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Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 S field review
- Thread starter HeavyDuty
- Start date
Lets hope they redo the AF speed test on the Z9 as the 24-70 f2.8S is much faster to focus on the Z9.
That makes me smile. I’ve recently invested in the trinity of f/2.8 ahead of my Z9’s arrival, I’m looking forward to seeing how they do. They had a 24-70/2.8 on the demo Z9 at the release event I attended, the focus speed seemed exceptionally fast.
It feels perfectly fast to me on my Z6.
The Z9 makes all the lenses focus faster.
It's not slow on my Z7II either, but it is faster on the Z9. Also, for some reason, the Z7/Z7II focus slower at f2.8 than at f5.6. I think that also applies to the Z6/Z6II.
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RazorSharpWO
Guest
It honestly pains me to read most of the "field reviews" here ... complete with yet another "dog on the sofa" shot
I professionally use this lens as my workhorse as a casualty investigator (33-year career). I've owned it since August, 2019, and have shot thousands of photos with it, collecting evidence for the passed 2.6 years.
From documenting close-up photos of wounds (with and without Ext. Tubes), damage to vehicles, to documenting/measuring skidmarks on roadways, to "lay of the land" scene investigations, to documenting assaults/thefts inside buildings, points of entry, etc.— day and night — and, yes, to photographing nature, including reptiles at night, etc. (with & without a flash) — this lens is a highly-capable, multi-dimensional optic.
I know there are also plenty of lens connoisseurs on the site, who will similarly applaud the Z 24-70/2.8 way more than just a "Silver Award."
So it's really disappointing to see (essentially) a "walk-around casual" review. No zoom is perfect, but this one has near-prime optical quality, and absolutely useful utility. I just came back from a forensic scene investigation, at the border of Mexico in Nogales, maybe an hour ago. Another 150 photos taken, both near and afar. There has never been a more useful lens for my work.
That said, here is a much more thorough review by an actual photographer:
https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-z-24-70mm-f2-8-s
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Your field experience is obviously much more useful than the so called "field review" by DPR.It honestly pains me to read most of the "field reviews" here ... complete with yet another "dog on the sofa" shot
I professionally use this lens as my workhorse as a casualty investigator (33-year career). I've owned it since August, 2019, and have shot thousands of photos with it, collecting evidence for the passed 2.6 years.
From documenting close-up photos of wounds (with and without Ext. Tubes), damage to vehicles, to documenting/measuring skidmarks on roadways, to "lay of the land" scene investigations, to documenting assaults/thefts inside buildings, points of entry, etc.— day and night — and, yes, to photographing nature, including reptiles at night, etc. (with & without a flash) — this lens is a highly-capable, multi-dimensional optic.
I know there are also plenty of lens connoisseurs on the site, who will similarly applaud the Z 24-70/2.8 way more than just a "Silver Award."
So it's really disappointing to see (essentially) a "walk-around casual" review. No zoom is perfect, but this one has near-prime optical quality, and absolutely useful utility. I just came back from a forensic scene investigation, at the border of Mexico in Nogales, maybe an hour ago. Another 150 photos taken, both near and afar. There has never been a more useful lens for my work.
That said, here is a much more thorough review by an actual photographer:
https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-z-24-70mm-f2-8-s
My experience mirrors yours and many other Nikon shooters.
Nikon Z 24-70 mm /2.8 is possibly the best and most useful zoom released to date and yet I never expect more than silver from DPR for Nikon products.
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Adam-T
Forum Pro
DPR really need to stop reviewing lenses (the Comical disaster which was the Z 14-24 F2.8 review showed that) . So the best optically 24-70 F2.8 made gets a silver because its AF is not optimal for video - Sheesh, get real .. The ubiquitous 24-70 F2.8 zoom is and has been (since it replaced the 28-70 F2.8 which in turn replaced the 35-70 F2.8 ) a staple work lens for professional photographers since its inception so a modern mirrorless one is hardly likely to be optimised for the "Vlogging" crowd ... Photo AF speed will be a lot faster on the Z9 and its hardly slow even on a Mk1 Z7
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** Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist **
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** Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist **
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Agree about DPR and lens reviews. Particularly remember when they labeled the Z 50 mm /1.8 "worst lens of the year".
Have they given any 24-70 f/2.8 a Gold award?
If so, then the criticisms in this thread are valid. However, 24-70 lenses are historically difficult to create. Yes, they are "just" under a 3x zoom, but going from wide angle to tele makes it a horribly difficult lens to make. Unlike good primes-- or other members of the zoom trinity--they require significant compromises. Most require stopping down especially at 70mm for sharpest results and frequently have significant distortion at 24mm.
Thus, I'm not bothered by the lens getting a silver unless, of course, they've given a gold to another 24-70.
In their defense, that was an editorial mistake which they publicly admitted.
kbrkr
Senior Member
So for 3 years all we heard from reviewers and Youtubers is bashing of the Nikon Z AF system. Now that AF has been addressed in the Z9 and Nikon filling in the gaps in the Lens lineup, the fashionable thing to do is now BASH Lens Focus speed; and specifically the Nikon focus motors. I have now seen many reviews bashing the focus speed of the 70-200, 24-70, and the new 100-400. This is absolute rubbish. Its becoming as laughable as the Covid-19 news coverage!
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RazorSharpWO
Guest
I suppose you're right. I actually don't read the reviews anymore, and I wouldn't have read the subject one, had it not been posted up in the Z mirrorless section.
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RazorSharpWO
Guest
Yes: https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canon-ef-24-70mm-f-2-8l-ii-usm/5
Then be bothered.
To me, an accurate judging system should judge any lens within its class. You can't judge a lens by any other yardstick than its intended purpose. You have to judge it for what it is, rate it for what it is.
I was looking at the Z 14-24/2.8 review, just irritate myself, and it was equally ridiculous. They gave it a ding because of "bokeh for portraiture." Who uses a 14-24 for portraiture?
Why not give the Z 14-24/2.8 another ding for "not being able to resolve feather detail from 150 yards away?"
I mean, it's simply ludicrous to judge a lens for a purpose it was never meant to fulfill.
It seems DPR staff literally look for "some negative things to add," just to justify downgrading what is essentially an awesome lens for its class. It also seems like they intentionally mock their readership. They give you a link so that you can "jump to conclusions," which is basically making fun of what appear to be intentional slights in their articles.
anotherMike
Forum Pro
I honestly can't imagine needing a lens that has faster AF in real world terms (meaning, not racking from MFD to infinity) than the 24-70/2.8S. I don't like zooms much, being very prime centric, but I am more than highly impressed with my 24-70/2.8S; it's the first zoom I'll carry to replace a couple of primes for critical landscape work, and I've never said that about a mid range or wide angle zoom ever before. I seriously do need to write up something about this lens (and the brilliant 85/1.8S) some day.....
Reasons to be bothered about the 14-24 review but not the 24-70. Obviously, our standards for lens reviews are different. I prefer a more absolute rather than a relative scale. Again, unless they're giving a gold award to the Sony, Canon, or Sigma 24-70 lens, I don't have a problem with a silver award in this case. When I shoot Canon, I'll often go with 16-35 (now, 15-35) and 70-200 and forgo the mid-range zoom simply because the bookend zooms are better instruments (and I don't miss that 35mm "hole" in my kit).Yes: https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canon-ef-24-70mm-f-2-8l-ii-usm/5
Then be bothered.
To me, an accurate judging system should judge any lens within its class. You can't judge a lens by any other yardstick than its intended purpose. You have to judge it for what it is, rate it for what it is.
I was looking at the Z 14-24/2.8 review, just irritate myself, and it was equally ridiculous. They gave it a ding because of "bokeh for portraiture." Who uses a 14-24 for portraiture?
Why not give the Z 14-24/2.8 another ding for "not being able to resolve feather detail from 150 yards away?"
I mean, it's simply ludicrous to judge a lens for a purpose it was never meant to fulfill.
It seems DPR staff literally look for "some negative things to add," just to justify downgrading what is essentially an awesome lens for its class. It also seems like they intentionally mock their readership. They give you a link so that you can "jump to conclusions," which is basically making fun of what appear to be intentional slights in their articles.
I'm still waiting for the "perfect" 24-70. One that performs as well at every focal length the way the best 70-200 f/2.8 lenses perform at their focal lengths. Yes, the z 24-70 is possibly/probably best in class, but if I'm shooting at 24mm or 70mm, and I want the sharpest images with the least amount of distortion, I'm likely reaching for a different lens. And, yes, I understand that this focal range is a workhorse for working pros, and great images are taken with them. But that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement.
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RazorSharpWO
Guest
No one "makes a mistake" like that ... that kind of language is extreme, it's intentionally-damaging, and is indefensible — especially when the truth is the opposite.
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From the actual DPR review:
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