Nikon adds full-frame 40mm F/2 budget prime to their Z series lens lineup

Nikon has announced the release of their new Nikkor Z 40mm f/2 lens for the Z mount mirrorless camera series. A compact and lightweight prime lens with “high portability ideal for casual everyday shooting” according to the Nikon website. This lens furthers the lineup for their full-frame Z mount mirrorless cameras.

The NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 is a compact and lightweight, standard prime lens with a fast f/2 maximum aperture that allows users to easily enjoy bokeh as part of their imaging expression.

The lens has a total length of approximately 45.5 mm and a weight of approximately 170g and provides a versatile 40 mm standard angle of view that can be used for a wide range of scenes. It has a 9-blade iris diaphragm and is a relatively fast lens with the widest aperture of f/2.

Nikon promises “outstanding AF performance and dust and drip-resistance,” although said resistance is not guaranteed under all conditions. Presumably, if you’re silly enough to stand under a waterfall and shoot with this lens it won’t be covered!

Nikon says that the new lens “captures natural-looking portraits and close-ups like a 50mm, but it’s also wide enough for shooting indoors, on the street or in a crowd like a 35mm”. They also say that the main features of the lens include:

• The bright maximum aperture of f/2 and a 9-blade iris diaphragm provide beautiful round-shaped bokeh.
• The 40 mm focal length supports a standard angle of view ideal for shooting portraits, snapshots and other subjects in a wide variety of scenes.
• The focal length becomes 60 mm (equivalent to 35mm [135] format) when mounted on a DX-format camera.
• A compact and lightweight body with a total length of approximately 45.5 mm and weight of approximately 170 g.
• Minimum focus distance of 0.29 m allows users to get close to their subjects.
• Adoption of an STM (stepping motor) enables quiet, fast and accurate AF control while maintaining a compact body size.
• Designed with consideration of dust- and drip-resistant performance so that it can be taken anywhere with greater confidence.
• Functions such as aperture and exposure compensation can be assigned to the control ring.
• Developed with consideration for video recording, offering extremely quiet operation, effective focus-breathing compensation, and stable exposure.

Is 40mm the new 50mm? It sounds like Nikon wants it to be. What do you think?

The Nikon Nikkor Z 40mm f/2 lens is available to pre-order now for $296.95 and starts shipping soon.