Digital Camera World - UK (2020-03)

K i t Z o n e

Features

Build & handling

Performance

Value

Overall

126 DIGITAL CAMERA^ MARCH 2020 http://www.digitalcameraworld.com

hen you trade up from a

standard kit lens to a more

sophisticated zoom, there’s

often little or no improvement

in autofocus speed, nor in facets of image

quality like sharpness, colour fringing and

distortion. The biggest difference you’ll

usually find is that top-flight lenses typically

have a faster aperture rating, delivering a

tighter depth of field and giving you more

creative freedom. Premium lenses are

generally more adept at keeping ghosting

and flare to a minimum. Build quality also

tends to be much better, catering to the

demands of professional photographers.

The Nikkor 24-70mm is the most

impressive lens in this test. Even so, if you’re

got the excellent Nikkor 24-120mm kit lens,

there’s little need to upgrade unless you

really feel the need for that extra f/stop.

Trading up from the Canon 24-105mm

f/3.5-5.6 to the 24-70mm f/2.8 is a trickier

decision, as you’ll lose image stabilisation

as well as extra telephoto reach in the

process. That said, the Canon 24-105mm

lens is rather basic compared with the

Nikkor 24-120mm, whereas the Canon

24-70mm is a fully pro-grade lens with

particularly strong

build quality.

W

Group Test ³ɎƏȇƳƏȸƳɿȒȒȅɀ

How the

lenses

compare

Swings and

roundabouts

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Canon EF-S

18-55mm

f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

Canon EF-S

15-85mm

f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Canon EF

24-105mm

f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

Canon EF

24-70mm f/2.8L

II USM

Nikkor AF-P DX

18-55mm

f/3.5-5.6G VR

Nikkor AF-S DX

16-80mm

f/2.8-4E ED VR

Nikkor AF-S

24-120mm f/4

ED VR

Nikkor AF-S

24-70mm f/2.8E

ED VR

Contact http://www.canon.co.uk http://www.canon.co.uk http://www.canon.co.uk http://www.canon.co.uk http://www.nikon.com http://www.nikon.com http://www.nikon.com http://www.nikon.com

Street price £214/$106 £690/$799 £579/$599 £1,740/$1,599 £209/$247 £989/$1,067 £1,045/$1,097 £1,799/$2,399

Full-frame compatible No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes

Equiv focal length 29-88mm 24-136mm 36-168mm 38-112mm 27-82.5mm 24-120mm 36-180mm 36-105mm

Elements/groups 13/11 17/12 17/13 18/13 12/9 17/13 17/13 20/16

Diaphragm 7 blades 7 blades 7 blades 9 blades 7 blades 7 blades 9 blades 9 blades

Optical stabiliser 4-stop 4-stop 4-stop None 4-stop 4-stop 3.5-stop 4-stop

Autofocus type Stepping motor Ultrasonic

(ring-t yp e)

Stepping motor Ultrasonic

(ring-t yp e)

Stepping motor Ultrasonic

(ring-t yp e)

Ultrasonic

(ring-t yp e)

Ultrasonic

(ring-t yp e)

Manual focus override Electronic Full-time Electronic Full-time Electronic Full-time Full-time Full-time

Min focus distance 0.25m 0.35m 0.4m 0.38m 0.25m 0.35m 0.45m 0.38m

(35-50mm)

Max reproduction ratio 0.36x 0.21x 0.3x 0.21x 0.38x 0.22x 0.24x 0.28x

Focus distance scale N o Ye s N o Ye s N o Ye s Ye s Ye s

Mounting plate Plastic Metal Metal Metal Plastic Metal Metal Metal

Weather-sealed mount No No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes

Filter size 58mm 72mm 77mm 82mm 55mm 72mm 77mm 82mm

Hood EW-63C,

£15/$23

EW-78E,

£38/$30

EW-83M,

£29/$27

EW-88C,

included

HB-N106,

£20/$25

HB-75, included HB-53, included HB-74, included

Dimensions

(dia x length)

69 x 75mm 82 x 88mm 83 x 104mm 89 x 113mm 65 x 63mm

(retracted)

80 x 86mm 84 x 104mm 88 x 155mm

Weight 205g 575g 525g 805g 205g 480g 710g 1,070g