Cameras Ranked

24–120 Nikon Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 S vs 24–70 Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 S

Nikon Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 S vs Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 S: our pick for most people is the Nikon Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 S. Pick the Nikon Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 S if you carry it all day or travel light, you want more reach at the long end, or you want cheaper filters (weight: 630 g vs 805 g; focal length: 24-120 mm vs 24-70 mm; filter thread: 77 mm vs 82 mm). Pick the Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 S if you shoot in low light or want a blurrier background (widest aperture: f/4 vs f/2.8). Too close to call (closest focus: 0.35 m vs 0.38 m).

To one scale. Nikon Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 S: length 118 mm, diameter 84 mm, filter thread 77 mm; Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 S: length 126 mm, diameter 89 mm, filter thread 82 mm.118 mmNikon 24–120630 g126 mmNikon 24–70805 g
Both to one scale, from each maker's length and diameter, the filter thread in yellow. The rings are drawn, not measured.
To one scale. Nikon Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 S: length 118 mm, diameter 84 mm, filter thread 77 mm; Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 S: length 126 mm, diameter 89 mm, filter thread 82 mm.118 mmNikon 24–120630 g126 mmNikon 24–70805 g
Both to one scale, from each maker's length and diameter, the filter thread in yellow. The rings are drawn, not measured.

The pick, in points

Lead for a pick: 1

Nikon 24–120

4.5points

Wins on weight, focal length (longest) and filter thread.

Nikon 24–70

3points

Wins on widest aperture.

Each real difference scores its importance for the side that wins it; a lead under 1 is “it depends”. How the weights work

The Nikon 24–120 on its ownThe Nikon 24–70 on its ownAll Nikon Z lenses

Where they differ

5 of 16 specs

Each bar is the gap as a share of the smaller value, on one scale from 0 to 100%; an arrow end is a gap past 100%. The dashed tick marks where a gap starts to count.

  1. Widest aperture

    Importance 3

    Nikon 24–120f/41Nikon 24–70f/2.82

    1.2 apart (42.9%), to the Nikon 24–70

    3points

  2. Weight

    Importance 2

    Nikon 24–120630 g3Nikon 24–70805 g4

    175 g apart (27.8%), to the Nikon 24–120

    2points

  3. Focal length (longest)

    Importance 2

    Nikon 24–120120 mm1Nikon 24–7070 mm2

    50 mm apart (71.4%), to the Nikon 24–120

    2points

  4. Filter thread

    Importance 0.5

    Nikon 24–12077 mm3Nikon 24–7082 mm4

    5 mm apart (6.5%), to the Nikon 24–120

    0.5points

  5. Closest focus, wide end

    Importance 1

    Nikon 24–1200.35 m3Nikon 24–700.38 m4

    0.03 m apart (8.6%), under the 15% bar

    0points

Also different, no weight reads them5

  1. Length

    Nikon 24–120118 mm3Nikon 24–70126 mm4

    8 mm apart (6.8%)

    Not weighted

  2. Diameter

    Nikon 24–12084 mm3Nikon 24–7089 mm4

    5 mm apart (6%)

    Not weighted

  3. Maximum magnification, wide end

    Nikon 24–1200.39x3Nikon 24–700.22x4

    0.17 apart (77.3%)

    Not weighted

  4. Elements

    Nikon 24–120163Nikon 24–70174

    1 apart (6.2%)

    Not weighted

  5. Groups

    Nikon 24–120133Nikon 24–70154

    2 apart (15.4%)

    Not weighted

Side by side, to scale

Focal length on one log scale

Focal length on one log scale: Nikon Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 S: 24 to 120 mm; Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 S: 24 to 70 mm.Nikon 24–120Nikon 24–70+50 mm1624355085135
The focal lengths each maker states.

Specifications

SpecificationsNikon Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 SNikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 S
Focal length24-120 mm124-70 mm2
Widest aperturef/41f/2.82
Closest focus0.35 m30.38 m4
Maximum magnification0.39x30.22x4
Weight630 g3805 g4
Length118 mm3126 mm4
Diameter84 mm389 mm4
Filter thread77 mm382 mm4
Elements163174
Groups133154
HoodHB-1023HB-874

Same on both

  • Stabilization No
  • Mount Nikon Z3
  • Covers Full frame
  • Type Zoom
  • Aperture blades 93

Full specifications, side by side†

Show all 8 rows
Full specifications, side by sideNikon 24–1203Nikon 24–704
Focal length range24-120 mm24-70 mm
Maximum aperturef/4f/2.8
Minimum aperturef/22f/22
Angle of view84° - 20°20' (FX format)84° - 34°20' (FX format)
Angle of view61° - 13°20' (DX format)61° - 22°50' (DX format)
Maximum reproduction ratio0.39x0.22x
Filter attachment size77 mm82 mm (P = 0.75 mm)
Lens weightApproximately 630 g/1 lb 6.3 ozApproximately 805 g/1 lb 12.4 oz
Rows only one maker lists: 7

Also on the Nikon Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 S spec page3

Minimum focus distance0.35 m/1.15 ft (from focal plane)
Diaphragm blade count9 (rounded diaphragm opening)
Lens dimensionsApproximately 84 mm/3.4 in. maximum diameter x 118 mm/4.7 in. (distance from camera lens mount flange)
Included accessoriesLC-77B Lens Cap (front cap), LF-N1 Lens Cap (rear cap), HB-102 Lens Hood, CL-C2 Lens Case

Also on the Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 S spec page4

Lens element configuration17 elements in 15 groups (2 ED glass, 4 aspherical lens elements, Nano Crystal Coat or ARNEO Coat, fluorine-coated front and rear lens elements)
Minimum focus distance0.38 m/1.25 ft
Diaphragm blade count9 (rounded diaphragm opening)

How the pick works

  1. Widest aperture3

    Lower wins once they are 0.3 apart.

  2. Weight2

    Lower wins from a 12% gap.

  3. Focal length (longest)2

    Higher wins from a 15% gap.

  4. Focal length (widest)2

    Lower wins once they are 2 mm apart.

  5. Optical stabilization1

    Having it wins.

  6. Closest focus, wide end1

    Lower wins from a 15% gap. Compared only between lenses of the same focal length (widest).

  7. Filter thread0.5

    Lower wins once they are 5 mm apart.

  8. Lead for a pick1

Our pick or our take adds up the importance of each real difference, with these importances and thresholds: a gap smaller than its row's threshold is too close to call and counts as the same. They are our editorial choice, not a measurement, the same on every page, and they never read prices, sales or who sells it.

Paid placements0

How we rank, in full

Sources

  1. Wikidata: Nikon Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 S, checked Oct 9, 2026 (CC0 1.0)
  2. Wikidata: Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 S, checked Oct 9, 2026 (CC0 1.0)
  3. Nikon product specifications: Nikon Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 S, checked Oct 6, 2026
  4. Nikon product specifications: Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 S, checked Oct 6, 2026

Worked out by code, not stated by a source

  • Read from the lens name: each maker marks the sensor size a lens covers (Sony FE/E, Canon RF/RF-S, Nikon DX, Tamron Di III/Di III-A, Sigma DG/DC); every Fujifilm X lens is APS-C and every Micro Four Thirds lens is Four Thirds.
  • Read from the lens name: Sony marks optically stabilized lenses OSS, Canon IS, Nikon VR, Fujifilm OIS, Panasonic O.I.S., Tamron VC and Sigma OS; a lens from these makers without the mark has no optical stabilization.
  • Prime or zoom, read from the focal length in the lens name.

Each value is checked automatically against the source it links, on the date shown. How we build these pages

† The makers' own tables, row by row, with labels in our plain words (translated where the maker's page isn't in English); each row's numbers are checked against the page it links.

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