Nikon Z Full-Frame Midrange Zooms Compared
Z9 Z8 Z7 II Z6 II Zf Z7 Z6 Z5 Z fc Z50 Z30
Z System Z Lenses All Nikon Lenses Flash
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This 100% all-content, junk-free webpage's biggest source of support is when you use any of these links to my personally approved sources I've used myself for way over 100 combined years when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you get it elsewhere. Nikon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, dropped, incomplete, gray-market, store demo or used lens — and all of my personally approved sources allow for 100% cash-back returns for at least 30 days if you don't love your new lens. I've used many of these sources since the 1970s because I can try it in my own hands and return it if I don't love it, and because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new lens before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I've used myself for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
May 2022 Better Pictures Nikon Mirrorless Mirrorless Lenses All Nikon Lenses Nikon Flash All Reviews
Sony vs. Nikon vs. Canon Full-Frame
Roughly to scale: |
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Intro |
21 July 2020 |
13 December 2021 |
13 February 2019 |
23 August 2018 |
28 October 2021 |
12 February 2020 |
Maximum Aperture |
f/4-6.3 |
f/2.8 |
f/2.8 |
f/4 |
f/4 |
f/4-6.3 |
Filter diameter |
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Length |
2.1" 51 mm |
4¾" 120 mm |
5.0" 126 mm |
3.5" 88.5 mm |
4.7" 118 mm |
4.5" 114 mm |
Extra Control Rings |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
OLED Display |
no |
no |
Yes |
no |
no |
no |
Programmable Button |
no |
no |
Yes |
no |
Yes |
no |
AF/MF Switch |
no |
Yes |
Yes |
no |
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Close Focus |
1.1' 0.35 m |
0.62' 0.19 m |
1.15' 0.38 m |
1' 0.3 m |
1.15' 0.35 m |
1.6 ~ 2.3' 0.5 ~ 0.7 m |
Maximum Macro Ratio |
0.17× |
0.34× |
0.22× |
0.3× |
0.39× |
0.28× |
VR |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
Yes |
Sharpness |
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Distortion |
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Quality |
China |
Japan |
Thailand |
Thailand |
Thailand |
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Best for |
Ultra compact lens for travel. |
Basic f/2.8 lens with light weight and low price. |
Big, heavy rich guy lens with foolish features like an OLED display, but still only zooms to 70mm. |
Nikon's first Z lens from 2018. Not exciting today except as a somewhat smaller but much more limited version of the new Z 24-120/4. |
Great all-around lens with a very useful zoom range, constant f/4, super-close focusing and reasonable size, weight and price. |
My personal favorite because it replaces two other lenses with the broadest zoom range, moderate size and great price. |
Weight |
6.8 oz. 192 g |
19.9 oz. 565 g |
28.3 oz. 803 g |
17.5 oz. 496 g |
22.2 oz. 630 g |
19.9 oz. 565g |
Price, 5/2022 |
* With the default in-camera correction. Only the Z 24-70/2.8 lets us turn off this correction, in which case it can be visible at the ends of its zoom range. Caveat: if you shoot raw data rather than JPG images, whatever software you use to create images from the raw data may or may not apply any correction, so good luck.
Recommendations top
All of these lenses are equally sharp.
Follow each link for sharpness details in the table above, but no, the more expensive lenses don't make pictures any sharper than the tiny Z 24-50mm or my favorite Z 24-200 VR, which are also the least expensive.
Pick your lens based on how much you want to carry, zoom range and if you need a fast f/4 or f/2.8 aperture at the long end of the zoom. Few people really need f/4 or f/2.8, especially with the great high ISO performance of Nikon's mirrorless cameras.
I prefer the Z 24-200 VR because it covers the broadest range, eliminating any need for a 70-200mm zoom. Not only is it less to carry, but I get better and more pictures because I never have to waste time swapping between lenses.
This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally approved sources I've used myself for way over 100 combined years when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you get it elsewhere. Nikon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, dropped, incomplete, gray-market, store demo or used lens — and all of my personally approved sources allow for 100% cash-back returns for at least 30 days if you don't love your new lens. I've used many of these sources since the 1970s because I can try it in my own hands and return it if I don't love it, and because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new lens before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I've used myself for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken.
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