The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 28-70mm f2.8 ED-IF and the Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Nikon 28-70mm f2.8 ED-IF is the longer of the two lenses at 122mm. The Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR with a length of 104mm, is 18mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 28-70mm f2.8 ED-IF also has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR's 84mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR weighs 710g, 24% (225g) lighter than the Nikon 28-70mm f2.8 ED-IF's weight of 935g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Zoom Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
Both the Nikon 28-70mm f2.8 ED-IF and the Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR have the same Filter thread size of 77mm.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 28-70mm f2.8 ED-IF and the Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR has the same Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (FX) lenses are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500.
Focal Range
Nikon 28-70mm f2.8 ED-IF has a focal range of 28-70mm and
2.5X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
42 - 105mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR has a focal range of 24-120mm and 5.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 36 - 180mm.