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Technical Details
- Brand Name: Nikon
- Model: 2193
- Lens Type: zoom
- Minimum focal length: 24 millimeters
- Maximum focal length: 120 millimeters
Product Details
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Product Description
From the Manufacturer
This upgraded standard zoom lens for FX-format D-SLR cameras is perfect for landscapes, portraits, weddings and distant subjects offering a constant maximum aperture to maintain exposure settings throughout the entire zoom range, VR II image stabilization for shooting stills in low light and recording video clips and Nano Crystal Coat.
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR Lens Highlights
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Perfect for landscapes, portraits, weddings and distant subjects offering a constant maximum aperture to maintain exposure settings throughout the entire zoom range and VR II Image Stabilization.
Extended range on Nikon DX-format D-SLR cameras
Angle of view is equivalent to a focal length of 36-180mm in FX/35mm format.
Nikon VR II (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization
Vibration Reduction, engineered specifically for each VR NIKKOR lens, enables handheld shooting at up to 4 shutter speeds slower than would otherwise be possible, assuring dramatically sharper still images and video capture.
Nano Crystal Coat
Further reduces ghosting and interior flare across a wide range of wavelengths for even greater image clarity.
2 Extra-low Dispersion (ED) Elements
Offers superior sharpness and color correction by effectively minimizing chromatic aberration, even at the widest aperture setting.
3 Aspherical Lens Elements
Aspherical lens elements virtually eliminate coma and other types of aberration, even when shooting at the widest available aperture.
Additional Features
- M/A Focus Mode Switch
- Enables quick changes between manual and autofocus operation.
- Internal Focus (IF)
- Provides fast and quiet autofocus without changing the length of the lens, retaining working distance throughout the focus range.
- Exclusive Nikon Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
- Enables fast, accurate and quiet autofocus.
- Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC)
- Enhances light transmission efficiency and offers superior color consistency and reduced flare.
- Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
- Renders more natural appearance of out-of-focus image areas.
Product Description
While the AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR Zoom Lens from Nikon is designed primarily for use with FX-format D-SLR cameras, it's equally at home on any DX-format D-SLR camera. As a standard 5.0x zoom on an FX-format camera body, it's perfect for landscapes, portraits, and weddings - it's an excellent choice for a perfect take-along-everywhere lens. On a DX-format camera, the focal length gets a 1.5x bump that turns it into a formidable longer-range optic with enough wide angle for all but the widest of shots.
Available Warranties for This Item
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
187 of 199 people found the following review helpful
Being a glutton for punishment, I've owned each incarnation of the 24-120. Honestly, the original was about the worst Nikon lens I've ever owned...I used to describe it as "how to turn several thousand dollars of camera gear into a $200 point and shoot". It was that bad...poor contrast, distortion, vignetting, slow focusing, etc. The only really bad Nikon lens I've ever owned. Thank goodness for eBay, and my condolences to whoever is using that lens today.
Then came the second generation 24-120. Not ready to give up the dream of having a 5x zoom for my (then) new D3, I took the plunge a second time.
The second-generation 24-120 was better than the original, but still not the sharpest tool in the shed. I'm lucky enough to own the "magic quartet" of Nikon zooms (14-24, 24-70, 70-200, 200-400) but I get lazy like everyone else and would like to have a single walk-around lens. Still, the difference in image quality was just too noticeable when I wimped out and took the 24-120 instead of the "real lenses". I'd go out with the 24-120 on my D3 and get some shots that would have been keepers with (say) the 24-70, but ended up disappointing with the 24-120. On my DX camera, I came to like the 16-85 - the same 5x zoom range as the 24-120, but with much better image quality. Except maybe in very low light, I actually got better results with the D300 and the 16-85, versus the D3 and 24-120. I tried to convince myself otherwise, but pretty soon the 24-120 was mostly sitting home gathering dust. The second-generation 24-120 eventually landed on eBay, too.
Well, I guess I never learn...still wanting that 5x zoom for my FX camera, I took the plunge and bought the latest 24-120 f/4. I guess I'm a hopeless optimist, but part of me expected to be disappointed once again. Still, instead of disappointment, so far, I'm reasonably impressed with it. Really.
In a nutshell, this is a very different lens than either of the earlier 24-120 products. It handles differently, it's constructed more ruggedly, and it's faster all the way around. The best way to describe it is to say that it's very similar to the 16-85 in terms of image quality, but scaled up for an FX body. That is to say, it's sharp, offers good contrast and color, and not so much distortion that you can't correct it in post processing.
To be clear, the long end is a bit soft wide open, but entirely acceptable at f/8 or so. I'm finding the short end very sharp at 24mm, but with some noticeable distortion (that can be easily fixed in Capture NX2 or Photoshop). Color and contrast are very good, usually giving that "pop" you get with good pro-grade lenses, and for a complex lens, there's relatively little flare. The VR system, as usual for Nikon, works unobtrusively and very effectively. And it's that much better on a DX body - most likely outperforming the 16-85 in overall image quality (and that's saying something). Though a slight step down from the best lenses, construction quality seems very good, and the lens seems to handle effortlessly on my bulky D3 as well as on my smaller D300.
Make no mistake, I'd never give up my 24-70 for one of the new 24-120 lenses. In addition to that extra stop (f/2.8 vs. f/4), the 24-70 is one of the world's best in its range...I feel comfortable stacking it up against anything, even those exotic Leica or Carl-Zeiss primes. The 24-120 is "good enough", but you marvel more at the way Nikon made all the design trade-offs, rather than feeling that you have a lens that's about no-compromise absolute top image quality. Still, the 24-120 is finally at a stage where you can carry it around on your FX camera and have no regrets.
I think Nikon finally has a keeper in the 24-120 family...at long last!
Then came the second generation 24-120. Not ready to give up the dream of having a 5x zoom for my (then) new D3, I took the plunge a second time.
The second-generation 24-120 was better than the original, but still not the sharpest tool in the shed. I'm lucky enough to own the "magic quartet" of Nikon zooms (14-24, 24-70, 70-200, 200-400) but I get lazy like everyone else and would like to have a single walk-around lens. Still, the difference in image quality was just too noticeable when I wimped out and took the 24-120 instead of the "real lenses". I'd go out with the 24-120 on my D3 and get some shots that would have been keepers with (say) the 24-70, but ended up disappointing with the 24-120. On my DX camera, I came to like the 16-85 - the same 5x zoom range as the 24-120, but with much better image quality. Except maybe in very low light, I actually got better results with the D300 and the 16-85, versus the D3 and 24-120. I tried to convince myself otherwise, but pretty soon the 24-120 was mostly sitting home gathering dust. The second-generation 24-120 eventually landed on eBay, too.
Well, I guess I never learn...still wanting that 5x zoom for my FX camera, I took the plunge and bought the latest 24-120 f/4. I guess I'm a hopeless optimist, but part of me expected to be disappointed once again. Still, instead of disappointment, so far, I'm reasonably impressed with it. Really.
In a nutshell, this is a very different lens than either of the earlier 24-120 products. It handles differently, it's constructed more ruggedly, and it's faster all the way around. The best way to describe it is to say that it's very similar to the 16-85 in terms of image quality, but scaled up for an FX body. That is to say, it's sharp, offers good contrast and color, and not so much distortion that you can't correct it in post processing.
To be clear, the long end is a bit soft wide open, but entirely acceptable at f/8 or so. I'm finding the short end very sharp at 24mm, but with some noticeable distortion (that can be easily fixed in Capture NX2 or Photoshop). Color and contrast are very good, usually giving that "pop" you get with good pro-grade lenses, and for a complex lens, there's relatively little flare. The VR system, as usual for Nikon, works unobtrusively and very effectively. And it's that much better on a DX body - most likely outperforming the 16-85 in overall image quality (and that's saying something). Though a slight step down from the best lenses, construction quality seems very good, and the lens seems to handle effortlessly on my bulky D3 as well as on my smaller D300.
Make no mistake, I'd never give up my 24-70 for one of the new 24-120 lenses. In addition to that extra stop (f/2.8 vs. f/4), the 24-70 is one of the world's best in its range...I feel comfortable stacking it up against anything, even those exotic Leica or Carl-Zeiss primes. The 24-120 is "good enough", but you marvel more at the way Nikon made all the design trade-offs, rather than feeling that you have a lens that's about no-compromise absolute top image quality. Still, the 24-120 is finally at a stage where you can carry it around on your FX camera and have no regrets.
I think Nikon finally has a keeper in the 24-120 family...at long last!
58 of 63 people found the following review helpful
I have a Nikon D7000 and I was looking for a high quality mid-range zoom for travel. I had bought the Nikon 18-200 after reading glowing reviews on-line by a certain famous reviewer. What a disappointment! I am not a pixel-peeper by any means, but I found the 18-200 way too soft so I sold it. I thought about saving up for 24-70 f2.8 but the size, weight, limited range and lack of VR on that lens put me off. Also, I have 35 1.8 & a 50 1.4 for low light situations.
I went ahead and ordered the 24-120 f4. After shooting with the lens for a couple of weeks, I have no regrets. The colour, contrast, focussing speed, and sharpness of the 24-120 f4 are all very impressive. There is a real 'pop' to the pictures that you only get with high end glass. I have been especially impressed with the VR. I have other Nikon lenses with VR but the system on this lens is particularly good. All in all, the 24-120 f4 is an excellent piece of glass and vastly superior to the 18-200.
That same famous reviewer who gave me the bad advice about the 18-200 says that people should ignore the new 24-120 f4 in favour of the new Nikon 28-300. He points out that the 28-300 is cheaper and that it has more range. These are valid points, but after my disappointing experience with the 18-200 I have decided that super-zooms aren't for me. I just don't want to sacrifice image quality for the convenience of one lens. My current travel kit is the Sigma 10-20 f3.5 the Nikon 24-120 f4, the Nikon 70-300vr, and the Nikon 35 f1.8 for low light
.
I went ahead and ordered the 24-120 f4. After shooting with the lens for a couple of weeks, I have no regrets. The colour, contrast, focussing speed, and sharpness of the 24-120 f4 are all very impressive. There is a real 'pop' to the pictures that you only get with high end glass. I have been especially impressed with the VR. I have other Nikon lenses with VR but the system on this lens is particularly good. All in all, the 24-120 f4 is an excellent piece of glass and vastly superior to the 18-200.
That same famous reviewer who gave me the bad advice about the 18-200 says that people should ignore the new 24-120 f4 in favour of the new Nikon 28-300. He points out that the 28-300 is cheaper and that it has more range. These are valid points, but after my disappointing experience with the 18-200 I have decided that super-zooms aren't for me. I just don't want to sacrifice image quality for the convenience of one lens. My current travel kit is the Sigma 10-20 f3.5 the Nikon 24-120 f4, the Nikon 70-300vr, and the Nikon 35 f1.8 for low light
.
72 of 81 people found the following review helpful
By dlazzaro
Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a very good lens.
UPDATED: I have now shot with the lens on my D3. In the center of the frame it is almost identical to my 24-70 2.8. Excellent center sharpness. It is a bit less sharp in the corners, but I am very impressed.
Final verdict: It is a little bit too expensive, but I have upgraded it to five stars instead of four stars based on its center sharpness. I consider it a low five, high four... depending on your camera, your other lenses, and the size of your wallet.
Initial impressions:
Thus far I have been able to test it on my D90, which is a DX-sensor camera (as opposed to the full-frame pro cameras such as the D3). Please note that this lens is designed mainly for FX shooters. I plan to test it on my D3 camera later.
When compared to the well-made 18-55mm kit lens, this lens shows somewhat better sharpness at the same aperture. Overall I would conclude that this lens is sharp, but not "perfectly" sharp.
Combined with the fact that it collects more light (f4 vs f5.6), the fact that it has Vibration Reduction II, and the fact that it zooms to 120mm, this lens offers a lot of features as a "go to" general purpose lens for FX shooters (and DX shooters as well).
For DX shooters, the 24mm wide-end will not always be wide enough. For FX shooters, the 120mm long-end will likewise not be close enough. The f4 max aperture is good, but again, some shooters will need or want f2.8 or faster.
This is a lens that makes a lot of compromises and does so intelligently. It is not the perfect lens for any situation. But it is a lens that will take very good, even marketable pictures in a wide variety of situations.
Pros shooting for money will usually bring a bag of pro lens, and this lens will not change that reality.
But vacationers, pros who cannot always bring a huge bag, and photo enthusiasts would be well serviced by this lens.
UPDATED: I have now shot with the lens on my D3. In the center of the frame it is almost identical to my 24-70 2.8. Excellent center sharpness. It is a bit less sharp in the corners, but I am very impressed.
Final verdict: It is a little bit too expensive, but I have upgraded it to five stars instead of four stars based on its center sharpness. I consider it a low five, high four... depending on your camera, your other lenses, and the size of your wallet.
Initial impressions:
Thus far I have been able to test it on my D90, which is a DX-sensor camera (as opposed to the full-frame pro cameras such as the D3). Please note that this lens is designed mainly for FX shooters. I plan to test it on my D3 camera later.
When compared to the well-made 18-55mm kit lens, this lens shows somewhat better sharpness at the same aperture. Overall I would conclude that this lens is sharp, but not "perfectly" sharp.
Combined with the fact that it collects more light (f4 vs f5.6), the fact that it has Vibration Reduction II, and the fact that it zooms to 120mm, this lens offers a lot of features as a "go to" general purpose lens for FX shooters (and DX shooters as well).
For DX shooters, the 24mm wide-end will not always be wide enough. For FX shooters, the 120mm long-end will likewise not be close enough. The f4 max aperture is good, but again, some shooters will need or want f2.8 or faster.
This is a lens that makes a lot of compromises and does so intelligently. It is not the perfect lens for any situation. But it is a lens that will take very good, even marketable pictures in a wide variety of situations.
Pros shooting for money will usually bring a bag of pro lens, and this lens will not change that reality.
But vacationers, pros who cannot always bring a huge bag, and photo enthusiasts would be well serviced by this lens.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Lens
Tack sharp throughout. When paired with the D600 or another high quality sensor the f4 aperture is not as much an issue.
Published 8 days ago by Jeffrey Ridley
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not the best, but certainly excellent. Hated rear element dust on...
Picture quality is excellent. There are better options but when you combine with the zoom flexibility of this one, I felt this was a fair tradeoff. Read more
Published 17 days ago by Debejyo Chakraborty
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's a Nikon. What can you say.
This a great walk around lens when you don't want to carry your complete kit. Very sharp, and when coupled with the D800, you cannot help "pixel peeping". Read more
Published 19 days ago by CMC
5.0 out of 5 stars
awesome lens
this is my first step up in lens quality. I had the 24-85 and was extremely unhappy with the distortion with that lens. Read more
Published 1 month ago by D. Elwood
5.0 out of 5 stars
Walking around lens for my Nikon D800E
Love using this lens. Captures detail and subtle color that I didn't realize were there. Great flexibility of use from portraits, still life, landscapes and streetscapes to... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Clifton Whittaker
5.0 out of 5 stars
Changed my mind about zooms
I prefer primes. My favorite kit is going out with my 24G and 85G. My preferred shots are with an ND filter and off camera flash, during the day. I take pics mostly of my kids. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Flying Saucer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bought it again
This is my 3d copy of this lens. Each version get's better. Maybe the next version that will come some day will have Super ED element with better MTFs and VRIII, but this meets my... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mark Frey
4.0 out of 5 stars
VR can be amazing
a good range, a little on the heavy side. Shot a bunch at 800 at 1/30 and most were sharp
Published 1 month ago by Lars
3.0 out of 5 stars
Set the expectation right
This is a capable lens for its zoom range. Expect to shoot RAW, do necessary post processing to correct distortions. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Steven
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect General purpose lens.
I love this lens. It gives the perfect reach for event photography. Great for large group shots and zooms in for head shots. The VR is amazing. The lens focuses perfectly. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Paul Reklaitis
