20/02/2026 9:20 am
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Hey everyone! I finally made the jump to the Nikon Z system recently (picked up a Z6II), and while I’m absolutely loving the sensor performance and the overall feel of the body, I’m hitting a bit of a wall when it comes to my lens kit. Right now, I’ve got a couple of primes, but I’m finding that for day-to-day shooting, family outings, and weekend trips, I’m constantly swapping glass and occasionally missing those candid moments. I’m looking for that one "Goldilocks" zoom lens—the workhorse that can stay on my camera about 80-90% of the time.
I’ve been doing a lot of research, and I’m honestly a bit torn between a few different paths. The 24-70mm f/4 S that often comes as a kit lens seems like a fantastic compact option, and the reviews for its sharpness are surprisingly good for a "kit" lens. However, I’ve seen so many people in various groups raving about the 24-120mm f/4 S. That extra reach at the long end sounds incredibly useful for portraits or catching details in a landscape without having to crop in too much.
Then there’s the 24-200mm f/4-6.3. It sounds like the ultimate "one-lens solution" for travel, but I’m a little concerned about the variable aperture and whether the image quality holds up at the 200mm end compared to the dedicated S-line lenses. I mostly shoot a mix of travel, street, and occasional landscapes while hiking, so weight is definitely a factor for me. I’m not sure I want to lug around the professional 24-70mm f/2.8 S unless the jump in quality is just massive for someone who isn't shooting pro-level gigs every day.
For those of you who have been using the Nikon Z system for a while, what has been your experience? If you had to pick just one all-around zoom for general use and travel, which one are you reaching for and why? I’m particularly curious if the 24-120mm is worth the extra weight and cost over the standard 24-70mm f/4 for a hobbyist. Thanks in advance for the help!
4 Answers
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20/02/2026 9:21 am
In my experience, I tried the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR but unfortunately it was sooo soft at the long end... lowkey, just get the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S over the 24-70 kit lens, it's totally worth the weight!! gl
10
20/02/2026 9:55 am
I'd suggest Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S tbh: • 24-120mm: Best versatility and sharpness
• Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S: Light but limited reach
• Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR: Too soft at 200mm
2
20/02/2026 10:05 am
Totally agree with what was said earlier! The Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S is the gold standard, but if ur trying to save some cash, dont sleep on a used Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S. Since it's a kit lens, you can find mint copies for like $350 or $400. Basically 1/3 the price of the 120mm and still super sharp for travel... such a steal. gl!
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20/02/2026 10:35 pm
Honestly, if you're looking at the broader market and not just first-party glass, the landscape for the Z system has changed realy fast lately. Since you're a bit worried about the weight and cost of the pro S-line 2.8, you should definately look at the licensed third-party options that bridge the gap between the kit lenses and the high-end stuff: • Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2: This is basically the market disruptor for hobbyists. It gives you that constant f/2.8 aperture for much better subject separation and low-light performance than the f/4 zooms, but it's way lighter and cheaper than the Nikon S-line version. Tbh, for family outings and street stuff, having f/2.8 is huge. • Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD: If you want one lens to replace a whole bag of primes, this is the technical marvel. It's heavy, but the range is insane for travel and event shooting. From a market perspective, these Tamron lenses use Nikon's official protocols, so the AF performance is totaly seamless on a Z6II. If 28mm is wide enough for your landscape work, the 28-75mm G2 is arguably the best value 'all-rounder' right now.
