The Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is a very useful lens, especially for wedding photography, which is what I do most of the time.
It can be used for landscapes and for general photography, but the f/4 S version is lighter, smaller, and probably better for most uses.
But for weddings and other special events, the beautiful and bright f/2.8 aperture is a must, and the extra size and weight are worth it.
I’ve used this same focal length lens on different mounts over the years, and the Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is the sharpest of all of them.
Build & Ergonomics
The Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is made just as well as the rest of the Nikon Z lenses I own and have used. I’ve been using it at weddings for more than a year, and it still works and looks brand new.
The lens is sealed against rain and snow, and I’ve used it in many storms without any problems.
Even though it is lighter and smaller than previous F mount versions, I still find the lens to be a bit heavy and bulky. But a workhorse lens with a fast aperture probably needs to be, and if that’s a problem for you, you might want to try the Nikon Z 24mm f/1.8 prime instead.
Focus Performance
In the picture above, I had the bride and groom dance on a deck that looked out over a lake at blue hour. I followed them with the Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S and a constant light.
Because this lens has two AF motors, it’s easy for me to get a wide range of sharp images in the series.
Even though there wasn’t a lot of light, all of my shots focused quickly and correctly. I can also take pictures on the dance floor at a wedding reception with this lens.
Special Features
There are some unique features on the Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens that you may find useful.
In addition to the focus and zoom rings, there is another control ring closer to the mount. Through the camera’s menu, you can change things like ISO, f-stop, shutter speed, and a whole bunch of other things.
You can also set up the L-fn buttons around the lens to do the same things.
On the lens’s screen, you can see the focus distance, the f-stop value, and the depth of field.
Image Quality
When it comes to picture quality, I have nothing bad to say about the Nikon Z 24-70mm lens.
I use this lens a lot for my “landscape” wedding photos, where I shoot wide to get the whole scene in the frame and put the bride and groom in the middle.
The Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens gives me the sharpness I need because these photos are meant to be used as wall art.
The background blur is nice, but for the best background blur, I prefer the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2.
When I use the lens, I haven’t seen any chromatic aberration, and software fixes make it rare to see distortion in mirrorless cameras.
Even though this is not a macro lens, I have used it to take close-up shots of details at weddings because it can focus from a fairly close distance.
