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Canon

RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

Canon RF Mount

The cornerstone zoom for Canon mirrorless, featuring 5 stops of optical image stabilization.

$2,399

Launch price

Released Aug 2019

vs

Nikon

NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S

Nikon Z Mount

NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S — 14–30mm f/4 for Nikon Z, a popular choice in the nikon lineup.

$1,299

Launch price

Released Jul 2019

Released within a month of each other.

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Wins

5categories

RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

Video & HybridSports & Action

Wins

3categories

NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S

Landscape

TL;DR — Key differences

RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM wins 4 categories·NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S wins 1 categories
  • ARF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM has higher OIS effectiveness (5 stops vs 0 stops)
  • BNIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S has lower Weight (485 g vs 900 g)
  • ARF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM has lower Min focus distance (21 cm vs 38 cm)
  • ARF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/2.8 vs f/4)
  • ARF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/2.8 vs f/4)

Key specs at a glance

RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USMNIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S
Focal Length24-70 mm14-30 mm
Max Aperturef/2.8f/4
MountCanon RFNikon Z
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
Stabilization5 stopsNo
Weight900 g485 g
Min Focus21 cm38 cm
Filter Size82 mm82 mm

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseRF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USMNIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S
Portrait
4.5Fair
2.5Limited
Sports & Action
7.5Good
5.5Fair
Video & Hybrid
9.0Excellent
5.0Fair
Landscape
7.0Good
8.0Excellent
Travel
4.0Fair
5.0Fair
Wildlife
5.5Fair
3.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
5.0Fair
2.0Limited

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

  • Special elements

    Adds 3 Aspherical, 3 UD

  • OIS effectiveness

    5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • Optical stabilization

    Only RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM supports it

  • Min focus distance

    21 cm vs 38 cm — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/2.8 vs f/4 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/2.8 vs f/4 — lower is better

  • Max magnification

    0.3 × vs 0.25 × — higher is better

Reasons to choose the NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S

  • Special elements

    Adds Aspherical

  • Custom function button

    Only NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S supports it

  • Weight

    485 g vs 900 g — lower is better

  • Length

    118 mm vs 125 mm — lower is better

  • Diameter

    86 mm vs 88 mm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Weather sealing

Both support weather sealing

Control ring

Both support control ring

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

Pros

  • Built-in optical image stabilization (up to 5 stops)
  • Excellent L-series sharpness and build quality
  • Fast and silent Nano USM focus motor
  • Very low chromatic aberration

Cons

  • Heavier than competitive options (900g)
  • Pricey entry threshold
  • Minor barrel distortion at 24mm

NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S

Pros

  • Versatile zoom range covers multiple focal lengths in one lens
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting
  • Native Nikon Z mount compatibility

Cons

  • Slower maximum aperture limits low-light performance
  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM and NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S at major authorized retailers.

Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S

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Full specifications

= category winner

RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S
Focal length (Min)
24 mm
14 mm
Focal length (Max)
70 mm
30 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/2.8+1 stop wider
f/4
Max aperture (Tele)
f/2.8+1 stop wider
f/4
Elements
21
16
Groups
15
12
Special elements
3 Aspherical, 3 UD
Aspherical
RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S
Min focus distance
21 cm−17 cm less
38 cm
Max magnification
0.3 ×+20%
0.25 ×
Autofocus motor
Nano USM
Linear / Stepping Motor
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S
Optical stabilization
Yes
No
OIS effectiveness
5 stops
0 stops
RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S
Weight
900 g
485 g−415 g less
Length
125 mm
118 mm−7 mm less
Diameter
88 mm
86 mm−2 mm less
Filter thread size
82 mm
82 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
9
9
RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S
Lens mount
Canon RF
Nikon Z
Format coverage
Full Frame
Full Frame

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.