It’s an interesting move from Nikon which has previously concentrated more on high-end lenses. It’s going to extend the appeal of the Nikon Z system to beginners and first-time Nikon users. It’s currently being sold on its own, but we can expect to see it turning up in camera/lens bundles soon, specifically the Nikon Z5 II, where it’s likely to be better value for money.
The Nikkor Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1 will cost around $547/£529 and its a great alternative to the current kit zoom options for Nikon Z cameras. The existing Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 is cheaper, with a compact retracting design but has a limited zoom range. There’s also the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, but that’s more expensive because of its constant maximum aperture and, again, has a shorter focal range than this new lens. Nikon also makes a NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 lens, which is faster again, but has still has a restricted focal range, and the expensive NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8, which is a big old beast and a long way from a casual kit lens.
Perhaps the closest existing alternative to the new Nikkor Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1 is the existing NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S, which has a constant maximum aperture and a longer focal range, but is a bigger, heavier lens that costs almost twice as much.
Nikkor Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1 specifications
| Mount: | Nikon Z |
| Focal range: | 24-105mm |
| Maximum aperture: | f/4-7.1 |
| Stabillization: | No |
| Weather sealing: | Yes |
| Customizable control ring: | Yes |
| Autofocus: | STM |
| Maximum magnification: | 0.5x |
| Weight: | 350g |
The Nikkor Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1 does not feature in-lens Nikon VR stabilization, but all full frame Nikon Z bodies now have IBIS, so this is hardly necessary. The 24-105mm focal range makes this a much more versatile lens than the average kit zoom and the 0.5x macro capability makes it more versatile still. The weather sealing is good news too, as this is likely to prove a popular travel lens.
Is the variable maximum aperture going to be a problem?
Good question. The maximum aperture of f/4 at the wide-angle end is fine, but f/7.1 at full zoom sounds pretty narrow. In practice, and for the kind of use this lens will be put to, it might not be an issue. If you like to work with aperture and shutter speed directly, you will run out of shutter speed options at longer zoom settings, but if you shoot in program AE mode and use auto ISO, you can leave the camera to sort out the settings and still be sure of sharp shots. Today’s full frame mirrorless cameras are so good at high ISO settings that you’re only like to run into the lens’s limits at night or in dark interiors.
It so happens I own a Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM with the same specifications (is that a coincidence, Nikon?). I don’t find the variable aperture a problem at all for the kind of casual travel photography I use this lens for. I swap to a prime lens for serious professional work, but otherwise the 24-105mm is fine.