The Nikon Z 24-105mm f4-7.1 is a 4.4x zoom covering a wide-angle to moderate telephoto range. It is corrected for full-frame cameras but can also be used on a cropped body like the Z fc or Z 50 where it covers a field of view equivalent to 36-158mm focal length. The new lens is positioned below Nikon’s Z 24-120mm f4.0 S and has to make do without a dedicated focus ring or an extra function button. But then the new lens is less expensive, smaller, and substantially lighter – certainly enabled by the reduced focal ratio of only f7.1 at the long end. The Z 24-105mm f4-7.1 is fully sealed against the elements and and reaches a maximum magnification of 1:2 in close-up shooting but it misses optical image stabilization. So it relies solely on the body-based stabilization on Nikon’s full-frame Z cameras – which you’ll sorely miss on a Nikon Z fc or Z 50 camera.

The Nikon Z 24-105mm f4-7.1 costs 599 EUR (incl. 19% VAT) / 547 USD / 529 GBP (not including the lens hood) and should become available end of January. Read on for a detailed comparison of facts and features of the new lens vs. some alternative Z-Nikkors.

Facts and features

Let’s compare the Nikon Z 24-105mm f4-7.1 (“Z 24-105” for short) to the Nikon Z 24-120mm f4 S (“Z 24-120”), and the Nikon 24-200mm f4-6.3 VR (“Z 24-200”). As usual I’ve rated the features with a [+] (or [++]), when it’s better than average or even state of the art, a [0] if it’s standard or just average, and [-] if there’s a disadvantage.

Size (diameter x length): 74 x 107mm (2.9 x 4.2in.). Add an estimated 40mm for the lens hood plus 40mm when zoomed in to 105mm focal length. The Z 24-120 is 84 x 118mm + 43mm lens hood + 55mm when zoomed in, the Z 24-200 is 77 x 114mm + 38mm lens hood + 63mm when zoomed in. [+]

Weight: 350g (12.4 oz). Add around 25g for the plastic lens hood. This is much lighter than the Z 24-120 at 630g + 27g lens hood or the Z 24-200 at 565g + 22g lens hood. [+]

Optics: 12 elements in 10 groups including one special dispersion and 2 aspherical elements. There is no mention of special coatings in the marketing information. The Z 24-120 has 16 elements in 13 groups including 7 special dispersion and/or aspherical elements plus “ARNEO” anti-reflective coating and fluorine-coating on the front element to repel water, dust, and dirt and make cleaning easier. The Z 24-200 has 19 elements in 15 groups. [+]

Focal ratio: All three Z-Nikkors have a focal ratio of f4.0 at the short end. But only the Z 24-120 keeps this focal ratio over its entire zoom range. The Z 24-200mm reaches its slowest focal ratio of f6.3 (-1.3 stops) already at 80mm focal length. I’ll have to test at which focal length the Z 24-105 reaches f7.1 (-1.7 stops). [-]

Coverage: The 4.4x zoom-range of the Z 24-105 offers 12.5% less reach than the Z 24-120. This can easily be compensated for by cropping a 45MP image to 34MP. But the Z 24-200 clearly offers the most versatile 8.3x zoom-range and achieves 90% more reach than the Z 24-105. [0]

Minimum object distance is 0.2m (0.66ft.) at 24-50mm focal length and 0.28m (0.92ft.) at 105mm zoom position. This results in a meagre working distance of 7-11cm but the maximum magnification of 1:2.0 at 70-105 mm focal length is very good. The Z 24-120 achieves 1:2.4 at 16cm working distance, the Z 24-200 achieves 1:3.4 at 49cm working distance. [+]

Image stabilization: No. Both the Z 24-105 and Z 24-120 rely solely on the body-based stabilization on Nikon’s full-frame Z cameras. Only the Z 24-200 offers optical stabilization (VR) which works in conjunction with the Z full-frame cameras to achieve stabilization over 5 axes. [0]

Filter-thread: The Z 24-105 uses 67mm filters just like the Z 24-200. The Z 24-120 needs 77mm filters. [+]

Aperture ring and other control elements: All three Z-Nikkors have the usual multi-function control ring (located behind the zoom ring) which can be assigned to operate the aperture, exposure compensation, ISO or focus. It automatically falls back to focus control when the camera is switched to manual focus or if MF is assigned to it – except on the Z 24-120 which has a dedicated focus ring. The Z 24-105mm does not have the zoom lock switch of the Z 24-200 nor the lens function button or AF/MF switch of the Z 24-120 or a focus limiter switch. [0]

Autofocus: All lenses in this comparison offer autofocus with built-in stepper motor focus drive. Manual-focus override is by simply turning the control ring (if MF is assigned to it) or the dedicated focus ring on the Z 24-120. [+]

All lenses in this comparison cover full frame sensors or can equally be used on a cropped DX sensor. [+]

Price: 599 EUR (incl. 19% VAT) / 547 USD / 529 GBP (not including the HB-93B lens hood which is another 40 EUR / 37 USD / 34 GBP). The Nikon Z 24-120mm f4 S currently goes for 899 EUR / 997 USD / 849 GBP, the Z 24-200mm f4-6.3 VR is at 660 EUR / 797 USD / 590 GBP. [+]

All three Z-Nikkors come with a flimsy pouch which has no strings to pull it close. So if you put the lens in your bag it might easily slip out of its pouch and bang around unprotected. All lens hoods are reversible for transport but for the Z 24-105 it is separately sold while it is included with the Z 24-120 and Z 24-200. [-]

Lens profile: All three lenses come with an integrated lens profile which can be controlled from the camera. Vignette control offers the usual options of High, Normal, Low and Off. Diffraction compensation can be activated or deactivated but Auto distortion control is probably always On – as it is for the Z 24-120 and Z 24-200. [+]

Sealing: All lenses in this comparison have a rubber grommet at the lens-mount plus further special weather-sealing throughout the construction. But unlike the other two Z-Nikkors the Z 24-105 does not have fluorine coating on the front lens to repel water, dust, and dirt and should make for easier cleaning. [0]

Use with teleconverters: None of the lenses in this comparison can be used with Nikon’s teleconverters for Z-mount. [0]

The score of 2[-]/5[0]/8[+] shows that the Nikon Z 24-105mm f4-7.1 is well featured: It is an affordable, compact, and very lightweight 4.4x zoom lens. It’s fully weather sealed and offers a very nice 1:2 magnification for close-ups. Its major draw-back is the meagre focal ratio: It may start at f4.0 but probably becomes darker real quick once you zoom in. And there might be the issue that 105mm is not long enough for your purposes. Still, the new lens should be a very interesting addition for customers looking for a small and very light all-round convenience zoom.

Sharpness and contrast

Let’s have a look at the theoretical performance of the new Nikon Z 24-105mm f4-7.1 first and compare it to Nikon’s Z 24-120mm f4 S and Z 24-200mm f4-6.3 VR:

Above: MTF Nikon Z 24-105mm f4-7.1 at 24mm f4.0 (left) and 105mm f7.1 (right)

Above: MTF Nikon Z 24-120mm f4 S at 24mm f4.0 (left) and 120mm f4.0 (right)

Above: MTF Nikon Z 24-200mm f4-6.3 VR at 24mm f4.0 (left) and 200mm f6.3 (right)

These MTF charts show the computed lens-performance wide open without influence of diffraction at 10 line-pairs/mm (in red/yellow) and 30 lp/mm (in blue/gray). Higher values are better (more contrast) and the closer the dotted and solid lines are together the less astigmatism (= resolution depends on the orientation of the test-pattern) the lens has. The x-axis displays the “image height” which is the distance from the optical axis (=center of the sensor) in mm.

On the short end the new Nikon Z 24-105mm f4-7.1 slots in between the Z 24-120mm f4 S and the Z 24-200mm f4-6.3 VR. At the long end the charts are less revealing as comparison is hampered by the differences in focal ratio and focal length but the Z 24-105 should be sharper at 105mm f7.1 than the Z 24-200 at 200mm f6.3. How the new lens performs in comparison to the Z 24-120 at 105mm resp. 120mm is hard to say as both focal ratios are almost 2 stops apart. At a guess I’d say that once the Z 24-120 is stopped down to f7.1 resolution, contrast, and astigmatism should be on a similar level.

In my upcoming full review I’ll have a very close look at its optical qualities – using pixel shift shooting on a Nikon Z8 which quadruples the resolution of the camera to 180MP. Check back soon!

Check prices on the Nikon Z 24-105mm f4-7.1 at B&H, Adorama, WEX UK or Calumet.de. Buy used gear from MPB. Sell your used gear to MPB. Alternatively get yourself a copy of my In Camera book, an official Cameralabs T-shirt or mug, or treat me to a coffee! Thanks!