NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f2.8 S ii Tested for Events, Weddings & Landscapes by Pro Photographer
Introduction to the new Nikon Z 24 to 70 mm f2.8 S ii Zoom Lens
So a few months ago, Nikon released the new Nikon Z 24 to 70 mm f2.8 S ii, and there's already many reviews on the internet talking about this lens. So, in this video, I'm going to do something different because I'm a real professional photographer, not just a YouTuber making reviews on the internet. I cover about 160 corporate events and weddings in a year, and my landscapes have been published and printed commercially. I also teach photography workshops and lead people on photography walks if you're interested in that. This video will purely be from the perspective of someone who makes a living with camera equipment.
Purpose of this Video
I would like to answer these questions.
How does a new lens perform for my needs as a professional photographer specifically in
Events & Weddings
Landscapes & Travel
And also, how does it compare to the current lens I'm using for this genre: the NIKKOR 24 to 120 mm F4 Z lens.
The Nikon Z 24 to 70 mm f2.8 S ii for Event Photography & Weddings
Now the first thing I noticed when I started using this lens for event photography is that it is very much lighter than its predecessor. Now, this is something that is extremely important because I'm used to shooting up to 16 or even 17 hours a day and it can cause massive strain on my back and knees. So, having a lens that is so much lighter is a massive plus in my book. This lens is actually longer than the original version as well as the 24 to 120 F4, but it does not have a protruding front element when zoomed out.
As you'd expect of a lens of this caliber, the new Z 24 to 70 F2.8ii is a pleasure to shoot with. Autofocus, as mentioned, is lightning fast. Its sharpness is on par with prime lenses and it has an extremely pleasing blurring of out of focus areas.
Focal Length
Coupled on the Nikon Z8 and the new autofocus system, it makes short work of even the most challenging situations. This lens is 50 mm shorter than the reach on the 24-120. But I find that since I shoot with two cameras anyway, I can have the 135 plena out on the other camera body if I wanted to get real close.
Out of Focus Areas
When there's light sources behind your subject, you can see a little bit of cat's eye effect, but hardly any onion rings at all.
landscape photography with the Nikon Z 24 to 70 mm f2.8 S ii
We're going to see how it performs in this beautiful, beautiful landscape. Not surprising for a lens of this caliber, images are breathtakingly sharp. And in this vibrant landscape, I'm blown away by the amazing color rendition. It's nothing short of spectacular.
In regard to sun stars, this lens produces the same sharp pointed starburst effect as most Nikon Z lenses.
This lens has Nikon's best coatings, so chromatic aberration is extremely well controlled, but in very challenging situations like this one, I can still see a tiny little bit of blue fringing among the leaves.
Something else that landscape and travel photographers would be interested in is flare control. As you can see here, I'm shooting directly into the sun with this shot.
Now, this is a rather extreme case. As you can see here, I'm shooting directly into the setting sun, but I think the lens did a reasonably good job considering the circumstances. If street photography is your thing, you need a lens that can autofocus in dark and challenging conditions, and the lens performed wonderfully here.
Conclusion
So now allow me to go back to the question I asked at the beginning of the video. The NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f2.8ii performs extremely well for landscapes. It is sharp across the frame, has excellent contrast, and handles flare and back light very confidently. If this were my only lens on a trip, I would have no hesitation using it for serious landscape work. The rendering is absolutely beautiful, and when stopped down, it delivers the kind of detail you expect from a high-end professional zoom lens.
Conclusion - Landscapes & Travel Photography
That said, for landscapes specifically, I will still find myself reaching for the older 24 to 120 F4 more often. The reason is simple. Reach. The extra 120 mm gives me more compositional options, tighter framing, better compression, and the ability to isolate distant elements without changing lenses. In landscape photography, I'm usually shooting at f8 or f11. So the f/2.8 advantage over the 24 to70 doesn't really come into play for my shooting style. So while the Z 24 to 70 f2.8 S ii is optically superior in many ways, the versatility of the 24120 F4 makes it my preferred choice when landscapes are the priority.
Conclusion - Events & Weddings
Turning our attention back to events and weddings, the Z 24-70 mm f2.8 ii is my preferred choice. It's fast, reliable, and performs confidently in mixed and low light conditions, which is exactly what you need in these environments. And the 2470 range covers most situations. wide room shots at 24 mm, tighter portraits and candids at 70 mm. And while reach is still a concern, it's not an issue as I usually shoot these events with two cameras. So, I'll pair this lens with the 135 plena on the second body. The constant f2.8 gives me better lowlight performance and faster autofocus with extreme sharpness and no protruding front element while zooming, which is why this lens makes more sense for professional events and weddings. So, in conclusion, if I'm shooting landscapes and travel photography, I'll be reaching for my Z 24-120mm F4 as my preferred lens. And if I'm doing events or weddings, the Z 24-70mm F2.8 ii is my choice to go. So, whether you're a professional photographer or you're just wondering how a professional approaches the lens choices that we have here, I hope this video has been useful for you. And if you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment down below.
