Recommended Standard Zoom in full format for the amateur photographer

Feel and mechanics of this lens are good - very similar to the telephoto zoom AF-S VR 70-300 1: 4.5-5.6 G IF-ED. It has a solid metal bayonet and works mechanically exactly - even during manual focus. The ultrasonic AF is fast, accurate and very quiet. With 575g weight it is for a standard zoom in full-frame pleasantly light and account of their size and relatively compact and handy.

The optical quality is fine throughout the entire zoom range. The photos are from f / 8 to the corners sharply at an extremely good color rendering (this is the great strength of this lens). At the telephoto end is the Vibration Reduction (VR) is of great advantage. In wide-angle and normal focal length range I do not use these. Compared with the professional standard zoom from Nikon, the AF-S 24-70 mm 1: 2.8, the photo quality in my opinion, falls only slightly worse. For this, however this is then twice as heavy and three times more expensive. Ideal image results are obtained easily dimmed with Aperture f / 8 to f / 11 in full-frame. At maximum aperture (f / 3.5 - f / 5.6), it is of course not light strong enough in normal focal length range a perfect background blur (like the AF-S 24-70 mm 1: 2.8) to produce - but rather a sufficient background blur at the telephoto end between 80 and 120 mm.

For occasional trips to the macro range (if a macro lens is not yet needed), this lens can withstand even in the telephoto 120 mm, a close-up lens to 4 diopters. (This then being at the edges partially greater blurring occur) 2: So you get up to a magnification ratio of about 1.

The big advantage of the AF-S 24-120 mm is its extremely practical range of focal lengths from wide-angle to powerful to short telephoto range. It is therefore an ideal standard zoom for a wide range of applications. I am with this standard zoom very satisfied, use it very often and can recommend it to all amateur photographers who are not willing to pay the last 10% quality with triple the price and twice the weight.