Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 G IF VR : Specifications and Opinions

Reviews

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Timk2

sent on 19 Agosto 2014

Pros: Focal length range; Very cheap now used; VR; Image quality f5.6 and smaller better than is often reported.

Cons: Image quality at f3.5; poor reputation;

Opinion: For FX use, a very usable set of focal lengths, less so on DX, where it becomes 36-180mm. Image quality will never be approaching that of a short-range f2.8 zoom, so for ultimate detailed landscapes, not the best choice. But for general use and a cheap 'all-in-one' lens for full-frame, it still has a lot going for it. Stop it down to f5.6 and image is very usable, aided by the effective VR. AF isn't too bad either but not as fast as more modern designs. Lens had now been largely overshadowed by the newer and much more expensive constant f4 version - which new, can be four times as much in cost as good secondhand example of this lens. I now use the same range of focal lengths with Nikon's DX equivalent, the excellent 16-85mm VR, which does at least have very good to excellent image quality, from wide open aperture and also has an excellent reputation, borne out by its popularity with contributors to Juza. So, for those who are FX users and cannot stretch to the new f4 version, or a 24-70mm f2.8, then there is still some attraction in this old f3.5-5.6 model. Just do not buy new - it was an expensive lens new, for what it offered. Build quality is not that special either so can get tatty with heavy use. Another contender in this market must be Sigma's new 24-105mm f4. My score 7/10

The following opinions have been automatically translated with Google Translate.

Fiocinino

sent on 13 Marzo 2026

Pros: Functional optics at a low cost for being FF and I think it gives excellent results

Cons: Loss of quality at maximum apertures

Opinion: Surely the market offers better but certainly at a much higher price, and after taking the D850 and the Nikon AF-S 600 I didn't want to spend too much on a wildcard lens that was missing in my equipment. I must admit that even with his limitations he does his job very well. grade 8/10 and I would definitely buy it again.

Ciro78foto

sent on 05 Marzo 2024

Pros: Good VR Lens Good Very Competitive The Price of Used

Cons: Works well from F8 onwards loses sharpness at plasticky edges

Opinion: Purchased together with the second camera body, always Nikon D700, it does its job well, obviously the best solution is to switch to the F4, so it is a bit complicated to use in certain low light situations, the lens hood mount seems a bit delicate to me The advantage is the price of the used, obviously the 24-120 F4 lens with all its advantages, I also used it on another Nikon D7000 camera body and I found it well As I said before, it's all plastic, but I use it in an extreme way and I've seen that it behaves very well

Paolo95

sent on 03 Maggio 2018

Pros: Compact, stabilization, lens hood ok, price.

Cons: low light autofocus,

Opinion: I use it on my d7100 and is a good all-rounder with excellent value for money. Produces good sharpness when used in manual mode, the ring is smooth and it is very good even for closeups. A little trouble with the yield at maximum aperture. The secret? I shoot with an aperture of not less than 5, finding a good balance with exposure times. Stabilization does not hurt. Finding it used at a good price I recommend it as a traveling companion. Rating 9

Gsabbio

sent on 07 Febbraio 2018

Pros: focal excursion and stabilization

Cons: limited quality

Opinion: It is a mistreated view, in the list of the worst Nikon, however it is the one that personally boasts my most published covers; I used it so much that I bought two, the second to replace the first one now 'chopped' by use and no longer resold. Used on DX (D300), it's still a worthy optics, with a fairly fast autofocus and a VR more than efficient. It is not comparable to the 24-120 f4 version (that's another planet), but it's still an all-rounder optic that gives you the most satisfaction (if you don't get too high with the sensor mpix), and allows you to travel light without giving in the eye satisfying 90% compositional choices. Now there is much better around, but when it was born it was definitely a more than valid optics for the machines of that time. I do not know how it goes on the FF, I can say though, that by doing comparative tests with the most titled AF 24-85 f2.8-4 surpassed it widely and without any effort, especially for the quality at the edges (always on DX); to the point that I sold the 24-85 to keep the 24-120 (and then flanked by an AFS 24-70 f2.8). An interesting detail: my first version was 'made in Japan' and I found that it weighed about 20 grams more than the second version I bought and that was manufactured in China; however, I found no qualitative differences between the two. VOTE 7th

Aladino56

sent on 23 Maggio 2017

Pros: Versatile due to the very wide focal range ...... stop.

Cons: The bad notes for me were the reason why I sold it, with open diaphragms the edges are non-existent, blurry and unobtrusive to the point where the jams are taken. Inadequate AF with low light, first-generation VR that does little and forces it to the eyebrow.

Opinion: There is little to say .... I sold it even if getting to 120 mm made me comfortable, I returned after many years to an old 35/70 f2.8 I have owned in the past and I'm sure of a A much higher level for sharpness and chromaticity. If used at "tourist" level with at least three closed day diaphragms with sufficient light it is acceptable otherwise it is better to invest a few extra euros in higher quality optics. Moving to the "old" 35/70 f2.8 I gave up the VR and the ultrasonic engine but on my D610 break the hair while the 24/120 my hair dropped me ..... on its side it has a price on the market Of the used range ranging from 250 to 350 eurozzi so if you have no pretensions to search for it, at most you resell it without breaking too much or maybe nothing. Ah .... the photos of the review are not text because with the PP all the optics become brilliant, I prefer it to be immediately.

Fabbibbo

sent on 30 Ottobre 2015

Pros: Compactness, zoom range handyman, good sharpness, excellent VR price of used

Cons: Slight drop in sharpness at the edges to TA, attack hood little solid

Opinion: I bought it used about 5 years ago and it has never disappointed me. Both with my 'old' D200 that with the new D750 returns picture quality even if the maximum aperture not excellent not allow you to isolate the subject from the background with excessive decision. Despite having other seven original optical quality (all at least f2.8), I have always mounted thanks to its enormous versatility of focal (covers 70-80% of the situations). If you want to travel light, a budget handyman and have a view of good-quality is the lens for you. The stabilization allows you to take time to relax with 2-3 times below the safety times, offsetting the maximum aperture is not too open. I am very happy with it and even when I tried the new version f4 I gave up to change it because, in my opinion, the price difference is not equivalent to the difference in quality. Rather, if you find around 200-250 €, take it on the fly and, with the price difference resppound equivalent new F4, take a nice 50 F1.4! There are, in my opinion, many prejudices unedifying about this lens but if you are not professionals who need prints 70x100cm, is a great traveling companion with whom you will click with satisfaction the 80% of the photos. My score is 8.8.

Sandro63

sent on 12 Settembre 2015

Pros: Lightweight, good construction, vr effective, and good af advantageous price on the used market.

Cons: A little 'soft wide open at the edges.

Opinion: If used as it should be good results. I use it with satisfaction on D700 and colors that returns are breathtakingly beautiful. What more ...... If you find one at a good price and you can not buy more optical "emblazoned" accaparratevelo and he did not let you down. Do not listen to advice from "snob"! I have not done and I'm delighted!

Catello Manfredonia

sent on 27 Agosto 2015

Pros: Excellent handyman, focal excursion, satisfactory VR, excellent value for money.

Cons: It does not excel at the maximum openings, otherwise there is no glaring flaws.

Opinion: This is a perspective that enjoys undeserved bad fame, which can favour the purchase at low prices on the market of used... Shout also to the scandal, but the use often also on the Nikon D750, with satisfactory results, when I do not foresee photos "important", thus avoiding to shoot with a kit of optics 2.8 fixed, heavy and cumbersome... If I were to give you a vote, I think a 9 is not exaggerated.

Ale66

sent on 13 Giugno 2015

Pros: Interesting zoom range, tropicalization, stabilizer

Cons: Clarity so-so at all focal lengths, problems nell'autofocus, vignetting

Opinion: It 'a bit of a handyman with limited excursion, its sharpness is not convincing, I find a better 18-200 on the right, I often find myself fuzzy pictures and do not understand why, if the stabilizer is not working correctly or otherwise, even if also cartoon It corrects them into Photoshop. But the overall tone of the image is not bad, it is still a lens for me to be avoided unless you are printing photos 10x15 .....

Magugno

sent on 26 Dicembre 2014

Pros: Focal length, cost, vr, very good closing of a stop

Cons: Construction plasticky, does not excel at full aperture and maximum focal

Opinion: I have not ever used on the right but only on fx with d700 and d600, d800 on not even try to put it, I think it is much more mistreated than it deserves, compared with the new f4 loses but not so ecclatante to convince me to change ( because even when I want to use is the quality that the nikon nikon 24/70 28/70). His real limit is the softness at full aperture and maximum focal but I in 33 years that I take pictures, I've never seen uniform targets and perfect on the tour and at every opening. In his defense is that I I've had two, the former was more older and made a little 'less, the current was in a kit with d700 and outclasses plenty of what I had and I resold

Sax61

sent on 25 Aprile 2013

Pros: Optics interesting from low-cost to be full-frame and covers a very wide range of focal lengths. If used during the day to f 8 by a good result. See photo "waiting" in the gallery Sri Lanka.

Cons: Poor image quality especially at maximum aperture and hike.

Opinion: On the market there is better but we need to spend more. Recommend to anyone who starts then move on to higher optical performance (eg 24-120 f 4 f 2.8 or 24-70 or the Tamron 24-70 VC) and to keep as a "mule". I used this very nl optics around the world with the D90 but with the new D800 shows its limits. It 'still a product that has always been extremely reliable.