Evaluate: Nikon Z 40mm f/2 – The Road Sniper for Discreet Pictures

Introduction

40mm is one in every of my favourite focal lengths. Nearer to the human’s pure angle of view than a 50mm, and barely wider than 50mm, it permits for extra context to be included within the picture. I favor this focal size in entrance of a 50mm for road and on a regular basis images. The Nikon Nikkor Z 40/2 with its compact format is due to this fact an attention-grabbing lens. It isn’t an “S” line Nikkor Z lens, which is Nikon’s premium collection however very compelling nonetheless. Let’s take a look at it!

I examined this lens on a Nikon Z 7II with its 46 Mp sensor.

Pattern Photographs

Many of the pattern photos on this evaluate and lots of extra might be present in increased decision right here.

Specs

Disclosure

I purchased this lens with my very own earned cash.

Variations

There’s a Particular Version (SE) variant of this lens, which is similar with the reviewed lens (identical dimension, weight and optical development) apart from its exterior design, which has a retro look.

Dealing with

This Nikon Z 40mm is among the most elementary lenses amongst Nikon Z lenses. Let’s begin with the great issues. It is rather compact for a fullframe lens, not a pancake lens however perhaps a “cupcake” lens. The lens may be very gentle at solely 170 g because of the materials used. Its closest lens in focal size is Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S, which is about double the dimensions and weight.

It appears to be absolutely constructed of top quality plastic. It has inner focusing and the AF is powered by a stepping motor, which is acceptably quick. The autofocus may be very correct and comparatively quiet. There’s a handbook focus ring in entrance that you should use to override the AF at any time. It has climate/mud sealing.

Nevertheless, some corners are reduce to attain this lens’ affordability. Utilizing top quality plastic to maintain the lens gentle and reasonably priced is one factor, utilizing plastic for the mount is one thing else. The lens is just not that outdated however I worry that the mount could not endure so long as a steel plate.

There are additionally no controls on the lens moreover the handbook focusing ring, not a single button, requiring you to navigate the digital camera’s menu for full handbook focus. A lens hood is just not included, and the lens lacks Nikon’s superior ARNEO and Nano Crystal coatings, which can have an effect on flare and ghosting efficiency. The entrance component lacks the mud/water repelling Fluorine coating that the S lenses have.

General, the lens is tightly assembled, and the construct high quality seems to be superb. The absence of exterior transferring components might probably reduce future points. If Nikon had included a Fluorine coating and a steel mount, it could have been top-notch.

Optical Options

Sharpness (Infinity)

For the infinity sharpness take a look at, we take a look at three areas of the picture, middle, mid-frame, and nook, see highlighted areas within the picture under!

The Nikkor 40/2 begins superb extensive open within the middle, the midframe is nice, however the nook is simply OK. At f/2.8 the middle is superb, midframe superb and the nook has improved so much to a superb stage. At f4 each the middle and the midframe have glorious sharpness, the nook is convincing good now. At f/5.6 we’ve the height efficiency, and it doesn’t change a lot at f/8.  Corners come at greatest to an excellent stage in sharpness at f/5.6-f/8, however the sharpness there by no means turns into glorious. At f/11 we see a small negligible hit of the diffraction, which is extra apparent at f/16, particularly within the nook. That is considerably weaker than the Nikkor Z 35mm we examined right here however is nice by itself.

Sharpness (Portrait)

Let’s take a look at the factors of curiosity for portraits on the portrait distance: the very middle, the middle’s inside periphery  (1/3 rule intersection), and the middle’s outer periphery (1/4th intersection).

At f/2 Heart sharpnes is kind of good, whereas inside and outer circles are simply OK. Stopping all the way down to f/2.8 makes middle sharpness superb to glorious, inside and outer circles are higher at a superb stage. One other cease to f/4 and middle sharpness is superb now,  inside/outer circles are superb. At f5.6 the Heart sharpness stays glorious, inside circle turns into additionally glorious, outer circle is excellent.

Sharpness (Shut-up)

Vast open the sharpness is nice however the distinction is low. Stopping all the way down to f2.8 makes the picture very sharp with significantly better distinction. At f4 we get glorious sharpness and distinction, F5.6 is even higher and appears to offer the height efficiency as nothing appears to alter at f8. F11 sees a small hit of the diffraction impact, which turns into extra apparent at f16 however nonetheless at an excellent stage.

Lens Distortion

Delicate barrel distortion, +2 in LR fixes the distortion however I’d not hassle.

Vignetting

This lens has a reasonable vignetting extensive open. It lightens up by stopping down however by no means clears fully up. from f/5.6 it’s about 1 EV.

• f/2.0: 2.3 EV
• f/2.8: 1.5 EV
• f/4.0: 1.3 EV
• f/5.6: 1.1 EV
• f/8.0: 0.9 EV

Focus Shift & Aberrations

There’s a slight focus shift as the main target is moved farther away going from f2 to f2.8. This explains the low distinction at f2 to some extent.

The Nikkor 40/2 exhibits a small quantity of longitudinal chromatic aberration extensive open at f2. It reduces at f2.8, will get significantly better at f4 and is totally gone at f5.6.

The lateral chromatic aberration may be very nicely corrected.

Flare Resistance

Nikon Z lenses within the S collection have proven glorious flare resistance in our earlier checks. Though this one doesn’t appear to come back as much as these ranges, most likely because of the lack of ARNEO and Nano Crystal coatings, it exhibits pretty good flare resistance. One of many components may very well be the comparatively small variety of lens components. Underneath stress testing situations, you will get some veiling and ghost flares, however the picture retains excessive distinction exterior the flare space, which is nice.  It handles the flares higher at wider apertures than at smaller ones and customarily, the flares resistance is healthier than common.

I took about 50 photos with the solar in essentially the most essential positions doable, with essentially the most weak apertures for various kinds of flare (f/2 and f/16), the next photos are the worst of them.

Only for comparability I’ve added 2 of regular photos that weren’t devastated by flares in the identical conditions, one at f2 and one at f16 (tabs I and J to point out the conventional dealing with of the flare by this lens).

Coma

The Nikon 40/2 suffers from coma at f/2. The coma impact is improved by stopping down one cease to f/2.8 and disappears fully by f/4.

Sunstars

You’ll not get any good sunstars with this lens. Even at f16 the place you sunstars they aren’t nicely outlined

Focus Respiratory

The Nikkor Z 40/2 exhibits solely a really small quantity of respiration, one thing for videographers’ pleasure.

Bokeh

Bokeh is a subjective matter and finally it’s as much as you to resolve for those who like this lens’s bokeh or not. The bokeh of this lens is a blended bag. In shut distances, like most different lenses, it’s delicate and really nice. It has an excellent minimal focusing distance, which additionally permits to create photos with creamy background blur in plenty of conditions.

Shut Distance

Medium Distance

From the medium distances, issues begin wanting a a bit busy relying on the background.

Lengthy Distance

At lengthy distances the busy background blur is extra apparent.

Bokeh Balls

The benefit of the bokeh balls created by the Nikon Z 40/2 is that they maintain a pleasant and virtually spherical form even within the corners. The lens vignetting may be very low. On the much less constructive aspect, they tackle a polygonal form at f/2.8, though it’s not very distinct or disturbing. Additionally, a coloured edge is seen on the transitions from gentle to darkish, which is probably going one of many the explanation why the medium to lengthy distance background blur seems a bit busy.

In medium to lengthy distances you must be cautious concerning the background. Whereas it isn’t a disaster, in scenes with excessive distinction within the background I would like it might render the background blur a bit softer. Take a look on the photos on this part and within the pattern photos sections and resolve for your self the way you prefer it.

Conclusion

The Nikon Z 40mm f/2 has a number of constructive points. It is among the lightest and least costly Nikon lenses accessible on your Nikon Z in the intervening time. With a decent and well-built construct, minimal exterior transferring components, and good AF velocity, it is vitally gentle, compact, and moveable, priced at solely $240 (Might 2024) it’s a discount. It additionally reveals good to glorious sharpness. The closest alternate options, Nikon’s 35mm f/1.8 S and 50mm f/1.8 S, are glorious lenses, however they value and weigh greater than double what the 40mm f/2 does.

On the draw back, it’s unlucky that it has a plastic mount and lacks controls apart from the handbook focusing ring on the lens. It additionally lacks a Fluorine coating. Moreover, the vignetting, flare resistance, bokeh, and focus shift may very well be improved.

Finally, it is a superb alternative for road, on a regular basis, or journey images, and it’s additionally appropriate for environmental portraits. This won’t be the sharpest knife in Nikon’s toolbox, however it’s one in every of my favorite Nikon Z lenses, and I really like the focal size. So, for those who’re on the lookout for a compact Nikon AF Z lens for these kind of images, or for those who’re on a price range and desire a Nikkor Z prime, this lens could be the best one for you.

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Alternate options

Voigtländer Ultron 40mm F2 SL II
With a size of 25-30cm (relying on mount), a real pancake lens,  handbook focus solely, (Nikon F (FX), Canon EF, Pentax KAF), discontinued however accessible used for about the identical worth as a brand new Nikon Z or a bit dearer (300$-400$ used)
Purchase it from: eBay.com  (affiliate hyperlinks) 

Voigtländer Ultron 40mm F2 SL II -S
A more moderen model of the above with Nikon Ai-S mount, handbook focus solely, however with electrical contacts on the mount plate. Dearer than Nikon Z 40 with out being any higher optically, however very good handbook dealing with and look (419$ new)
Purchase from: Amazon.com, Amazon.de , B&H $419 (affiliate hyperlinks) 

Voigtländer Nokton 40mm 1:1.2 Aspherical
The quickest 40mm round, accessible in Nikon Z, Sony E/EF, VM mount. With its 315g weight, 54mm size, it’s bigger and heavier than the Nikon. Guide focus solely however one and a half stops sooner, nicer bokeh, higher sunstars and flare resistance, however greater than 3 occasions dearer (899$ new Nikon Z model)
Purchase from: Amazon.com, Amazon.de , B&H fro $899 (affiliate hyperlinks) 

Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM Artwork
Autofocus 40mm, 2/3 cease sooner. With its 1200g weight and 131 mm size it is sort of a bazooka in your digital camera. Nikon F (FX), Canon EF, Sigma SA Bayonet, Sony FE mount. (799$ new)
Purchase from: Amazon.de, Amazon.de , B&H for $799 (affiliate hyperlinks) 

Laowa Argus 45mm f/0.95
Not a 40mm however not removed from, even sooner than the Voigländer Nokton by lower than one cease, greater than 2 stops sooner than the Nikon Z, which implies 4 occasions extra gentle to the sensor, nicest bokeh of all however with lemon form bokeh balls as a substitute of spherical ones, handbook focus solely, no electrical contacts in any way, accessible in Nikon Z, Sony E, Canon RF, 835g 110mm lengthy (599$ new)
Purchase from: Amazon.com, Amazon.de , B&H for $599 (affiliate hyperlinks) 

For different digital camera mounts there are a number of different alternate options like:

Canon EF 40/2.8 STM,
Autofocus. a real pancake lens, 22mm lengthy, One and a 3rd stops slower, a lot much less bokeh potential,
Purchase new: amazon.com, B&H for $149-$199 (Affiliate hyperlinks)
Purchase from: ebay.com for about $100 (affiliate hyperlinks) 

Sony FE 40mm F2.5 G
Purchase from: Amazon.com, Amazon.de , B&H for $548 (affiliate hyperlinks) 

Zeiss Batis 40/2 for Sony FE
Purchase from: Amazon.com, Amazon.de , B&H for $999 (affiliate hyperlinks) 

Voigtländer 40mm F1.4 Nokton Traditional for Leica M
Purchase from: Amazon.com, Amazon.de (affiliate hyperlinks) 

Voigtlander VM 40mm F2.8 Heliar for Sony E
Guide focus. One and a 3rd stops slower, a lot much less bokeh potential,  21mm lengthy, the thinnest 40mm
Purchase from: Amazon.com, Amazon.de (affiliate hyperlinks) 

Extra Pattern Photographs

Many of the pattern photos on this evaluate and lots of extra might be present in increased decision right here.

Additional Studying

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Martin M.H. lives exterior Stockholm, Sweden. He’s a M.Sc. in Pc Know-how however he has been a passionate photographer for over 45 years. He began his photographic adventures when he was 13 with an Agfamatic pocket digital camera, which he quickly changed with a Canon rangefinder digital camera that his mother gave him in his teenages. After that he has been utilizing Canon SLR, Nikon SLR handbook focus and Autofocus, Sony mirrorless crop sensor, Nikon DSLR and Nikon Mirrorless. He has photographed any style he might all through the years and you may see all sort of photos in his portfolio. In the course of the later years although it has been principally panorama, nature, journey and a few road/documentary images.