Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S Assessment

Introduction

Ease of Use

Weighing in at 630g (1 lb 6.3oz) and measuring 118mm (4.7in.) in size (when set to the 24mm focal size), the Z 24-120mm f/4 S is a comparatively gentle and compact lens given the versatile focal vary of 24-120mm that is on supply.

It feels effectively balanced even when utilizing it with a small sized digital camera physique just like the Nikon Z5 physique that Nikon supplied for us to check it with, as proven within the product photographs, and would even be equally at residence mounted on a bigger Z6 or Z7 digital camera.

The lens extends additional by a further 6cm to achieve a complete size of 18cm when totally zoomed out to 120mm.

Construct high quality is sweet, however not excellent, for what’s in spite of everything solely an fanatic -level lens. With a largely plastic development, the Z 24-120mm f/4 S feels pretty stable in your hand, and it commendably has a metallic mount.

Word that this lens additionally has a weather-resistant design to assist defend it in opposition to mud and moisture. Nikon state that “The lens is just not assured to be dust- and drip-resistant in all conditions and below all circumstances.“

There’s a single swap on the left hand aspect of the Z 24-120mm f/4 S lens which is for selecting between auto-focusing and guide focusing.

Word that there is no such thing as a picture stabilisation system constructed into this lens, as a substitute counting on the digital camera physique.

On the following part of the Z 24-120mm f/4 S lens, you’ll discover the customisable perform button, labeled as “L-Fn”. In the primary digital camera menu, you possibly can select from one in every of 21 completely different features, together with AF lock, metering, topic monitoring, framing grid show and so forth.

In direction of the lens mount finish of the Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S lens, there’s the primary (and smallest) of the lens’ three rings. This lens might be customised, too. By default it’s set to regulate aperture, however you may also change it to regulate publicity compensation or ISO. Alternatively you possibly can have it set to do nothing in any respect.

The center ring is the moderately stiff zoom ring, which we hope will loosen up somewhat with use. It has focal lengths marked at 24, 28, 35, 50, 70, 85 and 120mm.

On the finish of the lens, you’ll discover the focusing ring. It has no arduous stops at both finish of the focusing ring, making it more durable to know when you’ve gotten reached infinity focusing. The ring has simply sufficient resistance to make wonderful changes to guide focusing, with out having an excessive amount of give.

The main target and zoom lens rings are ridged and the management ring is knurled, serving to you are feeling them by contact when taking pictures by means of the viewfinder. In addition they assist so as to add to the high-quality and durable really feel of the Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S lens.

This lens has been designed to be as fast and quiet as attainable when autofocusing with two AF drive models onboard. That makes it ideally suited to each stills taking pictures and video.

Taking pictures with the lens proves it to have virtually unerringly correct and speedy autofocus within the majority of conditions, with barely any searching in any respect. It’s additionally impressively quiet, too.

Included within the field is a petal-shaped lens hood (HB-102), which inserts onto the Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S’ 77mm filter thread. The hood locks into place and is reversible so you possibly can cut back the scale of the lens for transporting it and storing it at a smaller measurement.

Focal Vary

The Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S’s focal vary offers an angle of view of 20° 20′ at 24mm and 84° at 120mm.

24mm

120mm

Chromatic Aberrations

Chromatic aberrations, usually seen as blue or purple fringes alongside contrasty edges, weren’t particularly obvious in our take a look at photographs, solely showing in very excessive distinction areas.

Vignetting

With the Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S lens set to its most aperture, there’s some very apparent gentle fall-off within the corners, which you may both must right in post-processing or stop-down the aperture to keep away from.

24mm

120mm

Distortion

There’s some delicate barrel and pin-cushion distortion at both finish of the focal vary in each the JPEG and Uncooked information, however it’s not too pronounced.

24mm

120mm

Sunstars and Flare

The Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S produces very good sunstars when stopped-down to f/22, as proven beneath, though it’s vulnerable to flare when taking pictures straight into the solar even with the lens hood fitted.

Macro

The Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S gives a minimal focusing distance of 0.35 m (1.15 ft) in any respect focal lengths, with a most magnification of 0.39x. This lets you seize some pretty good close-up photographs when taking pictures on the 120mm focal size.

Bokeh

Bokeh is a phrase used for the out-of-focus areas of {a photograph}, and is often described in qualitative phrases, comparable to clean / creamy / harsh and many others.

Within the Z 24-120mm f/4 S lens, Nikon have employed an iris diaphragm with 9 rounded blades, which mixed with the moderately sluggish most aperture leads to pretty good bokeh in our view.

We do realise, nevertheless, that bokeh analysis is subjective, so we have included plenty of examples beneath to your perusal.

Sharpness

With a purpose to present you the way sharp the Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S lens is, we’re offering 100% crops on the next pages.