Nikon Z 40mm f/2 review

Small but highly capable, the Nikon Z 40mm f/2 is an excellent everyday prime lens

Nikon Z 40mm f/2
(Image: © Future)

Digital Camera World Verdict

The slimline benefit of a mirrorless camera is rather lost when you mount a big, hefty lens. By contrast, this compact and very lightweight prime is a perfect fit, bridging the gap between 35mm and 50mm focal lengths, combining a versatile viewing angle with a respectably fast f/2 aperture rating. The net result is useful and affordable optic that delivers good sharpness and smooth bokeh, along with quick and virtually silent autofocus, making it eminently suitable for shooting both stills and movies.

Pros

  • +

    Compact and lightweight

  • +

    Fairly fast f/2 aperture

  • +

    Sharp and silent

Cons

  • -

    No genuine lens hood available

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    No optical image stabilization

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    No auto/manual focus mode switch

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Nikon is pretty well stocked when it comes to native Z-mount 35mm and 50mm prime lenses, with the high-performance Z 35mm f/1.8 S, Z 50mm f/1.8 S, super-fast Z 50mm f/1.2 S and Z MC 50mm f/2.8 macro offerings already on the market. The Z 40mm f/2 is something a bit different. The focal length falls between the two more mainstream camps and is actually ideal for casual shooting with a full-frame camera, while also giving a fairly natural perspective on DX format bodies like the Z 50 and Z fc, where it has a 60mm ‘effective’ reach. It’s refreshingly compact, lightweight and affordable, tipping the scales at just 170g and costing barely more than half the price of the Z 50mm f/1.8 S-line lens.

Nikon Z 40mm f/2: specifications

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Matthew Richards

Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! 

His expertise with equipment doesn’t end there, though. He is also an encyclopedia  when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. 

In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide.