The NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II tried and tested

Best use cases

When I ask myself, “Who will benefit most from a lens like this?” I have to be honest – everyone! For sure anyone capturing commercials or fashion, because the sharpness is insane, the autofocus works great and it’s super convenient to use on a gimbal. Also, because you don't need to change lenses since you are covering all the focal values that you need, it’s a great choice for anyone looking for that kind of flexibility. Going through all the pictures I took over the two half days of testing the lens, there was so much variety. Plus, I was doing video and photos at the same time, which makes it so versatile. I loved being able to capture everything I needed within such a short amount of time.

Real-world performance

When I was filming the dancer in the sand, grains were flying everywhere. Of course, I tried to protect the lens, but knowing the zoom barrel never extends so fewer parts are exposed, I didn’t need to worry about grit getting into the mechanism. Add the dust- and drip-resistant sealing, plus the fluorine coating that repels dust and dirt from the front element, and it really gives you the comfort to just relax and be creative.

For the BMX series, the lens was equally great. Most of the time I was photographing in Auto AF-C and it was so accurate. There’s one image where I was lying down and the BMX rider jumped right over the top of me and I was just waiting with Auto AF-C and Eye/Face Tracking, and the moment I sensed him coming into frame I used continuous burst. I was so impressed by how the autofocus locked on to his face, even though the bike was blocking part of the foreground. That’s ridiculous! Also I love capturing backlit images, and how this lens controls flare is amazing. I could work with the sun behind my subject without getting all those ghosting effects. Incredible.

Looking at the images I’d taken, I found them to be very crisp, and super sharp everywhere in the frame. I’d also say the sharpness is an improvement on the older lens. It’s very noticeable – and when I was capturing portraits at f/2.8 the bokeh looked amazing.

Video performance

I was using a gimbal, so being able to move from 24mm to 70mm on the same lens without swapping, thanks to the internal zoom, was just fantastic, it meant the balance of the rig stayed the same and I didn’t have to recalibrate. Also, the focus breathing is way smoother and, with demanding moves like a dolly zoom, it’s great to see there’s no loss of focus on the subject when zooming back and forth.

Top tips

1. Trust the autofocus
   For fast action or unpredictable movement, rely on AF-C with Eye and Face Tracking. The autofocus is so accurate you can just concentrate on your timing and creativity.

2. Play with creative effects
   Try using water projection or other dynamic elements in front of your subject. The lens also handles flare and ghosting so well that you can really experiment with light and movement.

3. Go long for portraits
   Zoom right to 70mm and open up to f/2.8. You’ll get a beautiful separation between subject and background, with smooth bokeh that makes portraits pop.

Final thoughts

Compared to the previous version, I can really tell this new lens is faster, the shape and feel are better, and the lighter weight is non-negligible. It just felt like I had a better product in my hands. I had a lot of fun capturing my subjects, and I never struggled to create the images I had in mind because I could rely completely on its performance. Features such as the faster AF, internal zoom, and the de-clickable control ring all had a real impact, but the biggest reasons to upgrade for me are the weight, the autofocus accuracy and the sharpness. This lens will definitely have a permanent place in my kitbag because it elevates both my work and my workflow.