My lens collection for Z6 and Z7 is 40, 26, & 85 1.8. All are worth the money. Found a use I did not expect to work. Needing a lens to copy some data from computer screen and 40 was on Z6 2, I tried it and it worked perfectly, no distortion & sharp into corners. Direct copiy and pastedid not save to a useable format. Image was 8x12.
This is my favourite focal length for general photography. Since I haven’t yet bought into the mirrorless system I use the Voigtlander Ultron 40mm manual focus lens.
I bought the 40mm lens last year on black Friday on sale. I bought it for street photography and for several reasons. Outs small, compact and lightweight. It's a fast lens at f/2. It sits between the 35mm and 40pm so it makes it a good compromise. I've been blown away at how sharp it is for such a cheap lens. It's one of the sharpest lenses I own now. I also use it for portraits from time to time. I'm considering either the 26mm or 28mm next. I'm not sure which to get yet.
My favorite type of lens either❤ It is extremely suitable for almost any kind of usage. No matter you want to take foods, streets, landscapes or playing instruments it always performs great. The only issue of this lens will be the motor, a little bit noisy especially with cameras like Zf, the noise of motor will be recorded to the audio and sounds like a geiger counter
Just ordered one for my z7, I only shoot prime and my z50 1.8 s and 85 1.8 s are pretty heavy and very clinical (ultra sharp) looking forward to something much lighter and not so clinical
I was looking at both lenses but wasn't sure at first. Now that I know they're weather resistant? Absolutely sold. I wish that were more of a bolded point for the stores around me. Glad you mentioned and tested it!
The Nikkor 40mm f2 is weather-sealed in itself but does NOT have a sealing ring between the lens mount and the camera so dust and moisture CAN still get in here. It is NOT weather-sealed in the generally accepted way unfortunately.
You have a great voice for radio. I imagine you could do well as a classical music DJ. You would get alot of listeners just for the quality of your voice. You could also narrate documentaries.
I bought the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 as my first lens for the Z body, then this came out and I haven’t put the 50 back on. It makes no sense to me to carry around a larger, heavier lens that preforms only marginally better for nearly triple the price. Wish I didn’t buy the 50 lol 😂.
Didn't know the Z 40/2 was weather sealed at all. It replaced my Z 35/1.8S (main video lens) as a standard walk around lens, mainly due to the size and weight. Bought 2 of them; loaned the first to the niece (she liked it), found myself missing it, so I bought another. Whenever it's not mounted to a camera, it becomes a pocket backup lens for lower light when shooting with 2.8 lenses. The 35/1.8S and 50/1.8S don't get checked out nearly as often anymore. I was using it as a body cap lens for the Z9 so it could fit sideways in my favorite camera sling, but found if I rearranged the dividers, the Z9 fit with medium sized lenses like the 105 MC and 14-24/2.8, with room left over for the 40/2.
Yeah I’ve actually sold the 35/1.8S since this video as I was basically never using it any more 😅 That ability to wedge the Z9 with it into tiny bags just means I take it with me far more often. That sounds like a neat setup, fitting those three lenses into a sling 🤔 I can sorta fit it at an angle with the 24-70/4S into one of my shoulder bags but it’s a bit awkward - I really need to try out a few other bags to find one more suitable!
This lens with my z6 completes my poor mans leica q setup. Totally compact. This is why the mirrorless camera came about for. If we have to end up carrying a backpack, then Inwould rather use my iPhone only.
I also use it on a Z6 as a documentary/EDC/hiking. I also have the 85mm 1.8 for some nice family photo outings, but it's hard to take the 40mm off. There is no better all arounder (size, weight, price, image quality) on the Z system.
I can't afford a Z9, but yes - I like to street shoot with my 3DS with my 35 f2 AF-D & 50 f1.8G. I bought a used Z6mk1 last week and my 35mm f2 AFD works extremely well in manual focus on the adapter. Despite that, I do quite fancy this 40mm f2 native lens.
I have never put this lens on my Z6 or my Z8 i putchased it for my Z50 and usually keep it in my car with the Z50 maybe i should revisit it. I want to replace my Z50 with a ZF and get a voitlander lens with and use some nikon compacts also.
I’d say the image quality is slightly better on the 35mm, but the 40mm is so much more portable that I enjoy shooting with it more. For video I tend to find the larger lenses easier to manually focus and mount filters on, but to be honest they were so similar that in the end I traded in the 35mm as I wasn’t using it enough 😀
@@robert_may Thank you, I'm thinking of getting one for my outdoor adventures where I can cover a fair few miles and am already carry a boat load other kit so this was very useful to know.
Oh no! Now I have to buy a CAT! Nice video Robert. I have just picked up my Zf and 40mm f2 lens and looking forward to using them. Thanks for posting this review.
Probably the 28mm in that case as it’d be a 42mm equivalent (I think), so would provide roughly the same focal length as the 40mm on full-frame 😀 The 40mm would be 60mm on APS-C, which would be an interesting focal length but probably less useful as an everyday lens 🤔
Yeah! It's a really surprisingly good quality lens. The 35mm supposedly has more advanced lens coatings and construction, but for most photos I can't see the difference and it's still a sharp, modern lens. The 35mm is sharper wide open, but modern lenses are super sharp anyway. If I was buying something _specifically_ for professional work, I'd probably get the 35mm, but I certainly wouldn't feel like I'm missing out on much by using the 40mm. I do happily use it for video when it's already on the camera - it's just a bit more awkward than the 35mm for focus pulls etc as it's much smaller.
@@83442handle Here's a few clips stuck together: ua-cam.com/video/4_p8mDWVYk4/v-deo.html. I actually really like it for video, though it does look a bit funny with a huge step-up ring to my 77m filters attached 😆 Hope that helps!
Yep, though it’ll be more like a 60mm lens in terms of equivalent focal length. Nikon also make a 28mm prime lens that’s very similar to the 40mm in design, and that would work out to 42mm on the Zfc. I haven’t tested it yet myself but it should be very similar.
probably does not makes a difference in durability for a very light lens like this one and as he said it seems to improve the camera sealing / sensor protection
For most situations I'd just choose the 40mm because it's a really good lens and especially for the price. If I didn't already own the 35mm I'd probably not have bought it, and instead got a zoom lens that covers that range for the added flexibility.
Its a very good lens. It takes great photos.
My lens collection for Z6 and Z7 is 40, 26, & 85 1.8. All are worth the money. Found a use I did not expect to work. Needing a lens to copy some data from computer screen and 40 was on Z6 2, I tried it and it worked perfectly, no distortion & sharp into corners. Direct copiy and pastedid not save to a useable format. Image was 8x12.
This is my favourite focal length for general photography. Since I haven’t yet bought into the mirrorless system I use the Voigtlander Ultron 40mm manual focus lens.
I bought the 40mm lens last year on black Friday on sale. I bought it for street photography and for several reasons. Outs small, compact and lightweight. It's a fast lens at f/2. It sits between the 35mm and 40pm so it makes it a good compromise. I've been blown away at how sharp it is for such a cheap lens. It's one of the sharpest lenses I own now. I also use it for portraits from time to time. I'm considering either the 26mm or 28mm next. I'm not sure which to get yet.
My favorite type of lens either❤
It is extremely suitable for almost any kind of usage. No matter you want to take foods, streets, landscapes or playing instruments it always performs great. The only issue of this lens will be the motor, a little bit noisy especially with cameras like Zf, the noise of motor will be recorded to the audio and sounds like a geiger counter
Just ordered a Nikon refurbished 40 /2 for my Zf. Great video and thanks for reviewing.
The SE is bundled along with my soon to be delivered ZF. 👍🏾
Just ordered one for my z7, I only shoot prime and my z50 1.8 s and 85 1.8 s are pretty heavy and very clinical (ultra sharp) looking forward to something much lighter and not so clinical
I was looking at both lenses but wasn't sure at first. Now that I know they're weather resistant? Absolutely sold. I wish that were more of a bolded point for the stores around me. Glad you mentioned and tested it!
The Nikkor 40mm f2 is weather-sealed in itself but does NOT have a sealing ring between the lens mount and the camera so dust and moisture CAN still get in here. It is NOT weather-sealed in the generally accepted way unfortunately.
You have a great voice for radio. I imagine you could do well as a classical music DJ. You would get alot of listeners just for the quality of your voice. You could also narrate documentaries.
I also thought this. How the bbc hasn't offered him a contract amazes me. The man was born for radio or audio books.
I have one coming with my new Zf, can’t wait to try it.
I bought the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 as my first lens for the Z body, then this came out and I haven’t put the 50 back on. It makes no sense to me to carry around a larger, heavier lens that preforms only marginally better for nearly triple the price. Wish I didn’t buy the 50 lol 😂.
Didn't know the Z 40/2 was weather sealed at all. It replaced my Z 35/1.8S (main video lens) as a standard walk around lens, mainly due to the size and weight. Bought 2 of them; loaned the first to the niece (she liked it), found myself missing it, so I bought another. Whenever it's not mounted to a camera, it becomes a pocket backup lens for lower light when shooting with 2.8 lenses. The 35/1.8S and 50/1.8S don't get checked out nearly as often anymore.
I was using it as a body cap lens for the Z9 so it could fit sideways in my favorite camera sling, but found if I rearranged the dividers, the Z9 fit with medium sized lenses like the 105 MC and 14-24/2.8, with room left over for the 40/2.
Yeah I’ve actually sold the 35/1.8S since this video as I was basically never using it any more 😅 That ability to wedge the Z9 with it into tiny bags just means I take it with me far more often. That sounds like a neat setup, fitting those three lenses into a sling 🤔 I can sorta fit it at an angle with the 24-70/4S into one of my shoulder bags but it’s a bit awkward - I really need to try out a few other bags to find one more suitable!
This lens with my z6 completes my poor mans leica q setup. Totally compact. This is why the mirrorless camera came about for.
If we have to end up carrying a backpack, then Inwould rather use my iPhone only.
I also use it on a Z6 as a documentary/EDC/hiking. I also have the 85mm 1.8 for some nice family photo outings, but it's hard to take the 40mm off. There is no better all arounder (size, weight, price, image quality) on the Z system.
I can't afford a Z9, but yes - I like to street shoot with my 3DS with my 35 f2 AF-D & 50 f1.8G. I bought a used Z6mk1 last week and my 35mm f2 AFD works extremely well in manual focus on the adapter. Despite that, I do quite fancy this 40mm f2 native lens.
I have never put this lens on my Z6 or my Z8 i putchased it for my Z50 and usually keep it in my car with the Z50 maybe i should revisit it. I want to replace my Z50 with a ZF and get a voitlander lens with and use some nikon compacts also.
Curious, why do you prefer the 35mm 1.8 S for video but the 40mm for photos?
I’d say the image quality is slightly better on the 35mm, but the 40mm is so much more portable that I enjoy shooting with it more. For video I tend to find the larger lenses easier to manually focus and mount filters on, but to be honest they were so similar that in the end I traded in the 35mm as I wasn’t using it enough 😀
@@robert_may Thank you, I'm thinking of getting one for my outdoor adventures where I can cover a fair few miles and am already carry a boat load other kit so this was very useful to know.
Oh no! Now I have to buy a CAT! Nice video Robert. I have just picked up my Zf and 40mm f2 lens and looking forward to using them. Thanks for posting this review.
Would you get this lense or the Z28 if you were, like me, using the Z50?
Probably the 28mm in that case as it’d be a 42mm equivalent (I think), so would provide roughly the same focal length as the 40mm on full-frame 😀 The 40mm would be 60mm on APS-C, which would be an interesting focal length but probably less useful as an everyday lens 🤔
It’s a nice little lens. But it does not take pictures like the 50 1.8s.
I do actually have the 50mm f/1.8 S now and that is a really nice lens. Not as compact but it's a ridiculously good performer.
@@robert_may they both have their place.
It is the only z lens i have for my z6. Love it ❤
I understand you would not use this lens for video work. Would you use it for professional stills work if you did not have the 35mm?
Yeah! It's a really surprisingly good quality lens. The 35mm supposedly has more advanced lens coatings and construction, but for most photos I can't see the difference and it's still a sharp, modern lens. The 35mm is sharper wide open, but modern lenses are super sharp anyway. If I was buying something _specifically_ for professional work, I'd probably get the 35mm, but I certainly wouldn't feel like I'm missing out on much by using the 40mm.
I do happily use it for video when it's already on the camera - it's just a bit more awkward than the 35mm for focus pulls etc as it's much smaller.
Can you show video test with it?
I'll try to shoot some short test clips with it in the next week or so! :)
THANKS @@robert_may
@@83442handle Here's a few clips stuck together: ua-cam.com/video/4_p8mDWVYk4/v-deo.html. I actually really like it for video, though it does look a bit funny with a huge step-up ring to my 77m filters attached 😆 Hope that helps!
Love it on my z8
Can I use it with zfc
Yep, though it’ll be more like a 60mm lens in terms of equivalent focal length. Nikon also make a 28mm prime lens that’s very similar to the 40mm in design, and that would work out to 42mm on the Zfc. I haven’t tested it yet myself but it should be very similar.
I borrowed a friend's 40mm Z lens to try on my Z50; It's a lovely portrait lens in crop mode.
Nikon could easily have used a metal mount.
probably does not makes a difference in durability for a very light lens like this one and as he said it seems to improve the camera sealing / sensor protection
Would you buy the 40mm or the 35 mm (for way more money) for the Z cameras
For most situations I'd just choose the 40mm because it's a really good lens and especially for the price. If I didn't already own the 35mm I'd probably not have bought it, and instead got a zoom lens that covers that range for the added flexibility.
Most expensive camera with the cheapest lens!
Too right😂