Best versatile lens for a Nikon Z6II travel setup?

Question

Hey everyone! I’m finally planning a big three-week trip through Italy and Switzerland this fall, and I’m trying to nail down my gear list. I’ve been shooting with my Nikon Z6II for about a year now and absolutely love the sensor, but I’m feeling a bit stuck on which lens will be my primary 'workhorse' for the journey.

In the past, I’ve been a bit of a gear hoarder, carrying three or four different primes in a heavy backpack. This time, I really want to challenge myself to a more minimalist setup—ideally one lens that can handle about 90% of what I’ll encounter. I’ll be doing a mix of everything: wide-angle landscapes in the Alps, tight street photography in Florence, and hopefully some low-light shots inside those beautiful old cathedrals and dim restaurants.

I’ve been eyeing a few specific options but can't quite pull the trigger. The Z 24-120mm f/4 S seems like the logical choice because of that extra reach and the 'S-line' sharpness, but I’m worried that f/4 might be a bit limiting once the sun goes down or when I’m indoors. On the other hand, the Z 28-75mm f/2.8 is tempting for that extra stop of light and better bokeh, but I’m afraid 75mm won't be long enough for capturing distant architectural details. Then there’s the 24-200mm super-zoom, which would be amazing for convenience, but I’m concerned about the image quality trade-offs and the slow aperture on a full-frame body like the Z6II.

I’m really looking for that 'Goldilocks' lens that balances weight, focal range, and aperture. Budget is flexible around $1,000-$1,300, but weight is my biggest constraint since I'll be walking 10+ miles a day.

For those of you who travel with the Z6II, which lens has earned a permanent spot in your bag? If you could only bring one lens for a trip that covers both urban and natural landscapes, which one are you grabbing?

DekkerP · Accepted Answer

> I’ve been a bit of a gear hoarder, carrying three or four different primes in a heavy backpack. This time, I really want to challenge myself to a more minimalist setup—ideally one lens that can handle about 90% of what I’ll encounter. Similar situation here - I went through this exact struggle last year before a big trip. I was so tired of lugging around a bag of primes for my Nikon Z6II Mirrorless Camera Body (like the first reply said, weight is EVERYTHING when ur walking 10 miles). I basically narrowd it down to the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S vs the Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8. In my experience, the 24-120mm is basically the king of versatility with that S-line sharpness, but its f/4 can be tough in dim restaurants unless youre cool with cranking the ISO. On the other hand, the 28-75mm is lighter and faster for bokeh, but man, I reallyyy missed the 24mm width for tight street shots and big cathedrals. I also tried the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR, which is great for weight, but the slow aperture at the long end was kindal a dealbreaker for me. Its definitely a tough call, good luck with the choice! 👍

ByteBirch · Answer

hey! i totally feel u on the 'gear hoarder' thing... i actually did a similar trip through the Dolomites last year with my Nikon Z6II Mirrorless Camera Body and learned the hard way that weight is EVERYTHING when ur hitting 10+ miles a day. i tried the three-prime dance initially, but switching lenses in a crowded plaza is just not it, right? in my experience, the absolute 'Goldilocks' winner for what ur doing is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S. i know ur worried about f/4 indoors, but honestly, the Z6II sensor is highkey a low-light beast. i've pushed mine to ISO 6400 or even 12800 inside dimly lit basilicas and the files stay super clean. plus, that 5-axis IBIS lets u handhold some crazy slow shutter speeds... i've gotten sharp shots at 1/10th of a second at the wide end, easy. here is how i break down the technical trade-offs: * Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S: S-line optics are technically superior. edge-to-edge sharpness is incredible, and that extra reach to 120mm is *clutch* for compression on those Swiss mountain peaks.
* Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8: the f/2.8 is nice for bokeh, but 28mm feels way too tight in narrow European alleys. u want that 24mm width for the architecture, tbh.
* Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR: convenience is 10/10, but the variable aperture is a pain. once u zoom in a bit, ur at f/6.3, and the diffraction starts hitting the image quality sooner than u'd want. basically, the lesson i learned is that versatility usually beats a stop of light on modern mirrorless bodies. the 24-120mm is about 630g, so it wont break ur neck, and the 1:2.6 macro-style close focusing is actually great for food shots. grab that one and dont look back! enjoy Italy!! cheers.

GlintGryphon · Answer

Re: "Honestly, been thinking about ur question and I've..."

I totally agree with Ezra that the f/4 aperture isn't the hurdle people think it is. Coming back to this an hour later, I wanted to add a quick warning about the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR. While the range is massive, that aperture drops off to f/6.3 really quickly. It makes the lens feel much slower than it looks on paper once you start zooming in even a little bit. For a trip like this, reliability and consistency are huge. The Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S is just a safer bet because the exposure stays the same throughout the zoom range. Also, dont overlook the weather sealing on the S-line lenses. Switzerland can be unpredictable and having that peace of mind when it starts drizzling in the mountains is worth the weight. One thing to watch out for with the Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 is that 28mm on the wide end. It sounds close to 24mm but in those tight European streets or inside a big church, you're gonna feel that loss of field of view. Stick with the 24-120mm, it really is the most reliable workhorse for the Z6II.