Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II Lens | Nikon Z

Enhancing the design of an icon, the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II represents Nikon's most recent version of the essential standard zoom lens utilized by professional photographers to capture a diverse range of subjects across various working conditions. This second iteration of the Z-mount lens is the first in the world to incorporate an internal zoom mechanism for a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, which enhances weather resistance, accelerates autofocus performance, and achieves a 16% decrease in weight relative to its predecessor.

World's First Internal Zoom 24-70mm f/2.8

Distinct from other 24-70mm f/2.8 lenses, this particular lens incorporates an internal zoom mechanism, as well as an internal focusing system, which preserves its overall length while in operation. This dependable and user-friendly design offers numerous advantages for photographers:

• The internal design results in a weight reduction of 16% (4.5 oz) and is approximately 0.5" shorter than the previous generation lens when fully extended.
  
  
• Additionally, the streamlined design enhances dust and moisture resistance; with fewer moving components on the lens exterior, it ensures more dependable performance in challenging conditions.
  
  
• For video shooters, the internal design significantly minimizes shifts in the center of gravity by 30%, making it considerably easier to operate when using a gimbal.
  
  
• All "Trinity Lenses" (including 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 incorporate an internal zoom design for a consistent appearance and comparable handling.
  
  

S-Line Optics

In addition to enhancing the zoom design, version II of this lens features an upgraded optical formula that eliminates three elements while simultaneously enhancing resolution and image quality.

• The updated optical design incorporates two extra-low dispersion elements and three aspherical elements; these specialized components effectively minimize various aberrations and color fringing, resulting in enhanced sharpness and color fidelity.
  
  
• The enhanced optical design is also naturally more resistant to flare, providing improved contrast when operating under bright lighting conditions.
  
  
• Particular focus has been placed on the rendering of bokeh, prioritizing the creation of smooth and natural transitions between in-focus and out-of-focus areas to achieve a more three-dimensional appearance. The manufacturing process for aspherical elements has been refined to ensure a smoother aesthetic, and the lens now features 11 rounded diaphragm blades, contributing to a more rounded bokeh effect.
  
  
• The minimum focusing distance has been considerably reduced in comparison to the previous model—9.4 inches at the 24mm setting and 1.1 feet at the 70mm setting, with a maximum magnification of 0.32x achievable at the minimum focusing distance from the 70mm position.
  
  

Refined Anti-Glare Coatings

• Nikon's Meso Amorphous Coat provides the highest level of anti-reflective performance among NIKKOR lenses, surpassing the Nano Crystal Coat in terms of diagonal incident light, while equaling the performance of the ARNEO Coat for vertical incident light.
  
  
• The ARNEO Coat continues to be utilized for enhanced all-around anti-glare protection from various angles, assisting in the reduction of ghosting, reflections, and flare, thereby achieving greater contrast and more precise color accuracy when operating under strong lighting and backlit scenarios.
  
  

Silky Swift VCM Autofocus

Making its debut in a zoom lens, the Silky Swift Voice Coil Motor (VCM) utilizes magnets rather than gears to maneuver the focusing groups at higher initial speeds, ensuring enhanced accuracy and smoothness. A guide bar is also incorporated, which aids in minimizing focusing vibrations, thereby facilitating greater continuous focusing speeds. (WARNING: Do not use this product if you have a pacemaker or any other medical device. The magnet or magnets in this product may cause medical devices to malfunction.) This focusing system operates 5 times faster than the previous 24-70mm f/2.8, with scanning times decreased by up to 40% and focusing tracking while zooming improved by 60%. Furthermore, this system is considerably quieter, achieving a perceived sound reduction of 50%. Beneficial for video applications, the Silky Swift VCM is particularly silent, and the multi-focusing system significantly mitigates focus breathing, allowing for greater compositional accuracy when adjusting focus. Full-time manual focus override is also feasible, and an internal focusing design is employed, where only the internal lens groups are adjusted during focusing, to preserve the overall length of the lens during operation and to enhance focusing speeds.

Professional Durability and Intuitive Handling

Designed for professional applications in nearly any environment, the 24-70mm f/2.8 S II is particularly robust and dependable, despite its focus on a more compact and lightweight structure that facilitates ease of use throughout an entire day. The lighter construction weighs 1.5 lb, a reduction from the previous model's weight of 1.8 lb. The internal zoom mechanism ensures a uniform overall length of 5.9" — this is 0.5" shorter than the earlier version when fully extended, yet it is almost 1" longer when in the retracted position. The updated design now accommodates smaller 77mm-diameter screw-in filters. In addition to the internal zoom mechanism, enhanced weather sealing effectively prevents the ingress of dust and moisture.

The lens features dedicated focus and zoom rings for direct manipulation, along with a customizable Control Ring that can be programmed to modify various shooting parameters, such as aperture, exposure compensation, and ISO. The Control Ring now includes a configurable click; an on/off switch alters the tactile feedback of the ring based on shooting preferences, allowing for a distinct click when adjusting settings or a smooth, silent rotation to minimize unwanted noise and vibrations. Two L-Fn buttons are positioned on the lens barrel—one on the top and one on the left side—and can be programmed for functions such as subject tracking, AF lock, image playback, or other modes. The focus limiter switch can restrict the focus range to either 1.1'-infinity or the full 9.4"-infinity ranges. The included HB-117 Lens Hood features a filter adjustment window, which allows for easy modification of rotating filter types, including variable ND and polarizing filters.