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Nikon

NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S

Nikon Z Mount

Nikon's flagship S-Line standard zoom offering incredible resolution and custom OLED info panel.

$2,299

Launch price

Released Feb 2019

vs

Sony

FE 85mm F1.8

Sony E Mount

FE 85mm F1.8 — 85mm f/1.8 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sony lineup.

$599

Launch price

Released Feb 2017

NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is 2 years newer.

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Wins

1categories

NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S

LandscapeSports & Action

Wins

6categories

FE 85mm F1.8

PortraitSports & Action

1 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S wins 1 categories·FE 85mm F1.8 wins 4 categories
  • BFE 85mm F1.8 has lower Weight (371 g vs 805 g)
  • BFE 85mm F1.8 has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.8 vs f/2.8)
  • BFE 85mm F1.8 has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.8 vs f/2.8)
  • ANIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S has higher Max magnification (0.22 × vs 0.15 ×)
  • BFE 85mm F1.8 has lower Min focus distance (30 cm vs 38 cm)

Key specs at a glance

NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 SFE 85mm F1.8
Focal Length24-70 mm85 mm
Max Aperturef/2.8f/1.8
MountNikon ZSony E
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
StabilizationNoNo
Weight805 g371 g
Min Focus38 cm30 cm
Filter Size82 mm77 mm

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseNIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 SFE 85mm F1.8
Portrait
4.5Fair
9.0Excellent
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
5.0Fair
3.5Limited
Landscape
7.0Good
1.0Limited
Travel
4.0Fair
4.0Fair
Wildlife
2.0Limited
1.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
0.0Limited
1.5Limited

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S

  • Special elements

    Adds 2 ED, 4 Aspherical

  • Weather sealing

    Only NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S supports it

  • Control ring

    Only NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S supports it

  • Custom function button

    Only NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S supports it

  • Max magnification

    0.22 × vs 0.15 × — higher is better

Reasons to choose the FE 85mm F1.8

  • Special elements

    Adds Aspherical

  • Weight

    371 g vs 805 g — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.8 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.8 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • Min focus distance

    30 cm vs 38 cm — lower is better

  • Length

    102 mm vs 126 mm — lower is better

  • Diameter

    81 mm vs 89 mm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S

Pros

  • Stunning resolution and contrast across zoom range
  • OLED information panel displays focal length, focus, or aperture
  • Multi-focusing stepping motor system for silent, rapid AF
  • Almost zero focus breathing

Cons

  • No optical stabilization (relies on Nikon body IBIS)
  • No mechanical aperture ring (uses control ring instead)

FE 85mm F1.8

Pros

  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • Lightweight design easy to carry all day
  • Native Sony E mount compatibility

Cons

  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S and FE 85mm F1.8 at major authorized retailers.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.

Full specifications

= category winner

NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
FE 85mm F1.8
Focal length (Min)
24 mm
85 mm
Focal length (Max)
70 mm
85 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/2.8
f/1.8+1.3 stops wider
Max aperture (Tele)
f/2.8
f/1.8+1.3 stops wider
Elements
17
14
Groups
15
11
Special elements
2 ED, 4 Aspherical
Aspherical
NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
FE 85mm F1.8
Min focus distance
38 cm
30 cm−8 cm less
Max magnification
0.22 ×+47%
0.15 ×
Autofocus motor
Multi-Focus Stepping Motors (STM)
Linear / Stepping Motor
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
FE 85mm F1.8
Optical stabilization
No
No
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
0 stops
NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
FE 85mm F1.8
Weight
805 g
371 g−434 g less
Length
126 mm
102 mm−24 mm less
Diameter
89 mm
81 mm−8 mm less
Filter thread size
82 mm
77 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
No
Diaphragm blades
9
11
NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
FE 85mm F1.8
Lens mount
Nikon Z
Sony E
Format coverage
Full Frame
Full Frame

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