NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S
Launch MSRP
$1,000- Weight
- 500g
- Filter
- ⌀72mm
- Min focus
- 0.30m
- Max mag.
- 0.30×
- Formula
- 14E / 11G
- Released
- 2018
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 1x Aspherical ED
- 1x ED
- 3x Aspherical
- Nano Crystal Coat
- Fluorine Coating
- Aperture range
- f/4 — f/22
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 500g
- ⌀ × length
- 77.5 × 88.5mm
- Filter
- ⌀72mm
- Weather sealed
- Yes
- Aperture ring
- No
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Body IBIS
- Teleconverter
- Not supported
- AF speed score
- 8.4 / 10
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 0.30m
- Max magnification
- 0.30× (1:3.3)
Optical character
The original Z6 and Z7 kit lens set the tone for the S-Line: a 500g f/4 standard zoom that is sharp to the corners from wide open. It collapses to 88.5mm for carrying and must be twisted out before shooting, and it takes 72mm filters.
It focuses to 0.3m across the range for 0.3x magnification, which helps with food, product and detail shots. Nano Crystal Coat and a fluorine-coated front element make it a dependable travel and landscape zoom, though f/4 limits subject isolation compared with the f/2.8 options.
Reviewer consensus
Testers consistently rate it as one of the best kit zooms made, with excellent centre sharpness and strong, even corners across the range at f/4. Chromatic aberration is low, and flare resistance is good. Distortion at 24mm is strong before the camera profile corrects it.
Reviewers note that the bokeh is ordinary and the 7-blade aperture shows at small apertures. f/4 means it is not a low-light or portrait lens. The retracting design is a minor annoyance in exchange for the compact size.
Owner sentiment
Owners describe it as the lens that stays on the camera for travel and hiking, praising its weight and how sharp it is for a kit zoom. Many who planned to upgrade to the f/2.8 S kept it instead, and it is widely available used or in kits for much less than its list price.
The complaints are the extend-to-shoot step, plain bokeh and f/4 indoors. A few users now prefer the 24-120mm f/4 S for its extra reach.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +Sharp to the corners from f/4
- +Light at 500g and compact when retracted
- +0.3x close-focus magnification
- +Nano Crystal Coat and fluorine front element
- +Inexpensive in kits and used
Weaknesses
- −f/4 limits low light and subject isolation
- −Must be extended before shooting
- −Plain bokeh, 7-blade aperture
Six-axis rating
- Sharpness
- 8.8
- Bokeh Rendering
- 7.0
- Autofocus Speed
- 8.4
- Flare Resistance
- 8.2
- Build / Sealing
- 8.4
- Value / Size
- 9.0
Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.
Technical specifications
| Mount | Nikon Z (FX) · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 24–70mm |
| Category | Standard |
| Maximum aperture | f/4 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 |
| Construction | 14 elements in 11 groups |
| Special elements | 1x Aspherical ED · 1x ED · 3x Aspherical · Nano Crystal Coat · Fluorine Coating |
| Aperture blades | 7 |
| Focus type | Autofocus |
|---|---|
| Drive | Stepping Motor (STM) |
| Minimum focus | 0.30m |
| Max magnification | 0.30× |
| Stabilisation | None (uses body IBIS) |
| Teleconverters | Not supported |
| Weight | 500g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 77.5 × 88.5mm |
| Filter thread | ⌀72mm |
| Weather sealing | Yes |
| Aperture ring | No |
| De-clickable aperture | No |
| Release year | 2018 |
| Launch MSRP | $1,000 USD |
Sources
Specifications
- imaging.nikon.com/imaging/lineup/lens/z-mount/z_24-70mmf4s/
- nikonusa.com/p/nikkor-z-24-70mm-f4-s/20072/overview
Similar focal length alternatives
- VSNIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S vs NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
- VSNIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S vs NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II
- VSNIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S vs NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8
- NikonS-Line
NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
24–70mmF2.8- WT
- 805g
- FLT
- ⌀82mm
- MFD
- 0.38m
- MSRP
- $2,300
AFWR - NikonS-Line
NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II
24–70mmF2.8- WT
- 675g
- FLT
- ⌀77mm
- MFD
- 0.24m
- MSRP
- $2,800
AFWR - Nikon
NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8
28–75mmF2.8- WT
- 565g
- FLT
- ⌀67mm
- MFD
- 0.19m
- MSRP
- $1,200
AFWR
