Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S.
An S-line zoom punching well above its f/4 price point. The most-recommended single-lens travel kit on the Z system.
The Verdict.
Gavler Meta-Score
“The Z system's best-value one-lens travel kit: Photography Life calls it "one of the best all-around midrange zooms that I've ever tested," often selling under $1,000. Two catches — it has no in-lens VR, so it is a poor match for IBIS-less bodies like the Z50 or Zfc, and it shows significant, complex barrel distortion.”
The Gavler Verdict
Where to Buy.
Prices checked regularly
90-day price history
Price History
Steady at $1,096 for the entire 90-day tracking window — no increases, no discounts, across 67 tracked days.
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Precision Engineering
S-Line Sharpness at f/4
Three ED and multiple aspherical elements; Photography Life ranks it among the best all-around midrange zooms it has tested.
Fast, Quiet Autofocus
Stepping-motor AF that Dustin Abbott found fast, quiet, and smooth across the 5x zoom range.
Sub-$1,000 S-Line Value
Often street-priced under $1,000 at just 630g — one of the cheapest and lightest S-line zooms Nikon makes.
Technical Specifications
The Scoreboard
Expert consensus (89) sits just below the community's love (90): reviewers rate the optics and value exceptional for an f/4 S-line zoom, with the recurring caveats being the absence of in-lens VR (a problem only on IBIS-less bodies) and complex barrel distortion.
Cast Your Vote
Do you think Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S deserves the #8 spot in Best Standard Zoom Lenses?
Global Critique
“Because with the Z 24-120mm f/4 S, Nikon has made one of the best all-around midrange zooms that I've ever tested.”
“The biggest issue with the Z 24-120mm f/4 S's specifications is that it lacks vibration reduction. That's not an issue so long as your camera body has IBIS.”
“There is a significant amount of barrel distortion that is fairly complex. Fully correcting the barrel distortion creates some pincushion distortion in the edges of the frame.”
“Not only is the MSRP lower than competing lenses, but at the time of this review, the Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 S could be had for under $1000, making it one of the absolute cheapest S-Line zoom lenses available.”
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