Compare lenses

Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR vs Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR

The Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR and the Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR if you want more reach (to 120mm equivalent) and a lighter lens (710 g against 1070 g). Pick the Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR if you want a brighter f/2.8 (1.0 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds.

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR and the Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
SpecNikon AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VRNikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR
MakerNikonNikon
Focal length24-120mm (zoom)24-70mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent24-120mm24-70mm
Maximum aperturef/4f/2.8brighter
Made forFull frameFull frame
MountsNikon FNikon F
Stabilisedyesyes
Autofocusyesyes
Zoom range5.0×more range2.9×
Weight710 glighter1070 g
Cameras it fits17 in this guide17 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

142435508513520040080024-120mm equiv.AF-S 24-120mm f/4G
Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR: 24-120mm.
142435508513520040080024-70mm equiv.AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E
Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR: 24-70mm.

Aperture

f/4
Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR: f/4 wide open.
f/2.8
Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR: f/2.8 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

AF-S 24-120mm f/4G at 24mm · 74°AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E at 24mm · 74°AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E at 70mm · 29°AF-S 24-120mm f/4G at 120mm · 17°
How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

17 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body.

Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR

and 7 more

Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR

and 7 more

On their own pages