If you could only own one lens for Nikon Z full frame, the Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S would be the strongest candidate. It covers wide angle to short telephoto, holds f/4 through the whole range, and delivers S-line sharpness that rivals Nikon’s f/2.8 zooms. It launched in late 2021 at $1,100, and it’s been the default kit lens on Z6III and Z8 bundles ever since.

That extra reach past 70mm matters more than it sounds. 120mm is a real portrait length, a useful focal length for details and compressed landscapes, and enough to pick out a face across a room at an event.