What are the best everyday lenses for the Nikon Z6 ii?

Question

So I finally bit the bullet and grabbed a Z6 ii last week after shooting with my old D750 for like seven years straight. The jump in autofocus and that IBIS is seriously blowing my mind its so much better than I expected lol. But here is where Im getting stuck. I have the 24-70mm f/4 kit lens and while it is sharp its just not giving me that pop I want for daily street stuff and family gatherings. Im heading to Tokyo in three weeks for a big vacation so I really need one or maybe two lenses that can just live on the body without weighing me down too much. I was looking at the 35mm 1.8 S because everyone says the S line is magic but then I saw the 40mm f2 which is way cheaper and tiny. My budget is around 1200 bucks total for this upgrade. Should I just get one really nice 24-120mm f4 for the range or stick to the fast primes for that specific look? Im used to my old heavy F-mount glass but I really want to keep this setup portable since I'm gonna be walking like 10 miles a day. What are you guys actually using as your go-to walkaround lens on the Z6 ii these days?

mikel66u6777147 · Accepted Answer

Congrats on the Z6 ii, the jump from the D750 is huge and youll definitely appreciate the IBIS in Tokyo. Since you have a solid budget but want to stay light, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 is an absolute must-buy. It is tiny, weighs almost nothing, and the price is so low it feels like a mistake. I use it for street photography all the time and I am super satisfied with the image quality. It turns the Z6 ii into a much more discreet setup than your old F-mount gear. With the rest of your cash, I would grab the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S. It’s a massive step up from the 24-70mm f4 kit lens in terms of versatility. That extra reach to 120mm is gonna be perfect for zooming in on temple details or street signs in Japan. Its sharp across the whole range and the close-focusing ability is surprisingly useful for food shots or macro-style stuff. Buying both puts you right around your budget if you shop smart or find a deal. Having the zoom for daytime exploring and the tiny 40mm prime for dinner and night walks is basically the ultimate travel kit. You wont regret leaving the heavy glass at home... your back will thank you after day three.

EmberGlide · Answer

Building on the earlier suggestion, that 40mm is definitely the budget king, but I would suggest looking at the Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 too. Since you want more pop for family stuff, the f/2.8 aperture is a huge technical step up from your kit lens. Its lighter than your old gear and fits your budget, especially if you find a sale. Just be careful with the weather sealing compared to the S-line tho.

ZetaZephyr · Answer

Are you shooting 4K/60p or just stills? I would suggest checking if your cards handle 200MB/s... I once spent way too much on vintage watches in Ginza. anyway lol.