{"id":53360,"date":"2024-05-12T09:21:19","date_gmt":"2024-05-12T08:21:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=53360"},"modified":"2024-08-05T23:09:41","modified_gmt":"2024-08-05T22:09:41","slug":"review-nikon-z-40mm-f-2-the-street-sniper-for-discreet-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-nikon-z-40mm-f-2-the-street-sniper-for-discreet-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Nikon Z 40mm f\/2 – The Street Sniper for Discreet Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Review<\/p>\n

40mm is one of my favorite focal lengths. Closer to the human’s natural angle of view than a 50mm, and slightly wider than 50mm, it allows for more context to be included in the image. I prefer this focal length in front of a 50mm for street and everyday photography. The Nikon Nikkor Z 40\/2 with its compact format is therefore an interesting lens. It is not an “S” line Nikkor Z lens, which is Nikon’s premium series but very compelling nonetheless. Let’s have a look at it!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"CameraI tested this lens on a Nikon Z 7II with its 46 Mp sensor.
\n\"YoutubeYou can see this review as a YouTube video here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"NIKON
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon Nikkor Z 40\/2 | f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"NIKON
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon Nikkor Z 40\/2 | f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"NIKON
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon Nikkor Z 40\/2 | f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z7ii | Nikon Z 40mm f\/2 | f\/7.1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z7ii | Nikon Z 40mm f\/2 | f\/9<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"NIKON
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon Nikkor Z 40\/2 | f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

\"NIKON
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon Nikkor Z 40\/2 | f\/6.3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"NIKON
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon Nikkor Z 40\/2 | f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"NIKON
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon Nikkor Z 40\/2 | f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"NIKON
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon Nikkor Z 40\/2 | f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"NIKON
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon Nikkor Z 40\/2 | f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most of the sample images in this review and many more can be found in higher resolution here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Specifications<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Focal Length<\/td>\n40mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Angle of View<\/td>\n57\u00b0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
# of Aperture Blades<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max Aperture<\/td>\nF\/2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Aperture<\/td>\nF\/16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Focus Distance<\/td>\n0.29 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Size<\/td>\n52 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lens Mount<\/td>\nNikon Z<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n170 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Size (D x L)<\/td>\n\u2248 70 x 45.5 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/Group<\/td>\n6\/4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\"NIKON
Nikon Nikkor Z 40\/2 | Optical Construction<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Buy new:<\/strong> Amazon.com<\/a>, B&H<\/a> for $240, $295 for SE (Affiliate links)
\nBuy used: eBay<\/a> from $230 (Affiliate links)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Note:<\/strong> the $240 price is a Nikon saving offer during May 2024, the normal list price is about $295.<\/em><\/p>\n

Disclosure<\/span><\/p>\n

I bought this lens with my own earned money.<\/p>\n

Variations<\/span><\/h2>\n

There is a Special Edition (SE) variant of this lens, which is identical with the reviewed lens (same size, weight and optical construction) with the exception of its exterior design, which has a retro look.<\/p>\n

\"NIKON
Nikon Nikkor Z 40\/2 SE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Handling<\/span><\/h2>\n

This Nikon Z 40mm is one of the most basic lenses among Nikon Z lenses. Let’s start with the good things. It is very compact for a fullframe lens, not a pancake lens but maybe a “cupcake” lens. The lens is very light at only 170 g due to the material used. Its closest lens in focal length is Nikon Z 35mm f\/1.8 S<\/a>, which is about double the size and weight.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Nikon 40\/s vs Nikon 35\/1.8 S<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It seems to be fully built of high quality plastic. It has internal focusing and the AF is powered by a stepping motor, which is acceptably fast. The autofocus is very accurate and relatively quiet. There is a manual focus ring in front that you can use to override the AF at any time. It has weather\/dust sealing.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Nikon Nikkor Z 40\/2 on a Nikon Z 7II<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, some corners are cut to achieve this lens’ affordability. Using high quality plastic to keep the lens light and affordable is one thing, using plastic for the mount is something else. The lens is not that old but I fear that the mount may not endure as long as a metal plate.<\/p>\n

\"NIKON
Nikon Nikkor Z 40\/2 | Mount<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are also no controls on the lens besides the manual focusing ring, not a single button, requiring you to navigate the camera’s menu for full manual focus. A lens hood is not included, and the lens lacks Nikon’s advanced ARNEO and Nano Crystal coatings, which may affect flare and ghosting performance. The front element lacks the dust\/water repelling Fluorine coating that the S lenses have.<\/p>\n

\"NIKON
Nikon Nikkor Z 40\/2 on a Nikon Z 7II<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Overall, the lens is tightly assembled, and the build quality appears to be very good. The absence of external moving parts could potentially minimize future issues. If Nikon had included a Fluorine coating and a metal mount, it would have been top-notch.<\/p>\n

Optical Features<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"NIKON
Nikon Z 40\/2 | MTF Diagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sharpness (Infinity)<\/span><\/h3>\n

For the infinity sharpness test, we look at three areas of the image, center, mid-frame, and corner, see highlighted areas in the image below!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Infinily Sharpness Points of Inspection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"NIKON
Nikon Z 7II | Nikon Nikkor Z 40\/2 | Infinity Sharpness Chart (vignette compensated)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Nikkor 40\/2 starts very good wide open in the center, the midframe is good, but the corner is just OK. At f\/2.8 the center is excellent, midframe very good and the corner has improved a lot to a good level. At f4 both the center and the midframe have excellent sharpness, the corner is convincing good now. At f\/5.6 we have the peak performance, and it does not change much at f\/8.\u00a0 Corners come at best to a very good level in sharpness at f\/5.6-f\/8, but the sharpness there never becomes excellent. At f\/11 we see a small negligible hit of the diffraction, which is more obvious at f\/16, especially in the corner. This is somewhat weaker than the Nikkor Z 35mm<\/a> we tested here but is good on its own.<\/p>\n

Sharpness (Portrait)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s look at the points of interest for portraits at the portrait distance: the very center, the center\u2019s inner periphery\u00a0 (1\/3 rule intersection), and the center\u2019s outer periphery (1\/4th intersection).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Portrait Sharpness Points of Interest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n