Nikon Nikkor Z 40 mm f/2
| Maker | Nikon |
|---|---|
| Lens mount | Z-mount |
| Technical data | |
| Type | Prime |
| Focus drive | Stepping motor |
| Focal length | 40mm |
| Image format | FX (full frame) |
| Aperture (max/min) | f/2–16 |
| Close focus distance | 0.29m |
| Max. magnification | 1:5.9 |
| Diaphragm blades | 9 (rounded) |
| Construction | 6 elements in 4 groups |
| Features | |
| Lens-based stabilization | No |
| Macro capable | No |
| Application | Normal Lens |
| Physical | |
| Max. length | 45.5 mm |
| Diameter | 70 mm |
| Weight | 170 g |
| Filter diameter | 52 mm |
| Software | |
| Latest firmware | 1.10 (as of 20 August 2024) |
| User flashable | Yes |
| Lens ID | 25 |
| Angle of view | |
| Diagonal | 57° (FX) 38°50' (DX) |
| History | |
| Introduction | September 2021 |
| Retail info | |
| MSRP | $299 USD (as of 2021) |
The Nikon Nikkor Z 40 mm f/2 is a full-frame prime lens manufactured by Nikon for use on Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras.
Introduction
On June 2, 2021, Nikon announced the development of the lens (along with the development of Nikkor Z 28 mm f/2.8).[2][3] The lens was released on September 14, 2021.[4][5] The lens does not come with a lens hood.[6][7]
Dustin Abbott concluded that the lens has a lot of strengths and only a few weaknesses. He highlighted its great price to performance ratio, fast and accurate autofocus, weather sealing, pretty bokeh, low distortion and fringing and excellent detail when slightly stopped down as positives, while strong vignetting, missing lens hood and the lens using a plastic mount as negatives.[6] David Crewe of PetaPixel described the lens as discreet, lightweight, affordable and useful, while praising its edge-to-edge sharpness, silent autofocus, well-engineered lens body, smooth bokeh, with vignetting affecting only images shot wide open. For negatives, he pointed out the lack of lens hood and an additional control ring (besides the single configurable ring that is manual focus by default).[7] Spencer Cox of Photography Life concluded that the lens offers a good optical performance at a reasonable price and a best-in-class weight. He praised its tight build quality, excellent autofocus accuracy and speed, very good distortion and lateral chromatic aberration performance, light weight, small size and low price. For the cons, its plastic lens mount, lack of controls on the lens, busy bokeh in moderately out-of-focus areas and vignetting were mentioned.[8]
Special Edition (SE)
On November 8, 2022, Nikon also announced an otherwise optically identical Special Edition (SE) version of the lens, which adopts a retro design to be matched with the Nikon Zfc and Zf cameras.[9][10][11][12] The SE lens was released on December 14, 2022.[13]
Features
- 40 mm focal length (approximately equivalent field of view of a 60 mm lens when used on a DX format camera)
- Autofocus using a "new, high-torque" stepping motor (STM),[14] focus-by-wire manual focus ring
- 6 elements in 4 groups (including 2 aspherical lens elements)
- 9-blade rounded diaphragm
- One customizable control ring (manual focusing by default, aperture, ISO and exposure compensation functions can be assigned to it)
- Internal focusing (IF lens)
-
The lens on display
Awards
The lens was awarded with the iF Design Award 2024[15][16] and the Japan Institute of Design Promotion Good Design 2023 award[17][18] (both along with the Nikon Zf camera and the Nikkor Z 28 mm f/2.8 SE lens).
Sample images
-
At f/2
-
At f/2.2, (1.5×)
-
Bokeh at f/4
-
At f/4.5
-
At f/4.5, (1.5×)
-
At f/5.6
-
At f/5.6, (1.5×)
-
At f/6.3
-
At f/6.3, (1.5×)
-
At f/7.1, (1.5×)
See also
References
- ^ "NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 specifications". imaging.nikon.com. Nikon Corporation. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
- ^ "Nikon is developing the NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 and NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2, two compact and lightweight prime lenses for the Nikon Z mount system". nikon.com. Nikon Corporation. 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2025-10-19.
- ^ "Nikon confirms compact 28mm F2.8 and 40mm F2 primes for Z-mount coming later this year". dpreview.com. DPReview. 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2025-10-19.
- ^ "Nikon releases the NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2, a compact and lightweight prime lens for the Nikon Z mount system". Nikon Corporation. 2021-09-14. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
- ^ Crewe, David (2021-09-13). "Nikon Reveals The Affordable Z-Mount 40mm f/2 Compact Prime Lens". petapixel.com. PetaPixel. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ a b Abbott, Dustin (2024-07-01). "Nikkor Z 40mm F2 Review". dustinabbott.net. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ a b Crewe, David (2022-01-01). "Nikon Z 40mm f/2 Review: Affordable and Surprisingly Useful". petapixel.com. PetaPixel. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ Cox, Spencer (2022-11-29). "Nikon Z 40mm f/2 Review". photographylife.com. Photography Life. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ "Nikon announces new NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 (SE) Special Edition lens with a timeless design". Nikon Corporation. 2022-11-08. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
- ^ Schneider, Jaron (2022-11-08). "Nikon Goes Retro with Special Edition 40mm f/2 Lens and All-Black Z fc". petapixel.com. PetaPixel. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ Burgett, Gannon (2022-11-09). "Nikon unveils retro-inspired 'Black Edition' Z fc and 40mm F2 SE". dpreview.com. DPReview. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ Gray, Jeremy (2022-11-09). "Retro style: Nikon announces special edition Z 40mm F2 lens and all-black Nikon Z fc camera". imaging-resource.com. Imaging Resource. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ "Nikon releases the NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 (SE), a compact and lightweight prime lens for the Nikon Z mount system". Nikon Corporation. 2022-12-14. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
- ^ "NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2". nikonusa.com. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
- ^ "iF design award". nikon.com. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
- ^ "Nikon Z f + NIKKOR Z SE lenses Digital Camera". ifdesign.com. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
- ^ "2023 Good Design Award - Z f + NIKKOR Z SE (Special Edition) lenses - Mirrorless camera and Interchangeable lens for mirrorless cameras (Nikon Corporation)". g-mark.org. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
- ^ "Good Design Award (Japan Institute of Design Promotion)". nikon.com. Retrieved 2025-01-18.