Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70 mm f/4 S
4. Image resolution
Let's see how the Nikkor Z 24–70 mm f/4 S compares; its results, reached in the frame centre and at 24, 45, and 70 mm, presents a graph shown below.
Please Support UsIf you enjoy our reviews and articles, and you want us to continue our work please, support our website by donating through PayPal. The funds are going to be used for paying our editorial team, renting servers, and equipping our testing studio; only that way we will be able to continue providing you interesting content for free. |
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Nikkor Z 24–70 mm f/4 S is supposed to be a basic lens, offered in a set with a body. As such, it is aimed at less advanced, not so demanding users – photographers who definitely don't need a fast device with journalistic parameters such as 24-70 mm f/2.8.
The resolution graph shows clearly that weight and dimensions were a priority here. We wish we could say the same about low price but it is not exactly true. As we've already mentioned, the lens costs about $1000 if you buy it separately and in a set with a camera body you'll still be surcharged $600 for it.
There's a huge difference between the Nikkor Z 24-70 mm f/4 S and other fixed focal length lenses from that system that didn't have any problems with reaching 80 lpmm in this category. The tested lens doesn't even get to 70 lpmm. The contrast is huge but also understandable. Fixed focal length lenses reach their maximum resolution near f/4.0 and for the Nikkor 24-70 mm it is actually the maximum relative aperture where different optical aberrations make themselves felt. They can be efficiently damped down only on stopping down the aperture by 1-2 EV but then diffraction is already active. As you see there are no miracles and it would be foolish to expect them. An f/4 zoom lens will always lose when stacked up against prime lenses as fast as f/1.8.
Still, a good performance at the maximum focal length should be considered an asset, along with the fact that even at the maximum relative aperture, no matter what angle of view you use, you get results exceeding 50 lpmm so distinctly above the decency level.
Now let's check how the tested lens performs on the edge of the APS-C/DX sensor.
There are no reservations whatsoever concerning 45 and 70 mm focal lengths. Even at the maximum relative aperture you get useful images and on stopping down to near f/5.6 – 8.0 the lens can achieve truly good resolution levels.
Some problems you might experience at the maximum relative aperture when it comes to the shortest focal length but, fortunately, image quality improves very quickly on stopping down. As a result, already by f/4.5 – 5.0 the performance of the lens is beyond reproach.
Now let's check how the tested lens fares on the edge of the full frame sensor – an appropriate graph you can find below.
The performance at the maximum relative aperture is very similar at all focal lengths and images, produced by the lens, can hardly be called useful. Fortunately, in the majority of cases, stopping down to an area near f/5.0 helps, with an exception of the maximum focal length which needs stopping down to about f/8.0.
The resolution results of the Nikkor Z 24-70 mm f/4 S prove it's a solid instrument and an efficient kit lens. It offers good image quality across the whole focal and aperture range both in the frame centre and in the APS-C/DX area. On edges of full frame there are a bit more problems, especially close to the maximum relative aperture, but such a weak point is only to be expected.
At the end of this chapter, traditionally, we present crops taken from photos of our resolution testing chart which were saved as JPEG files along the RAW files, used for the analysis above.
| Nikon Z7, JPEG, 24 mm, f/4.0 |
 |
| Nikon Z7, JPEG, 70 mm, f/4.0 |
 |
