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A top-spec ‘trinity’ normal zoom lens is one thing that each critical digicam producer must make, if it needs to draw a clientele {of professional} and fanatic photographers. Nikon is not any exception. Latest choices embody the Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR for DSLRs, which remains to be on sale regardless of the obsolescence of many F-mount lenses, and the comparatively groundbreaking Nikon Z 24‑70mm f/2.8 S, arguably Nikon’s first really pro-grade zoom for the greatest Nikon Z mirrorless cameras. Certainly, the unique Z 24-70mm f/2.8 lens was so startlingly good that the Mark II has a really robust act to comply with. To my thoughts, it greater than rises to the problem, and is without doubt one of the greatest Nikon Z lenses you should buy.
Nikon Z 24‑70mm f/2.8 S II: Specs
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Mount choices |
Nikon Z (FX) |
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Lens building |
14 components in 10 teams |
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Angle of view |
84 to 34.3 levels |
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Diaphragm blades |
11 |
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Minimal aperture |
f/22 |
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Minimal focus distance |
0.24m (W) 0.33m (T) |
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Most magnification |
0.32x (at 70mm) |
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Filter measurement |
77mm |
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Dimensions |
84x142mm / 3.4×5.6″ |
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Weight |
675g / 1.49lb |
Nikon Z 24‑70mm f/2.8 S II: Worth
The equation that has ‘new and improved’ on one aspect invariably has ‘dearer’ on the opposite. The Mark II version of this Nikon lens is not any exception. It launched at $2,797 / £2,599 / AU$4,599, making it significantly pricier than the unique Nikon Z 24‑70mm f/2.8 S, which had come all the way down to round $2,147 / £2,099 / AU$4,199 on the identical time. It’s in the identical ballpark because the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM however prices somewhat greater than the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 G Grasp II. Whichever manner you have a look at it, the best pro-grade trinity zooms don’t come low cost.
Nikon Z 24‑70mm f/2.8 S II: Design & Dealing with
I just like the WYSIWYG design of the Nikon Z 24‑70mm f/2.8 S II. Sure, what you see is what you get, as a result of this lens is a ‘world first’ in being a trinity normal zoom with a completely inside zoom mechanism, so there’s no hidden agenda of an extending internal barrel. Flip again the clock a bit and the Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR for DSLRs was a fairly colossal lens (wider and half an inch longer) that regarded prefer it ought to have had an inside zoom, however stretched even additional at each ends of its zoom vary.
Given the fastened bodily size, it’s no shock that the Z 24‑70mm f/2.8 S II isn’t a small lens, and is definitely half an inch longer than the unique Z-mount model. On the plus aspect, it has a smaller diameter and solely takes 77mm somewhat than 82mm filters. Additional bonuses of the inner zoom mechanism embody a minimized danger of mud and moisture getting into the lens whereas zooming, and a set middle of gravity that makes the lens simpler to make use of with a gimbal.
What actually shocked me was the load of this lens, or somewhat the dearth of it. The F-mount lens is correctly hefty at 1,070g / 2.35lb, and the unique Z-mount lens remains to be fairly weighty at 805g / 1.77lb. The Mark II feels a lot lighter than it appears, tipping the scales at a really modest 675g / 1.49lb. In the end, it feels properly balanced even on comparatively compact Z-system our bodies just like the Nikon Zf and Z6 III, in addition to the chunkier Z8 and Z9. Nikon claims that the Mark II is definitely probably the most light-weight 24-70mm f/2.8 lens on the earth, bar none.
A part of the load loss is as a result of Mark II having fewer optical components than the unique, which have been scaled again from 17 to 14. There are three aspherical components somewhat than 4, though one is a extremely complicated dual-sided aspherical factor, and the lens matches the unique in together with two ED (Further-low Dispersion) components.
The optical design goals for stellar sharpness and readability, together with lovely bokeh and minimal undesirable aberrations. To take care of the standard of bokeh when stopping down somewhat, the blade rely within the aperture diaphragm goes up from 9 to 11, making the aperture extra well-rounded. Excessive-tech coatings are additionally readily available to reduce ghosting and flare, together with ARNEO coat and Meso-amorphous coat, in addition to Nikon’s extra normal Tremendous Built-in Coating. As I’d count on in a lens of this class, it additionally encompasses a fluorine coating on the entrance factor and intensive climate seals.
Let’s speak autofocus. Once more, the Mark II units a brand new benchmark amongst Nikon zooms. It’s the primary Nikon zoom to function the corporate’s ‘Silky Swift Voice Coil Motor’ (SSVCM), which drives a number of teams of components to make autofocus as quick and exact as attainable. I’ve used this autofocus system earlier than within the mighty (and massively costly) Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S. Enjoying the numbers sport, Nikon claims that autofocus within the Mark II is 5x sooner with a 40 per cent discount in scan time on the telephoto finish, in addition to being 50 per cent quieter and 60 per cent faster when monitoring topics throughout zooming. Extra on that after I get to the ‘efficiency’ part under.
One factor that’s missing which was featured in Nikon’s first spherical of ‘trinity’ wide-angle, normal and telephoto zooms, plus a number of different top-class S-line lenses, is an OLED data show display. Do I miss it? Not within the least. I did somewhat just like the OLED display when it was first launched nevertheless it didn’t take lengthy for the novelty worth to put on off. One factor I actually do like, or somewhat two issues, are the twin customizable operate buttons. I are inclined to double up on AF-hold for these, in order that the identical operate naturally falls underneath the thumb in each panorama and portrait orientation taking pictures.
Subsequent up on my private hit listing is the aperture ring. One other first for Nikon (what took them so lengthy?) is that the tertiary management ring, nominally for aperture adjustment, comes with a Click on on/off swap. This makes it straightforward to swap between fastened and simply repeatable aperture increments for stills, or stepless aperture changes when taking pictures video. And talking of video, the lens is designed to have just about no focus respiratory in any way. In spite of everything, who solely shoots stills nowadays?
Additional switches close to the rear of the lens are readily available for Auto/Handbook focus modes and an autofocus vary limiter. I’d usually solely count on the latter on telephoto and macro lenses, nevertheless it’s a worthwhile addition on this case, not least as a result of the lens has a really quick minimal focus distance.
You may focus proper all the way down to 0.24m on the quick finish of the zoom vary, and 0.33m on the lengthy finish, which interprets to a sizeable most magnification issue of 0.32x on the longest 70mm focal size. This allows you to recreate small objects on the picture sensor at one-third life measurement, giving the potential for enormous enlargement. The one slight frustration is that the minimal focus distance isn’t fixed all through the zoom vary, however that’s not usually a serious concern.
Even the lens hood has been redesigned from that of the unique. The brand new model encompasses a sliding panel, giving easy accessibility to rotation-specific filters like round polarizers. As regular, it’s a bayonet-fit hood that’s reversible for smaller stowage and has a petal-shaped profile. It additionally encompasses a locking pushbutton.
Nikon Z 24‑70mm f/2.8 S II: Efficiency
As I’ve talked about, Nikon makes nice claims for its Silky Swift Voice Coil Motor autofocus system. I used to be subsequently anticipating quite a bit by way of its efficiency, nevertheless it nonetheless managed to take me abruptly. Autofocus is lightning quick and virtually uncanny in its skill to trace transferring topics, even when zooming. And as marketed, it’s just about silent in operation as nicely. Suffice it to say that, coupled with the superior autofocus system of the Nikon Z9, which I used for testing the lens, it gave me a just about 100 per cent hit price for accurately centered photos.
The lens has no optical picture stabilization, which is not any shock as all of Nikon’s full-frame Z-system cameras function IBIS (In Physique Picture Stabilization). Positive, Nikon nonetheless tends to construct optical VR (Vibration Discount) into its Z-mount telephoto lenses, as a result of IBIS is much less efficient in telephoto taking pictures. However IBIS is simply effective for wide-angle to quick telephoto focal lengths, and the proof of the pudding is that it labored very well with this lens all through my testing.
The zoom vary of 24-70mm is one among my private favorites. There are various ‘trinity’ normal zooms just like the Nikon Z 28-75mm f/2.8 and the even higher Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2. They’re extremely spectacular lenses and nice worth for cash, however, in the end, I actually miss the additional wide-angle protection of a 24-70mm lens. For comparability, the next gallery of 5 instance photos was taken at the entire marked 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm and 75mm focal lengths of the lens. Put together to be impressed by the corner-to-corner sharpness all through your complete zoom vary, a minimum of in the entire areas coated by the depth of discipline, which excludes the shut foreground in probably the most wide-angle photographs.
Picture 1 of 5
Producers typically declare that their greatest zoom lenses supply comparable efficiency to taking pictures with three or extra prime lenses. Nikon doesn’t truly say this, nevertheless it actually may. The degrees of sharpness throughout the entire picture are fabulous, there’s negligible coloration fringing, and the seize of ultra-fine element and texture is nothing wanting breathtaking. The lens is unquestionably greater than able to taking advantage of Nikon’s highest-resolution cameras with 45-megapixel picture sensors.
Nikon Z 24‑70mm f/2.8 S II: Pattern Pictures
The gallery of pattern photos under was taken with a Nikon Z9 physique. It options outside and indoor photographs captured on the Bishop’s Palace & Gardens within the English metropolis or Wells, and on the metropolis’s road market which is held on Wednesdays and Saturdays of every week.
Picture 1 of 31
Nikon Z 24‑70mm f/2.8 S II: Lab Outcomes
We run a variety of lab checks underneath managed circumstances, utilizing the Imatest Grasp testing suite. Images of take a look at charts are taken throughout the vary of apertures and zooms (the place obtainable), then analyzed for sharpness, distortion and chromatic aberrations.
We use Imatest SFR (spatial frequency response) charts and evaluation software program to plot lens decision on the middle of the picture body, corners and mid-point distances, throughout the vary of aperture settings and, with zoom lenses, at 4 totally different focal lengths. The checks additionally measure distortion and coloration fringing (chromatic aberration).
Sharpness:
Ranges of sharpness in our lab checks proved similar to these of the unique lens, which is not any dangerous factor. The one actually notable distinction was that sharpness away from the central area of the body was much less spectacular from the Mark II at a focal size of 50mm, when utilizing large apertures of f/2.8 to f/4. General although, it’s a super-sharp lens all through the zoom vary.
Fringing:
As with sharpness, there’s little to decide on between the unique and Mark II lens for coloration fringing. Each lenses do very nicely to maintain fringing to completely negligible ranges, all through your complete zoom and aperture ranges, even out on the excessive edges and corners of the body.
Distortion:
Distortion figures for the unique lens had been extremely low in any respect focal lengths in our checks, just because computerized in-camera correction can’t be disabled for this lens. The Mark II displays noticeable barrel distortion 24mm, just about no distortion at 35mm, and noticeable pincushion at 50-70mm. Even so, native distortion is way lower than in lots of fashionable lenses designed for mirrorless cameras, and computerized in-camera correction remains to be obtainable for those who want to use it. You simply don’t completely should.
Nikon Z 24‑70mm f/2.8 S II: Verdict
It might take quite a bit to prize me away from my beloved Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S normal zoom, which I initially bought as a part of a Nikon Z6 II package. I like the lens’s ultra-compact, retractable design, sharp picture high quality, and glorious all-round efficiency. I subsequently purchased the first-edition Nikon Z 24‑70mm f/2.8 S however ended up promoting it once more, as I discovered it too cumbersome for walkabout taking pictures and journey images.
The Mark II has made me rethink. Positive, it’s bodily fairly lengthy, however the size is fastened all through the zoom vary, and it’s surprisingly light-weight and simply manageable. The sooner f/2.8 aperture is the primary promoting level, enabling faster shutter speeds and tighter depths of discipline. However there’s extra to it than that. Autofocus is blisteringly quick and unerringly correct, all facets of picture high quality are to die for, and the lens merely works brilliantly nicely in all kinds of taking pictures eventualities. The one sticking level is the worth, however I would nicely unload some underused package to make up the distinction. Convey it on!
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Options ★★★★★ |
High-end options embody super-fast SSVCM autofocus, unique glass and coatings, twin operate buttons and a click on/de-click aperture ring. |
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Design ★★★★★ |
Though bodily fairly lengthy, the lens has a completely inside zoom mechanism and is surprisingly light-weight, regardless of being very sturdy and weather-sealed. |
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Efficiency ★★★★★ |
Scintillating sharpness {couples} with superbly clean bokeh. General picture high quality is outstanding and autofocus is each lightning-fast and constantly correct. |
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Worth ★★★★☆ |
Lenses like this don’t come low cost however, all issues thought-about, it’s excellent worth for cash. |