Improving an icon, the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II is Nikon's latest iteration of the workhorse standard zoom used by professional photographers to cover a wide array of subject types in a variety of working scenarios. This version II Z-mount lens is the world's first 24-70mm f/2.8 to feature an internal zoom design, which contributes to upgraded weather resistance, faster AF performance, and a 16% reduction in weight compared to the previous generation.
World's First Internal Zoom 24-70mm f/2.8Unique among other 24-70mm f/2.8s, this lens features an internal zoom design, along with an internal focusing design, that maintains the overall length during use. This reliable and comfortable design has several benefits for photographers:
- Internal design contributes to a 16% (4.5 oz) savings in weight and is also about 0.5" shorter compared to the previous generation lens when fully extended.
- The streamlined design also contributes to improved dust and moisture resistance; with fewer moving pieces on the exterior of the lens, it offers more reliable performance in tough conditions.
- Benefitting video shooters, the internal design also greatly reduces any shifts in center of gravity by 30%, making it significantly easier to use when shooting with a gimbal.
- All "Trinity Lenses" (this 24-70mm f/2.8, the NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S, and the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S) now feature an internal zoom design for a matched look and similar handling.
In addition to streamlining the zoom design, version II of this lens also has an improved optical formula that sheds three elements while still improving resolution and image quality.
- Revised optical design features two extra-low dispersion and three aspherical elements; these specialized elements limit various aberrations and color fringing for high sharpness and color accuracy.
- Improved optical design is also inherently more flare-resistant for stronger contrast when working in bright lighting conditions.
- Special attention has also been given to bokeh rendering, with an emphasis on producing smooth and natural transitions between in- and out-of-focus regions for a more three-dimensional look. Aspherical element manufacturing has been improved for a smoother look, and the lens also now has 11 rounded diaphragm blades for a more rounded bokeh appearance.
- Minimum focusing distance has also been significantly shortened compared to the previous generation—9.4" at the 24mm position and 1.1' at the 70mm position, with a 0.32x maximum magnification at the minimum focusing distance from the 70mm position.
Refined Anti-Glare Coatings
- Nikon's Meso Amorphous Coat offers the greatest anti-reflective performance from a NIKKOR lens and outperforms the Nano Crystal Coat in regard to diagonal incident light and matches the performance of the ARNEO Coat for vertical incident light.
- ARNEO Coat has still been applied for even more well-rounded anti-glare protection from all angles, and help to suppress ghosting, reflections, and flare for higher contrast and more accurate color response when working in strong lighting and backlit conditions.
Silky Swift VCM Autofocus
- Making its debut in a zoom lens, the Silky Swift Voice Coil Motor (VCM) uses magnets instead of gears to move the focusing groups at higher initials speeds and with greater accuracy and smoothness. A guide bar is also employed, which helps reduce focusing vibrations for greater continuous focusing speeds. (WARNING: Do not use this product if you have a pacemaker or other medical device. The magnet or magnets in this product could cause medical devices to malfunction.)
- This focusing system is 5x faster than the previous 24-70mm f/2.8, with scan times reduced by up to 40% and focusing tracking while zooming improved by 60%. Additionally, this system is significantly quieter, with a perceived sound reduction of 50%.
- Benefitting video use, the Silky Swift VCM is also especially quiet and the multi-focusing system also greatly reduces focus breathing for greater compositional accuracy when racking focus.
- Full-time manual focus override is also possible and an internal focusing design is used, where only the internal lens groups are moved during focusing, to maintain the overall length of the lens during use and to promote faster focusing speeds.
Professional Durability and Intuitive Handling
Built for professional use in virtually any situation, the 24-70mm f/2.8 S II is especially durable and reliable even with its emphasis on a smaller, lighter weight design that makes it easier to use over the course of an entire day.
- Lighter design weighs 1.5 lb compared to the previous generation, which weighed 1.8 lb.
- Internal zoom design maintains a consistent overall length of 5.9" — this is 0.5" shorter than the previous generation when fully extended but also is nearly 1" longer compared to the retracted size.
- Updated design also now uses smaller 77mm-diameter screw-in filters.
- Complementing the internal zoom design, advanced weather sealing also helps prevent dust and moisture ingress.
- Dedicated focus and zoom rings for direct control pair with a customizable Control Ring, which can be assigned to adjust other shooting settings, including aperture, exposure compensation, and ISO.
- Control Ring now features a configurable click; an on/off switch changes the tactile feel of the ring depending on shooting style, with the option to have a prominent click when changing settings or smooth, silent rotation to limit unwanted noise and vibration.
- Two L-Fn buttons are featured on the lens barrel—one on top, one on the left side—and can be set to configure subject tracking, AF lock, image playback, or other modes.
- Focus limiter switch can constrain the focus range to 1.1'-infinity or to the full 9.4"-infinity ranges.
- Included HB-117 Lens Hood incorporates a filter adjustment window, which enables easy adjustment of rotating filter types, such as variable ND and polarizing filters.
