Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
Announced February 14, 2019
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is a high-performing professional zoom that delivers exceptional sharpness and contrast across its focal range. Although it commands a premium price and lacks built-in image stabilization, its robust weather sealing and versatile handling make it a reliable choice for demanding photography.
Weighted from 19 reviewer scores
Pros
- Robust weather sealing and build quality
- Quick and silent autofocus performance
- Compact and lightweight design for its class
- Outstanding sharpness and contrast
- Useful integrated OLED information display
Cons
- High retail price
- Significant vignetting at wide apertures
- Distortion at the extreme ends of the zoom range
- Lack of built-in image stabilization
- Externally zooming barrel design
- Launch price $2,299 (USD)
- Focal length & aperture 24-70mm f/2.8
- Mount & coverage Nikon Z Full-Frame
- Stabilization None
- Close focus 38 cm (0.22x)
- Filter thread 82mm
- Autofocus motor Multi-Focus System
- Weight & size 805g · 89 x 126 mm (3.50 x 4.96 in)
What the Reviewers Say
All 19 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- PetaPixel 9.5/10
The 24-70mm f/2.8 S is an amazing lens that truly is the successor to its DSLR predecessor with outstanding sharpness, clarity, bokeh, and close-up performance.
- DPReview 87/100
The 24-70mm F2.8 S is a fantastic lens that really delivers on the promise of mirrorless. Although it might focus just a smidgen slower than its SLR equivalent, the popular AF-S 24-70mm F2.8E ED VR.
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The Z 24-70mm f2.8 S delivers the highest optical quality including the best Bokeh and very usable close-up performance in a package that is smaller and lighter than the f2.8E VR and has the decisive advantage of a one stop larger focal ratio over the f4.0 S.
- OpticalLimits 7/10
The Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S may not be perfect, but if you can navigate around its shortcomings it's still an impressive tool.
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[T]he Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S handles extremely well and has superb build quality, as expected for a professional-grade lens.
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The Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S sets a new benchmark by which other 24-70mm lenses will be judged.
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Advanced features like the control ring, L-Fn button and information panel are the icing on the cake. Although it’s far from cheap, it’s the best Z-mount zoom lens we’ve laid hands on and tested.
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It's very expensive; prices hard to swallow too, especially considering that it doesn't have its own image stabilization, but overall this is a lens for professional uses like wedding photography or journalism where it will really shine.
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If this is an indication of the expected standard of Nikon Z lenses, then we may well have something exceptional here. The quality of the images is gorgeous and the technical measurements bear this out as well.
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[I]mpression of sharpness is good throughout the aperture range.
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The Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is an absolutely killer zoom. It delivers exceptional sharpness, even when paired with a demanding, high-resolution image sensor, with little distortion through its zoom range.
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By any measure, the NIKKOR Z 24–70mm f/2.8 S is an impressive lens. Build quality and attention to detail are both excellent, and the added bonus of weather sealing gives you greater confidence to carry on shooting when the weather turns.
- Digital Trends 8/10
There’s no question that the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is an excellent lens — it’s sharp, well designed and an excellent companion to the Z bodies. The question instead is whether those differences are worth the extra expense.
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So I'm telling you, this lens is so all-around beast.
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The Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is expensive, yes, but this is likely the lens you’ll use for everything. It’s a consummate all-rounder zoom lens.
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The 24-70mm f/2.8 S is arguably the best zoom lens of that focal range I've seen to date, certainly the best I've fully tested and measured.
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This f/2.8 lens is for people who have earned and deserve the very best of everything.
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This lens is simply amazing with exceptional contrast and pin-sharp even wide open, it renders some lovely out-of-focus backgrounds at wider apertures and all in a small form factor that simply delivers class in every department [...]
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It's quiet, it's compact, it can get the job done, I don't have to worry about it, I can trust that I will get stellar results every time.
