Nikon Z 24-105mm
1:2 Macro (2026 ~ today)
Introduction New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Recommendations
Z9 Z8 Z7II Z6III Z6II Zƒ Z7 Z6 Z5II Z5 Zƒc Z50II Z50 Z30
Z System Z Lenses All Nikon Lenses Flash
Nikon Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1. (67mm filters, 12.3 oz./350g, 0.8'/0.25m close focus, 0.5× macro ratio, $547). bigger.
I'm ordering mine at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama or at Crutchfield, or get it used if you know How to Win at eBay, or get it used at KEH.
It also comes as a kit with the Z5 II at B&H and at Crutchfield.
This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally approved sources I've used myself for way over 100 combined years when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Nikon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, cracked-plastic-mount, non-USA, store demo or used lens — and all of my personally approved sources allow for 100% cash-back returns for at least 30 days if you don't love your new lens. I've used many of these sources since the 1970s because I can try it in my own hands and return it if I don't love it, and because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new lens before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I've used myself for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
January 2026 Better Pictures Nikon Z Z Lenses All Nikon Lenses All Nikon All Reviews
Introduction top
Introduction New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Recommendations
I buy only from these approved sources. I can't vouch for ads below. |
This is a super-handy lens for everything, covering wide-angle to telephoto in one compact lens.
Not only does it have a super-useful zoom range, its extended close-focus 1:2 macro ability lets it replace a dedicated macro lens most people other than venom-crazed insect photographers!
Don't worry that it's "only" f/7.1 at 105mm. This no longer matters with mirrorless cameras because they are superb at high ISOs, and unlike DSLRs the finder brightness has nothing to do with the lens aperture.
Don't let the low price fool you, by keeping the maximum aperture down to f/7.1 at 105mm Nikon can make it ultra-sharp and compact at a low price. Bravo!
I'm ordering my 24-105mm at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, or get it used if you know How to Win at eBay, or get it used at KEH.
It also comes as a kit with the Z5 II at B&H.
New intro top
Nikon's first-ever 24-105mm — for any camera!
Good intro top
Super-handy zoom range.
Close-focusing: 1:2 Macro!
Dedicated manual focus ring, it's also reprogrammable to other functions.
Small.
Light.
Bad intro top
Plastic mount.
Soft plastic filter threads are easy to cross thread, typical of consumer lenses in 2026.
Plastic exterior.
Missing intro top
No internal optical image stabilization, but works fine with in-camera stabilization if you have it.
No AF/MF switch.
No Stabilizer switch for in-camera stabilization.
No aperture ring.
No case included.
No hood included.
Mounting index dot is the same white as everything else, so it doesn't stand out when you need to find it to mount your lens.
No focus or depth-of-field scales.
No infra-red focus indices.
No focus lock buttons.
Will not work with any teleconverters.
Nikon Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1. bigger.
Specifications top
Introduction New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Recommendations
I'm ordering my 24-105mm at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, or get it used if you know How to Win at eBay, or get it used at KEH.
It also comes as a kit with the Z5 II at B&H.
Name specifications top
Nikon calls this the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-105mm F/4-7.1:
NIKKOR: Nikon's brand name for almost all their lenses since 1932.
Z: For Nikon's mirrorless cameras, only.
Nikon's Model Number: 20132.
It also has:
Aspherical: Specially curved glass elements for sharper pictures.
E: Electronic diaphragm.
ED: Magic Extra-low Dispersion glass for reduced secondary chromatic aberration.
G: Gelded; has no aperture ring.
IF: Internal focusing; nothing moves externally as focused.
STM: Stepper (Pulse) autofocus motor.
∅67: 67mm filter thread.
Optics specifications top
Nikon Z 24-105mm Internal Optical Construction. Aspherical and ED elements. bigger.
12 elements in 10 groups.
1 ED element: magic Extra-low Dispersion glass for reduced axial secondary chromatic aberration.
2 Aspherical elements.
Nikon Super Integrated multiCoating (SIC).
Diaphragm specifications
7 rounded blades.
Electronically actuated.
Stops down to f/22 - f/40.
Filters specifications top
Plastic 67mm filter thread.
Focal Length specifications top
24 - 105mm.
When used on DX cameras, it sees the same angle of view as a 35 - 160mm lens sees when used on an FX or 35mm camera. On DX, the Z 18-140mm DX is a much smarter choice.
See also Crop Factor.
Angles of View specifications top
84° ～ 23⅙° diagonal on FX.
61° ～ 15⅓° diagonal on DX.
Autofocus specifications top
No external movement as focussed, so no air or dust is sucked in.
Focus Scale specifications top
No.
Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Infinity Focus Stop specifications top
No.
You have to focus somehow to get precise focus at infinity, just like at every other distance.
Depth of Field Scale specifications top
No.
Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Infrared Focus Index specifications top
No.
Close Focus (distance from subject to image plane) specifications top
24~50mm: 0.66 feet (7.9" or 0.2 meters).
105mm: 0.92 feet (11" or 0.28 meters).
Maximum Reproduction Ratio specifications top
1:2 (0.5×) at 70~105mm
Reproduction Ratio Scale specifications top
No.
Not on lens, but may be displayed in-camera.
Image Stabilizer specifications top
NONE, but works fine with in-camera stabilization if you have it.
Caps specifications top
LC-67B 67 mm snap-on front cap, included.
LF-N1 Z-mount rear cap, included.
Hood specifications top
Optional HB-93B Hood ($37).
I'd ignore it.
Case specifications top
None included.
Size specifications top
2.89" ø maximum diameter × x4.19" extension from flange.
73.5 mm ø maximum diameter × 106.5 mm extension from flange.
Weight specifications top
12.3 oz. (350 g).
Announced specifications top
11:01 PM, Tuesday, 06 January 2026.
Promised for specifications top
Mid January 2026.
Included specifications top
Lens.
LC-67B 67 mm snap-on front cap.
LF-N1 Z-mount rear cap.
Nikon's Model Number specifications top
20132.
Price, U. S. A. specifications top
07 January 2026 (Introduction)
$547 at B&H and at Adorama.
It also comes as a kit with the Z5 II: $2,197 at B&H.
Performance top
Introduction New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Recommendations
I'm ordering my 24-105mm at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, or get it used if you know How to Win at eBay, or get it used at KEH.
It also comes as a kit with the Z5 II at B&H.
Sharpness performance top
Lens sharpness has nothing to do with picture sharpness; every lens made in the past 100 years is more than sharp enough to make super-sharp pictures if you know what you're doing. The only limitation to picture sharpness is your skill as a photographer. It's the least talented who spend the most time worrying about lens sharpness and blame crummy pictures on their equipment rather than themselves. Skilled photographers make great images with whatever camera is in their hands; I've made some of my best images of all time with an irreparably broken camera! Most pixels are thrown away before you see them, but camera makers don't want you to know that.
If you're not getting ultra-sharp pictures with this, be sure not to shoot at f/11 or smaller where all lenses are softer due to diffraction, always shoot at ISO 100 or below because cameras become softer at ISO 200 and above, avoid shooting across long distances over land which can lead to atmospheric heat shimmer, be sure everything is in perfect focus, set your camera's sharpening as you want it (I set mine to the maximum) and be sure nothing is moving, either camera or subject. If you want to ensure a soft image with any lens, shoot at f/16 or smaller at ISO 1,600 or above at default sharpening in daylight of subjects at differing distances in the same image.
People worry waaaaay too much about lens sharpness. It's not 1968 anymore when lenses often weren't that sharp and there could be significant differences among them; ever since about 2010 all new lenses are all pretty much equally fantastic.
This lens is super sharp corner-to corner at every aperture, limited by your vision as an artist and of course by heat shimmer and by diffraction at the smallest apertures. Avoid f/16 and smaller unless you really need them for extreme depth of field because diffraction takes its toll. See also How to Calculate the Sharpest Aperture.
This lens is sharp, limited of course by diffraction at the smallest apertures and atmospheric heat shimmer at the longest zoom settings.
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 |
MTF at 24mm at f/4. |
MTF at 105mm at f/7.1. |
Nikon's MTF at 10 cyc/mm and 30 cyc/mm. Sagittal (radial) shown as solid lines. Meridional (tangential) shown as dashed lines.
While it's usually valid to compare rated MTFs between different lenses of similar vintage from the same maker, every maker measures or simply calculates MTF very differently, and therefore one cannot compare these curves between brands. For instance, Sony seems to ignore diffraction and simply calculate overly optimistic MTFs that hug 100%, which no real lens can do at f/8, while other brands are more realistic and include diffraction. Only Canon offers any insight on how they arrive at their curves.
See also my article on MTF and Canon's article on MTFs.
Recommendations top
Introduction New Good Bad Missing
Specifications Performance Recommendations
I'm ordering my 24-105mm at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, or get it used if you know How to Win at eBay, or get it used at KEH.
It also comes as a kit with the Z5 II at B&H.
This should be a superbly sharp and useful lens for just about anything, especially with its extended macro ability.
Don't worry that it's "only" f/7.1 at 105mm. This no longer matters with mirrorless cameras because they are superb at high ISOs, and unlike DSLRs the finder brightness has nothing to do with the lens aperture. Don't let the low price fool you, by keeping the maximum aperture down to f/7.1 at 105mm Nikon can make it ultra-sharp and compact at a low price. Bravo!
Personally I prefer the Z 24-200mm VR for its greater zoom range and optical stabilization that lets me skip having to carry a separate telephoto lens.
The bigger and heavier Z 24-120mm f/4 isn't any sharper and also lacks optical stabilization, but it has an AF/MF switch with I find important. It's also a constant f/4 and has a metal mount — but still about twice as heavy and twice as expensive.
I prefer this lens to any 24-70mm lens. I have no need for f/2.8, and to me the extended 70-105mm range is huge; 70mm doesn't do anything for me while 105mm is usually awesome for just about everything.
Of course we're all different and this is why Nikon makes so many very similar lenses. This isn't 1968 any more; all of them are equally sharp today.
Bravo, Nikon!
I'm ordering my 24-105mm at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, or get it used if you know How to Win at eBay, or get it used at KEH.
It also comes as a kit with the Z5 II at B&H.
This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally approved sources I've used myself for way over 100 combined years when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Nikon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, cracked-plastic-mount, non-USA, store demo or used lens — and all of my personally approved sources allow for 100% cash-back returns for at least 30 days if you don't love your new lens. I've used many of these sources since the 1970s because I can try it in my own hands and return it if I don't love it, and because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new lens before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I've used myself for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
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