The 2.8/24-70 S is the finest standard zoom I have ever used and its versatility is phenomenal. But the 1.8/50S is jaw dropping. It isn't just the spectacular sharpness wide open, but the overall rendering, the falloff wide open, the rendering at middle apertures, the depth rendition, colour purity, it's simply stunning. The difference is hard to quantify but there is a special magic to the 1.8 50 S that only the very best lenses have. A future classic.
Hey Everyone ! I certainly hope this video helps you when comparing the Z lenses. I was actually surprised by how well the 24-70 F2.8 held up against the prime lenses. Yes I will be making a very similar video with the 24-70mm F4 its already shot just need to find the time to edit ! As always thank you so much for watching and Please stay safe stay home!
For me, what you demonstrated is the Z 24-70 is the better choice for a landscape lens. Such lenses are seldom if ever shot below f/5.6 where the Z 24-70mm lens is not bettered at any focal length by any of the primes and where narrow depth of field is not prized. The 50mm lens is clearly preferred for the streets, low light, concerts or the like. My bag contains both the 50mm and zoom lens as well as the Z 70-200mm, 300mm PF and 500mm PF. No room or need for anything else, yet. Thank you for the excellent video.
@@silvere36 Depends upon the use case. As a landscape lens the f/4, at f/5.6, is slightly softer in the corners but wonderful under most viewing demands. In general, the f/2.8 does everything the f/4 can do and so much more.
A super thanks to let you know how useful this video was, and that it really "settled" the prime vs zoom debate in the current range of Nikon portrait lenses.
For my fashion and make-up portrait work I’ve recently switched to Nikon (the Z7II) and after getting used to it, I am so impressed with the Z-system. Not only the quality and handling of the camera, but esp. also the IQ and consistency of the lenses. I’ve tried other platforms as well in a 2 month side-by-side trial period, but for my style of shooting and line of work, overall the Z-system came out on top. I even find myself using the Hasselblad less than before. I don’t know how well you control the lighting and white balance of the test setup, but what struck me in your tests as well as I did in my work is how well color-balanced the Z-lenses are. Almost no visible difference between lenses. That makes work in post so much easier than some of the competitors and the cameras I’ve used before. Esp. in fashion, color is key. Of course the H6D is a notch up, but not by that much. I started with a few primes (50 and 85) and of course the 24-70/2.8 and 70-200/2.8 but I can’t wait for the 104/1.4 in Z-mount... Thanks for your great videos and thorough approach. Much appreciated.
Thanks for doing these comparisons Ricci! I think consumer choice so far has mostly been limited to supply rather than technical attributes; people are still waiting for Z lenses that aren’t out yet, so have compromised their buying choices down to what is available. However, nice to have the choice of all these primes now. Would like to see how the 50mm f/1.2 gets on!
I own both the 24-70mm & 85mm - I was rather surprised how well the zoom stood up - even against the 50mm. Am glad I bought both lenses. The other aspect all of these lenses is how well Nikon have nailed CA - virtually non-existent. Thanks for your effort here, Ricci - much appreciated.
Now that was fascinating, really appreciate you sharing these findings Ricci, the 24-70f2.8 is a fantastic wide angle zoom, better than anything offered elsewhere I'd say. The 50mmf1.8Z is off the scale amazing and one I'll be buying very soon. Thanks a ton for sharing this with us, still waiting for the 70-200z2.8 ! lol, stay safe buddy.
Thank you for the best, no B.S, comparisons on the web! The 50 1.8 S was the first S prime I got it was obvious at 1:1 that it was better than any other 50 I have used. I have 6 lenses in the 50-58 range. The only one that came close in the very center was the Sigma 1.4 ART but it fell aparts moving away from the center. I bought a 24-70 2.8 when it became available here and it was surely the best mid zoom on the planet but due to its size and weight, I use the f/4 version much more often. The 85 1.8 was one I was very anxious to use and I took it directly from the store to a blues bands who wanted photos of their performance. That lens stays in my walking around sling bag so it and the f/4 24-70 are permanent fixtures in that bag. Time to finally sell off almost all my F mount lenses. The only lens I really want now is the 70-200 2.8 but it is not available yet here, and with the wedding season a bust this year, there is no big need for it. The Z cameras are a delight to use but the real reason to get one is the native lenses. There is not a clinker in the lot. The only S prime I do not have is the 20mm and it is sure confidence building to know that whatever I pull out of my bag is going to be up to the task.
The 24-70 2.8 is definitely a no compromise lens. Coupled with IBIS a very versatile lens as well. I can certainly attest to the wonderful image quality of the 50mm 1.8. Loved using it on vacation in low light situations. The images have a nice pop to them, and such wonderful edge sharpness.
Very helpful. Tho for the price of a 24-70mm f2.8, I can buy a 35mm, 50mm, 85mm prime and still have money left over. If I don’t mind the hassle of switching lenses, do you think it’s better to buy 3 primes instead of 1 zoom? Anyone has any thoughts on this?
I have found that the idea of swapping in and out lenses, to get the best lens for the situation, rarely turns out that way, especially during walk around and vacations - I bring the extra lenses but never find it convenient to actually swap - and just end up using the zoom. Now, for less variable situations, such as sustained indoor shooting or studio work, I will actually swap out lenses to get the best one for the situation.
Given that in your prime comparisons between the Z and their equivalent G versions, the Z's tend to excel - I think that more than anything this video speaks to how extraordinary the Z 24-70 2.8 really is. Thanks for all your work!
Thanks for spending time making this video. Very interesting to know how much little difference there is between the primes and 24-70. Time to stop my impulse buys and streamline.
Hello Ricci, thank you for this impressive and very important test. I have the 24-70mm 2.8. Unfortunately I once sold the 50mm 1.8 and I'm considering buying it again. But it's not my favorite focal length, the 50mm. But there is one exception: the Z 50mm 1.2. That absolutely fascinated me. Due to your test, the 24 mm and 35 mm Z lenses are now out for me! You are a great photographer!
There are tons of folks reviewing cameras and lenses mostly amounting to option. I am drawn to your channel for lense reviews as it's in-the-face data to back the inference compared to colored opinion. Specially when comparing lenses one on one. Thanks for the vids. Your videos have helped me zero in on the lenses I'd pick up with the z6 with much confidence. Cheers
Thank you so much for this very informative vlog. You have essentially confirmed how good this 24-70 f2.8 is. I own a copy of this lens and I don't regret a single penny I spent on it. Unless you really need the low light performance any of the primes on the wide end are hardly justifiable for stills, with the exception perhaps of the 20mm f1.8. Can't wait to see the performance of the upcoming 14-24 f2.8!!!
I found this very intresting, and as I watched, I wondered if the 50mm and 85mm are that much better than the 24mm and 35mm, or does the 24-70 have it's a sweet spot at the wide end of its zoom range. did you compare the 24-70 to it's self at diffrent focal lenths?
I really enjoy your videos and am learning so much from them; and I also really appreciate all the care and effort you so obviously lavish on them. So, thanks again and my best regards to you.
With my new 24-70 f2.8 S I feel my 50 mm f1.8 will not be used anymore as sharp as it is ..So maybe selling it as new as it is to help fund the 20 f1.8 which I really need for Astro
Thank you for a great review. What is better for a new photographer, 24-70 F2.8 S lens used for $1,600 or 24-70 F4 and a 50mm prime lens? I am interested in portraiture and how-to videos.
Thank you, Ricci. This is a delightful comparison. I do not own the Z 24 prime, but own all the others. I’ve never actually done the comparison, so I’m grateful for this.
Very valuable, thank you very much. I especially appreciated you skipping to the main differences at times, rather than sticking to a strict structure. Very well done.
Ricci, great work. This was a really useful analysis. The last 6 months of owning the 24-70 F2.8 have given me exactly what I needed compared to the kit 24-70 F4. My only concerns now are: should I even keep the kit lens and do I need to replace my F-mount 20mm F1.8 with the Z 20 1.8S? I hope you have some vlogs planned that will help me decide! I must confess that a 50mm lens has never really fit with what I like to do and I got a 35 1.8S at such a good price early on that I'm happy to retain it as a more discrete option for various street and indoor situations. Keep up the good work.
Great idea for a video. That zoom is truly impressive. I was surprised to see just how different the bokeh was between the 50mm 1.8 and the 24-70mm. In the shots where it's zoomed to 2:1, if you look at the numbers on the lens behind the colourchecker chart, the 50mm had somewhat busy looking bokeh with pronounced edges, while the 24-70mm has more of a hazy kind of look. As the owner of a 50mm 1.8S for 5 months now, I can safely say it's my favourite lens.
Thank you very much for putting it together. You've sold me on the 50. I think it would be interesting to see flare characteristics, how it handles sun stars (starbursts), and coma. Thanks again.
Thanks for your test. I've tested (briefly, but with emphasis on the far corners ) the Z7II with the z24-70 2.8 and found it most impressive. At 24mm only the most extreme reaches of the corners were soft and even then, only a very little. Vingetting and distortion are well controlled for a zoom as well.
Thanks for sharing. This 50mm is the (only) reason why I'll probably choose Nikon over Canon. My best combo could be Z7II + 50 + 24-70 F4. But I could deal with Z6II and 50 F1.8 only ! I subscribe
Very nice review. Great job. FW 2 was where I decided to migrate from D to Z. Dissatisfied with D glass (1.4G primes!) I wanted to move on. I feel FW 3 can still be improved in a couple ways. AF needs to be structured in usability. Menu options that do not impact my main image choice need to become invisible. I only shoot raw, so don't bother me with options only impacting JPEG. That said, we need more transparency from the Nikon sphinx as to what impacts raw. Better support of shots with planned DoF where I give the camera the back-end and front-border of my desired DoF. Now I have to turn to manual, focus on one end, read the distance in the viewfinder, focus on the other end, read the distance in the viewfinder, take my smartphone, open its DoF calculator and so on. Meh. The lenses. When I bought the Z 7, I considered a zoom. That would be the first in over 40 years of Nikon or over 50 years of photography. I did not think the f/4 was good enough for my liking and waited for the f/2.8. Test shots indicated what you relay here. Holding the camera with the f/2.8, I was very enthusiastic at first. Driving back home, I though, "you never shot zooms". "You want discrete perspective choices, and very conscious awareness of that as you always had." "That f/2.8 was impressive." "That f/2.8 was big and heavy and looked very intimidating, more so than a 50/1.8 or 85/1.8, or even the f/4 zoom." "I'm going to buy the Z 7 & 35/1.8 bundle." By now, I bought the 24, 35, 50 and 85 and consider to add the 20. Added up, there is more money in the 24-85 range than in the f/2.8 zoom. Generally on planned shoots I would walk around with two lenses. 1 person portrait shoot? 85 & 50. 1 person and small group portrait shoot? 85 & 50. 1 person and large group portrait shoot? 85 & 35. Large "people group" events, 35 and 24. 24 is about the widest I would use in such circumstances. Etc. Would I leave the other lenses at home? Maybe, but they could be in a case, in the car, as backup and for handling surprises. Zoom slows your brain training down for you to learn to see photographically, which the brain does not do naturally, from birth. If you are functionally blind to one eye, there is a survival force to learn to see photographically. Else not. So we need to shoot a lot, consciously, and study what we did (not mindless chimping.) Shooting a prime for a considerable time helps (a fixed angle smartphone could even help here.) Unplanned walk-around shooting with the Z 7 (to avoid the smartphone - mine does raw, actually not bad)? I consider the DX almost pancake zoom for the Z 50 for that.
Hi. Great video. I really enjoy watching your videos. Can you also do a comparison between Z24-70 2.8 vs z50mm 1.2? I am really struggling with this decision.
Great Video! I have a question for you. I have the Nikon ZF with the 40mm kit. If you could only buy one more lenses between the 50mm 1.8s or the 85mm 1.8s?
Don’t really have a date anymore the UK is currently in a pretty serious lockdown and because I’m based in London it’s really not easy for me to get away from light pollution. But as soon as I can I will ....
@@RicciTalks Thanks for your reply. I am sorry to hear that. I had the luck to go out and spend some time in nature. Be safe, that is the most important right now! :)
Great video and really useful for me. Currently got the 24-70 f4 and looking either to step up to the f 2.8 or picking a prime. Looking forward to the same comparison with the f 4. I like to shoot some macro and have some Meike ext tubes which work brilliantly with the f4 at 70mm so I'd need to check close focus range of each lens as I know the 85mm is not much use close in. Incidentally, I've got a Z6 so I assume the differences will be relative.
Awesome video, would you recommend shooting weddings solely with the 24-70 2.8? I like the convenience of not changing lenses in the middle of a wedding
Ricci, thanks so much for the comparisons! Always interesting to see how the Nikon lens roadmap performs. Any chance of doing a comparison of the 50mmZ mount against the 58mm Voigtlander 1.4?
Thanks from Switzerland! As always: great comparison, very helpful. Now that I have the 24-70mm f/2,8 and the 50mm I won't have to bother about the 24mm and the 35mm. Thank you for the solid testing.
That's definitely how feel about it too. Though I did pick up the 20mm 1.8 for the extra bit of wide angle and since I do astro that whole extra stop of light is a game changer.
Definitely a worthwhile comparison but in truth the differences between all of them from best to worst is at pixel peep level and even then is probably somewhat subjective in some cases. Ultimately they are all top lenses and the case for having the zoom , primes or a combination of both comes down to what you are most likely to photograph. As someone who photographs weddings in low light the 1.8 primes make a big difference for both exposures and also look which is different enough to sway me away from the zoom. The zoom is a great all rounder and if it were a 1.8 then I would be all over it like a rash. As that is unlikely to ever happen the primes cover the areas there zoom cannot.
Thanks Ricci For the comparison , was great to see the differences. I personally like more the 24-70 f4 because Weight and slide. Therefore I will be happy to see the next video.
Excellent comparisons, sir! It shows just how good the Nikkor S 24-70 zoom really is! I wonder how the Nikkor S 24-70 f/4 would stack up in terms of sharpness, to the 24-70 f/2.8, both at f/8. Thanks, Ricci.
And to think that the 70-200 2.8s will even be more sharper and with also a better micro-contrast is incredible. I first noticed this crazy good when i compared my 24-70 2.8s vs my Tamron 35mm 1.4, can't tell the difference at 2.8. Bravo nikon.
Thank you! I wish you would make a video comparing the 3rd party Z lenses. The Viltrox Z 85mm 1.8 looks promising. Also, rumor says they'll make a bunch more 1.8 primes for Z mount...
Very interesting comparison! I love it very much and my respect for your engagement! Your review could be even more relevant if you would test the extrem corners. This imho is especially for wide angel lenses very relevant as long as they are often used for landscape and architecture. Additionally a review with longer distances would be perfect to check the lenses also for landscape photography.
I was waiting for this one. I have the same experience with my 24-70 2.8 compared to my 50 1.8. I see no difference in image quality. The 24-70 2.8 is expensive but formidable.
Thanks Ricci, super useful comparison, thanks for the effort and for sharing your thoughts. What an incredible performance from the 24-70 2.8. Simply amazing. How do you find the bokeh characteristics on the 24-70 2.8?
I fell in love with my 50mm right out of the box. Used it exclusively for months. Now Im branching out and was thinking about the 70-200 2.8s but now Im thinking to expand my primes to 20mm, 50mm, and 85mm or maybe wait for a 105mm. What do you think?
Just makes me feel good all over again about keeping my 50mm over the 85mm
4 года назад
Great video. Waiting for the 24-70 f4 comparison. I have the 24 and 50 mm because it is so dark in Sweden during the winter. Will be interesting to hear about the f4 zoom. And later-on about the upcoming super-zoom.
i need to take decision what lens to have : Z 70 - 200 F/2/8 or the Z 24 -200 F/4-6/3. or the Z 50 - 250 (Corp) i have Nikon Z 6 i'm not a pro just a hobbyist. the difference not the cost only but the weight i need to carry !!! thanks
Ricci....finally. Asked for this for few times...thanks so much 🙏🏻 was in the verge of pulling trigger for 2.8 zoom or 35-85 combo....have enough details to take that decision now 🙏🏻 currently have 24-70f4 and 50mm 1.8 S...
Hey Ricci thnx for ur hard work.. don't worry about the lenth of the video for these kindof videos.. u would have included the performance at f4 , maybe f8 too for sm lenses
i am also looking forward to hearing from you to test the 20mm f/1.8S comparing with 24-70 f/2.8, like you did with 85mm f/1.8S. thank you so very much once again :)
Looking through the comments and no ones talk nothing about Nikon D6 from these pictures! @Ricci Talks when you will make a review to D6? Comparison with D5/D850/Z7 ???
Very helpful video, thank you for all your hard work in putting it together! You helped me tremendously in deciding which prime lenses I’d like to add with my Z7. I think I will purchase the 50mm 1.8 but that will probably be the only one so I can save my money and get the Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S. Thanks again!
Great video Ricci. I was thinking about buying the 35mm f1.8 but it would seem that the only advantage over my 24-70 f2.8 would be weight. Look forward to your comparison with the 24-70 f4.
One thing that isn’t highlighted here, but is very visible throughout the video, is the quality of near-focus bokeh. Every prime has a MUCH better blur than the zoom. You can notice it on the white lettering on the lens in the background, the zoom generates doubling of the numbers, very busy blur, while the primes produce a natural soft blur. This is an important factor if you want lots of nice bokeh
keep in mind that you can get depth of field in other ways than just having 1.8, for example. Using a longer focal length (ie zoom) and putting more distance between your subject and its background also increase DOF. In fact, some people prefer the effect of using a longer focal length because not only can you get more dof, the compression effect of bringing the background apparently closer to the subject is desirable as well.
The 2.8/24-70 S is the finest standard zoom I have ever used and its versatility is phenomenal. But the 1.8/50S is jaw dropping. It isn't just the spectacular sharpness wide open, but the overall rendering, the falloff wide open, the rendering at middle apertures, the depth rendition, colour purity, it's simply stunning. The difference is hard to quantify but there is a special magic to the 1.8 50 S that only the very best lenses have. A future classic.
Yes. I agree
Hey Everyone !
I certainly hope this video helps you when comparing the Z lenses. I was actually surprised by how well the 24-70 F2.8 held up against the prime lenses.
Yes I will be making a very similar video with the 24-70mm F4 its already shot just need to find the time to edit !
As always thank you so much for watching and Please stay safe stay home!
Good Job Mate !!! Simple - relevant - precise (SRP!!!)
Ricci Talks Are you going to make a D6 video?
Yeah really happy about a comparison with the 24-70 f4
For me, what you demonstrated is the Z 24-70 is the better choice for a landscape lens. Such lenses are seldom if ever shot below f/5.6 where the Z 24-70mm lens is not bettered at any focal length by any of the primes and where narrow depth of field is not prized. The 50mm lens is clearly preferred for the streets, low light, concerts or the like. My bag contains both the 50mm and zoom lens as well as the Z 70-200mm, 300mm PF and 500mm PF. No room or need for anything else, yet. Thank you for the excellent video.
I wonder how close the 24-70 F4 compared to the f2.8 at f5.6.
@@silvere36 Depends upon the use case. As a landscape lens the f/4, at f/5.6, is slightly softer in the corners but wonderful under most viewing demands. In general, the f/2.8 does everything the f/4 can do and so much more.
A super thanks to let you know how useful this video was, and that it really "settled" the prime vs zoom debate in the current range of Nikon portrait lenses.
I appreciate your efforts, and love your "See for yourself." approach to these comparisons. It makes the results very clear. Thanks again, Ricci!
Thank you as always !
Tank you Ricci. It si really usefull. I’ll be happy to look the comparaison with the 24-70 f4.
For my fashion and make-up portrait work I’ve recently switched to Nikon (the Z7II) and after getting used to it, I am so impressed with the Z-system. Not only the quality and handling of the camera, but esp. also the IQ and consistency of the lenses. I’ve tried other platforms as well in a 2 month side-by-side trial period, but for my style of shooting and line of work, overall the Z-system came out on top. I even find myself using the Hasselblad less than before. I don’t know how well you control the lighting and white balance of the test setup, but what struck me in your tests as well as I did in my work is how well color-balanced the Z-lenses are. Almost no visible difference between lenses. That makes work in post so much easier than some of the competitors and the cameras I’ve used before. Esp. in fashion, color is key. Of course the H6D is a notch up, but not by that much. I started with a few primes (50 and 85) and of course the 24-70/2.8 and 70-200/2.8 but I can’t wait for the 104/1.4 in Z-mount... Thanks for your great videos and thorough approach. Much appreciated.
Thanks for doing these comparisons Ricci! I think consumer choice so far has mostly been limited to supply rather than technical attributes; people are still waiting for Z lenses that aren’t out yet, so have compromised their buying choices down to what is available. However, nice to have the choice of all these primes now. Would like to see how the 50mm f/1.2 gets on!
I own both the 24-70mm & 85mm - I was rather surprised how well the zoom stood up - even against the 50mm. Am glad I bought both lenses. The other aspect all of these lenses is how well Nikon have nailed CA - virtually non-existent.
Thanks for your effort here, Ricci - much appreciated.
Well done. Great insight. I think it also goes to show how good the 24-70 is given how it can hold its own against the primes. Thanks for the insight!
Now that was fascinating, really appreciate you sharing these findings Ricci, the 24-70f2.8 is a fantastic wide angle zoom, better than anything offered elsewhere I'd say. The 50mmf1.8Z is off the scale amazing and one I'll be buying very soon. Thanks a ton for sharing this with us, still waiting for the 70-200z2.8 ! lol, stay safe buddy.
I know I know 🙈🙈🙈
Thank you for the best, no B.S, comparisons on the web! The 50 1.8 S was the first S prime I got it was obvious at 1:1 that it was better than any other 50 I have used. I have 6 lenses in the 50-58 range. The only one that came close in the very center was the Sigma 1.4 ART but it fell aparts moving away from the center. I bought a 24-70 2.8 when it became available here and it was surely the best mid zoom on the planet but due to its size and weight, I use the f/4 version much more often. The 85 1.8 was one I was very anxious to use and I took it directly from the store to a blues bands who wanted photos of their performance. That lens stays in my walking around sling bag so it and the f/4 24-70 are permanent fixtures in that bag. Time to finally sell off almost all my F mount lenses. The only lens I really want now is the 70-200 2.8 but it is not available yet here, and with the wedding season a bust this year, there is no big need for it.
The Z cameras are a delight to use but the real reason to get one is the native lenses. There is not a clinker in the lot. The only S prime I do not have is the 20mm and it is sure confidence building to know that whatever I pull out of my bag is going to be up to the task.
Thanks so much. Glad to hear you love the lenses you have !
The 24-70 2.8 is definitely a no compromise lens. Coupled with IBIS a very versatile lens as well. I can certainly attest to the wonderful image quality of the 50mm 1.8. Loved using it on vacation in low light situations. The images have a nice pop to them, and such wonderful edge sharpness.
Your videos are the best available to compare the Z line. Thank you!
Thank you ! Means a lot !
I just want to help people make the right decision
Great Video ..I am loving my f2.8 24-70 even more but I am now keeping my 50 mm 1.8 and the 85 f1.8 and glad I didnt get the 35 and 24
I would too 👍🏼
Very helpful. Tho for the price of a 24-70mm f2.8, I can buy a 35mm, 50mm, 85mm prime and still have money left over. If I don’t mind the hassle of switching lenses, do you think it’s better to buy 3 primes instead of 1 zoom? Anyone has any thoughts on this?
I have found that the idea of swapping in and out lenses, to get the best lens for the situation, rarely turns out that way, especially during walk around and vacations - I bring the extra lenses but never find it convenient to actually swap - and just end up using the zoom. Now, for less variable situations, such as sustained indoor shooting or studio work, I will actually swap out lenses to get the best one for the situation.
Given that in your prime comparisons between the Z and their equivalent G versions, the Z's tend to excel - I think that more than anything this video speaks to how extraordinary the Z 24-70 2.8 really is. Thanks for all your work!
Thanks for spending time making this video. Very interesting to know how much little difference there is between the primes and 24-70. Time to stop my impulse buys and streamline.
Hello Ricci, thank you for this impressive and very important test. I have the 24-70mm 2.8. Unfortunately I once sold the 50mm 1.8 and I'm considering buying it again. But it's not my favorite focal length, the 50mm. But there is one exception: the Z 50mm 1.2. That absolutely fascinated me. Due to your test, the 24 mm and 35 mm Z lenses are now out for me! You are a great photographer!
There are tons of folks reviewing cameras and lenses mostly amounting to option. I am drawn to your channel for lense reviews as it's in-the-face data to back the inference compared to colored opinion. Specially when comparing lenses one on one.
Thanks for the vids. Your videos have helped me zero in on the lenses I'd pick up with the z6 with much confidence.
Cheers
That’s the whole idea so I’m glad it’s helped you !
Thank you so much for this very informative vlog. You have essentially confirmed how good this 24-70 f2.8 is. I own a copy of this lens and I don't regret a single penny I spent on it. Unless you really need the low light performance any of the primes on the wide end are hardly justifiable for stills, with the exception perhaps of the 20mm f1.8. Can't wait to see the performance of the upcoming 14-24 f2.8!!!
Thanks for watching!
I found this very intresting, and as I watched, I wondered if the 50mm and 85mm are that much better than the 24mm and 35mm, or does the 24-70 have it's a sweet spot at the wide end of its zoom range. did you compare the 24-70 to it's self at diffrent focal lenths?
Great review! This shows how good the 24-70mm f2.8 lens is as it compares very well with the primes which I didn't expect.
I really enjoy your videos and am learning so much from them; and I also really appreciate all the care and effort you so obviously lavish on them. So, thanks again and my best regards to you.
With my new 24-70 f2.8 S I feel my 50 mm f1.8 will not be used anymore as sharp as it is ..So maybe selling it as new as it is to help fund the 20 f1.8 which I really need for Astro
Thank you for a great review. What is better for a new photographer, 24-70 F2.8 S lens used for $1,600 or 24-70 F4 and a 50mm prime lens? I am interested in portraiture and how-to videos.
as a beginner not understanding entirely the difference between lenses, this was so damn helpful. thank you for this
Thank you, Ricci. This is a delightful comparison. I do not own the Z 24 prime, but own all the others. I’ve never actually done the comparison, so I’m grateful for this.
Very valuable, thank you very much. I especially appreciated you skipping to the main differences at times, rather than sticking to a strict structure. Very well done.
Great video, well done! I have the 50mm 1.8s and the 24-70 2.8s...sold everything else. Now I only need a proper tele!
Ricci, great work. This was a really useful analysis. The last 6 months of owning the 24-70 F2.8 have given me exactly what I needed compared to the kit 24-70 F4. My only concerns now are: should I even keep the kit lens and do I need to replace my F-mount 20mm F1.8 with the Z 20 1.8S? I hope you have some vlogs planned that will help me decide! I must confess that a 50mm lens has never really fit with what I like to do and I got a 35 1.8S at such a good price early on that I'm happy to retain it as a more discrete option for various street and indoor situations. Keep up the good work.
Great idea for a video. That zoom is truly impressive.
I was surprised to see just how different the bokeh was between the 50mm 1.8 and the 24-70mm.
In the shots where it's zoomed to 2:1, if you look at the numbers on the lens behind the colourchecker chart, the 50mm had somewhat busy looking bokeh with pronounced edges, while the 24-70mm has more of a hazy kind of look.
As the owner of a 50mm 1.8S for 5 months now, I can safely say it's my favourite lens.
Is it me or are the blacks blacker and the colors more vivid on the primes?
Thank you very much for putting it together. You've sold me on the 50. I think it would be interesting to see flare characteristics, how it handles sun stars (starbursts), and coma. Thanks again.
Thanks for your test. I've tested (briefly, but with emphasis on the far corners ) the Z7II with the z24-70 2.8 and found it most impressive. At 24mm only the most extreme reaches of the corners were soft and even then, only a very little. Vingetting and distortion are well controlled for a zoom as well.
Thanks for sharing. This 50mm is the (only) reason why I'll probably choose Nikon over Canon. My best combo could be Z7II + 50 + 24-70 F4. But I could deal with Z6II and 50 F1.8 only !
I subscribe
As always you do an EXCELLENT job and showing the specifics of a product and the practical comparison. Love your work. Keep it up.
Thanks a lot !
Very nice review. Great job. FW 2 was where I decided to migrate from D to Z. Dissatisfied with D glass (1.4G primes!) I wanted to move on. I feel FW 3 can still be improved in a couple ways. AF needs to be structured in usability. Menu options that do not impact my main image choice need to become invisible. I only shoot raw, so don't bother me with options only impacting JPEG. That said, we need more transparency from the Nikon sphinx as to what impacts raw. Better support of shots with planned DoF where I give the camera the back-end and front-border of my desired DoF. Now I have to turn to manual, focus on one end, read the distance in the viewfinder, focus on the other end, read the distance in the viewfinder, take my smartphone, open its DoF calculator and so on. Meh.
The lenses. When I bought the Z 7, I considered a zoom. That would be the first in over 40 years of Nikon or over 50 years of photography. I did not think the f/4 was good enough for my liking and waited for the f/2.8. Test shots indicated what you relay here. Holding the camera with the f/2.8, I was very enthusiastic at first.
Driving back home, I though, "you never shot zooms". "You want discrete perspective choices, and very conscious awareness of that as you always had." "That f/2.8 was impressive." "That f/2.8 was big and heavy and looked very intimidating, more so than a 50/1.8 or 85/1.8, or even the f/4 zoom." "I'm going to buy the Z 7 & 35/1.8 bundle."
By now, I bought the 24, 35, 50 and 85 and consider to add the 20. Added up, there is more money in the 24-85 range than in the f/2.8 zoom. Generally on planned shoots I would walk around with two lenses. 1 person portrait shoot? 85 & 50. 1 person and small group portrait shoot? 85 & 50. 1 person and large group portrait shoot? 85 & 35. Large "people group" events, 35 and 24. 24 is about the widest I would use in such circumstances. Etc. Would I leave the other lenses at home? Maybe, but they could be in a case, in the car, as backup and for handling surprises.
Zoom slows your brain training down for you to learn to see photographically, which the brain does not do naturally, from birth. If you are functionally blind to one eye, there is a survival force to learn to see photographically. Else not. So we need to shoot a lot, consciously, and study what we did (not mindless chimping.) Shooting a prime for a considerable time helps (a fixed angle smartphone could even help here.)
Unplanned walk-around shooting with the Z 7 (to avoid the smartphone - mine does raw, actually not bad)? I consider the DX almost pancake zoom for the Z 50 for that.
Hi. Great video. I really enjoy watching your videos. Can you also do a comparison between Z24-70 2.8 vs z50mm 1.2? I am really struggling with this decision.
What about comparison of 14-30 S and the primes 20, 24, 35? Would you buy a prime or the 14-30?
Great Video! I have a question for you. I have the Nikon ZF with the 40mm kit. If you could only buy one more lenses between the 50mm 1.8s or the 85mm 1.8s?
I think you would choose 85mm
It will be nice compare how these lenses (also 24-70/4) work against the light (sun).
Hey Ricci,
Can you gives us an update on when you gonna make the video about the Z 20mm 1.8's astrophotography performance?
Don’t really have a date anymore the UK is currently in a pretty serious lockdown and because I’m based in London it’s really not easy for me to get away from light pollution.
But as soon as I can I will ....
@@RicciTalks Thanks for your reply. I am sorry to hear that. I had the luck to go out and spend some time in nature.
Be safe, that is the most important right now! :)
Excellent info, thanks very much. I still only have the f4 24-70 so I’m really looking forward to your next video.
As I just picked up the Z6 kit and ftz, this was great video to come across
Do you have a comparison between Nikon Z 50 mm F1.8 vs Sigma 50 mm F1.4 ART?
Yeah. Would be nice to see some comparisons between nikon z primes and art primes :)
Great video and really useful for me. Currently got the 24-70 f4 and looking either to step up to the f 2.8 or picking a prime. Looking forward to the same comparison with the f 4. I like to shoot some macro and have some Meike ext tubes which work brilliantly with the f4 at 70mm so I'd need to check close focus range of each lens as I know the 85mm is not much use close in. Incidentally, I've got a Z6 so I assume the differences will be relative.
Thanks Ricci. Your analysis is just SO useful. I was about to by Canon with 1.8 primes, but Nikon quality brought me here.
Glad it was helpful!
Awesome video, would you recommend shooting weddings solely with the 24-70 2.8? I like the convenience of not changing lenses in the middle of a wedding
I have the 24-70 and complemented it with the 85 for the focal length. I think I have all I need. Great video as always. The 24-70 is bag of primes.
You have the 24-70F4 or the 24-70F2.8 ?
@@rammus2504 The f2.8
Ricci, thanks so much for the comparisons! Always interesting to see how the Nikon lens roadmap performs. Any chance of doing a comparison of the 50mmZ mount against the 58mm Voigtlander 1.4?
Thanks from Switzerland! As always: great comparison, very helpful. Now that I have the 24-70mm f/2,8 and the 50mm I won't have to bother about the 24mm and the 35mm. Thank you for the solid testing.
That's definitely how feel about it too. Though I did pick up the 20mm 1.8 for the extra bit of wide angle and since I do astro that whole extra stop of light is a game changer.
Much respect for the time and effort you spent creating this video. Very good information, well presented. Thanks!
Definitely a worthwhile comparison but in truth the differences between all of them from best to worst is at pixel peep level and even then is probably somewhat subjective in some cases. Ultimately they are all top lenses and the case for having the zoom , primes or a combination of both comes down to what you are most likely to photograph. As someone who photographs weddings in low light the 1.8 primes make a big difference for both exposures and also look which is different enough to sway me away from the zoom. The zoom is a great all rounder and if it were a 1.8 then I would be all over it like a rash. As that is unlikely to ever happen the primes cover the areas there zoom cannot.
Am amazed at how close the zoom is to the primes. Thank you. Very useful to me.
Thanks Ricci For the comparison , was great to see the differences. I personally like more the 24-70 f4 because Weight and slide. Therefore I will be happy to see the next video.
Thank you very much for the test and effort that you put in! Hope will see a 24-70 f2.8 against the f4 🙂 Great work, keep it up!
He had that video posted before, 2.8 sharper all the way
@@gordonyz4thanks!
Excellent comparisons, sir! It shows just how good the Nikkor S 24-70 zoom really is! I wonder how the Nikkor S 24-70 f/4 would stack up in terms of sharpness, to the 24-70 f/2.8, both at f/8. Thanks, Ricci.
And to think that the 70-200 2.8s will even be more sharper and with also a better micro-contrast is incredible.
I first noticed this crazy good when i compared my 24-70 2.8s vs my Tamron 35mm 1.4, can't tell the difference at 2.8.
Bravo nikon.
Hello Ricci
I am struggling with what mix of lenses to have with the Z6II. Looking forward to the 24-70 f4. But what else for an enthusiastic amateur?
How about the 200-600mm Nikon and the Z 6 II firmware updates.
Any chance you have a similar comparison with the 105mm Macro?
Thank you! I wish you would make a video comparing the 3rd party Z lenses. The Viltrox Z 85mm 1.8 looks promising. Also, rumor says they'll make a bunch more 1.8 primes for Z mount...
Very interesting comparison! I love it very much and my respect for your engagement! Your review could be even more relevant if you would test the extrem corners. This imho is especially for wide angel lenses very relevant as long as they are often used for landscape and architecture. Additionally a review with longer distances would be perfect to check the lenses also for landscape photography.
It's incredible what performance the 24-70 has! Nikon on Top
I was waiting for this one. I have the same experience with my 24-70 2.8 compared to my 50 1.8. I see no difference in image quality. The 24-70 2.8 is expensive but formidable.
Thank you for these tests. They really help. Best channel for Nikon users.
Thanks for this video.
After watching, I bought a Nikon Z 50mm 1.8S.
Thanks Ricci, super useful comparison, thanks for the effort and for sharing your thoughts. What an incredible performance from the 24-70 2.8. Simply amazing. How do you find the bokeh characteristics on the 24-70 2.8?
since you did 85mm, why not include 20mm as well... i really would like to know how it performs wide open against 20-70 zoom
I fell in love with my 50mm right out of the box. Used it exclusively for months. Now Im branching out and was thinking about the 70-200 2.8s but now Im thinking to expand my primes to 20mm, 50mm, and 85mm or maybe wait for a 105mm. What do you think?
How to respond to that? You are talking about a big range of focal length. What ever suits your photography needs.
Thanks for the effort. I pretty sure of the answer but what’s happening wih teh 70-200 z-mount? Still haven’t resolved the ‘supply’ issues?
Just makes me feel good all over again about keeping my 50mm over the 85mm
Great video. Waiting for the 24-70 f4 comparison. I have the 24 and 50 mm because it is so dark in Sweden during the winter. Will be interesting to hear about the f4 zoom. And later-on about the upcoming super-zoom.
i need to take decision what lens to have : Z 70 - 200 F/2/8 or the Z 24 -200 F/4-6/3. or the Z 50 - 250 (Corp) i have Nikon Z 6 i'm not a pro just a hobbyist. the difference not the cost only but the weight i need to carry !!! thanks
Any thoughts on the z 24mm f1.8 vs the z 14-30mm f4 as a main carry around wide angle lens?
Thanks I know this took a lot of effort and I appreciate your Chanel I and waiting on the Nikon 85mm 1:2 hopefully
Ricci....finally. Asked for this for few times...thanks so much 🙏🏻 was in the verge of pulling trigger for 2.8 zoom or 35-85 combo....have enough details to take that decision now 🙏🏻 currently have 24-70f4 and 50mm 1.8 S...
Sorry it took so long ! 🙈
Ricci Talks ...no thanks for bringing this up finally in detail...better late than never bro...thanks again.
Hey Ricci thnx for ur hard work.. don't worry about the lenth of the video for these kindof videos.. u would have included the performance at f4 , maybe f8 too for sm lenses
Fantastic video Ricci thank you. The 24-70 Z 2.8 is incredibly impressive, as is that stunning 50mm.
Nice Video 👌 could you test the Sigma 18-35 1.8 on the z50 Body? Greetings
Some time has gone by, would love to see this comparison for the 24-120 F4 z lens :)
i am also looking forward to hearing from you to test the 20mm f/1.8S comparing with 24-70 f/2.8, like you did with 85mm f/1.8S. thank you so very much once again :)
Looking through the comments and no ones talk nothing about Nikon D6 from these pictures! @Ricci Talks when you will make a review to D6? Comparison with D5/D850/Z7 ???
Great. Very helpful. Thanks for putting in the effort. Much appreciated.
Your videos are very specifically what is most informational.
thanks for the video, can you tell which is sharper at 1.8 and 2.8 the 50mm or the 85mm?
the are very close but maybe the 50mm
Very helpful video, thank you for all your hard work in putting it together! You helped me tremendously in deciding which prime lenses I’d like to add with my Z7. I think I will purchase the 50mm 1.8 but that will probably be the only one so I can save my money and get the Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S. Thanks again!
Thanks for watching !
Thanks Ricci for your honest comparison, as always. Nice t-shirt btw
Great video Ricci. I was thinking about buying the 35mm f1.8 but it would seem that the only advantage over my 24-70 f2.8 would be weight. Look forward to your comparison with the 24-70 f4.
Thanks a lot ! You will get the advantage of more light at f1.8 but you might not need that
@@RicciTalks That's not a problem as I also have the 50mm and 85mm Z lenses.
THAT is a very informative and useful work (not that the previous video were not ;-) ). Many thanks for the effort !
The fact that the 24-70 is THAT sharp in itself is a feat. Especially since these are some of the sharpest primes out there.
One thing that isn’t highlighted here, but is very visible throughout the video, is the quality of near-focus bokeh. Every prime has a MUCH better blur than the zoom. You can notice it on the white lettering on the lens in the background, the zoom generates doubling of the numbers, very busy blur, while the primes produce a natural soft blur. This is an important factor if you want lots of nice bokeh
keep in mind that you can get depth of field in other ways than just having 1.8, for example. Using a longer focal length (ie zoom) and putting more distance between your subject and its background also increase DOF. In fact, some people prefer the effect of using a longer focal length because not only can you get more dof, the compression effect of bringing the background apparently closer to the subject is desirable as well.
Finally. Have been waiting for this for months. Thx!
Did you do the same video for the 24-200?
Just picked up that 50mm for less than $500 US, while on sale. What a deal!
please compare nikon 70-200 2.8e fl ed vr VS nikon z 70-200 2.8
All signs point to the Z being better, but if you already have a 2.8 24-70 prob not worth upgrading
That's just what I wanted to know. Plus you do the same sort of practical tests that I do. Thanks
Thanks for this very interesting comparison. I hope to see something on the 20mm f/1.8 sometime.
Another great test. I have the 24-70 2.8 and it is good enough for what I do.
Thanks as always !