performance from an all-purpose standard zoom lens.
Distortion: 0.18
(nearer 0 is better)
Compared to other lenses of this type, the distortion levels are so low as to be practically non-existent. The specs may be modest, but this lens is a stellar performer.
Verdict
On paper, the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 looks unambitious, but its small size, light weight and great optical performance make it an exceptional companion for the Nikon Z7.
Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews editor. Before that he has been technique editor on N-Photo, Head of Testing for the photography division and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications. He has been writing about photography technique, photo editing and digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras, together with lenses, tripods, gimbals, light meters, camera bags and more. Rod has his own camera gear blog at fotovolo.com but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at lifeafterphotoshop.com
