Nikon 40mm f/2.8G AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

by Nikon

• Compact and lightweight DX-format close-up lens
• Sharp images from infinity to life-size (1X)
• Autofocus to 6.4 inches
• Close-Range Correction System (CRC)
• Silent Wave Motor (SWM)

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4 x 6 x 6 inches ; 8.3 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B005C50H2Y
• Item model number: 2200
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #40 in Camera & Photo > Lenses > Camera Lenses
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 10, 2011

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Compact and lightweight DX-format close-up lens
Small enough to be carried everywhere, this standard focal length DX-format Micro-NIKKOR lens provides high resolution and contrast from infinity to life-size (1X). The AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G is for taking high quality stills and HD D-Movies and is ideal for shooting general close-ups, delicate flowers, detailed collectables, copy photography, portraits, landscapes and more.

Sample Photography

Reveal Hidden Beauty. View larger

Carry It With You Everywhere. View larger

Isolate Your Subjects. View larger

Features:

Close-Range Correction
Using Nikon's innovative floating element design, each lens group moves independently to achieve focus providing high performance at both near and far distances.

Nikon Silent Wave Motor
A significant innovation in AF lens technology, Nikon's Silent Wave Motor uses ultrasonic (inaudible) vibrations—rather than a gear system—to focus the lens, providing incredibly smooth, silent and precise autofocus operation.

M/A Focus Mode Switch
When fine manual focusing is needed, simply rotate the lens focus ring—M/A mode allows you to seamlessly override the AF system with virtually no time lag.

Super Integrated Coating
Nikon's Super Integrated Coating enhances light transmission efficiency and offers superior color consistency and reduced lens flare.

How to read the MTF curve chart

Lens Construction

Product Description

The AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G is for taking high quality stills and HD D-Movies and is ideal for shooting general close-ups, delicate flowers, detailed collectables, copy photography, portraits, landscapes and more. Small enough to be carried everywhere, this standard focal length DX-format Micro-NIKKOR lens provides high resolution and contrast from infinity to life-size (1X).

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

180 of 188 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Affordable all-purpose prime Micro Nikkor lens for Nikon DX DSLRs August 30, 2011

By Let it Be

The AF-S micro nikkor 40mm f2.8G is moderately fast or bright, contrasty and extremely sharp lens,just like all its siblings in the Nikkor Micro (Macro for other brands) interchangeable lenses. It appears that Nikon has consistently improve and exceeded expectations in this "special purpose lenses" category. Historically, every Nikkor (brand name for Nikon lenses) which are stamped with "Micro-Nikkor" are stellar performers and tops its class versus the competition, this new AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 40mm f2.8G is no exception.

This lens is the latest of the lineage dating from the Micro Nikkor 55mm f2.8 AIS mount manual focus lens of early 1980s, its FX-format (35mm film) equivalent is the higher specs current model Nikon AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm f2.8G ED N which works as a 90mm on the smaller DX-format DSLR. This is an interchangeable bayonet Nikon "G" mount single focal length (prime) DX lens designed for Nikon DX-format APS-C sensor based Digital SLR cameras. It has a "standard" angle of view that is close to "human eye perspective" as proclaimed by SLR camera manufacturers.

Officially it is not designed for and recommended for use with older Nikon 35mm film (FX) cameras without a body aperture control dial. However, when mounted on my compatible film Nikon F5,this lens retains full function and it works like a 40mm f2.8 micro lens at closest distance only,the edges darkens further from the subject. Though seems workable using "DX crop function" it is not recommended for the professional Nikon FX series digital SLRs (Nikon D700, D3 series)which the AF-S micro Nikkor 60mm f2.8 is designed for FX-format sensor.

I have been waiting for a lens like this AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 40mm f2.8G ever since Nikon released its older brother, the AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 85mm f3.5G VR. I did not find the earlier release suitable because I am not into close-up macrophotography shooting bugs and butterflies which the Micro Nikkor DX 85mm f3.5G VR is the most suitable specialist's tool for "bug jobs".

My purchase is made-in-China and the lens came supplied with both front and rear lens caps,the HB61 bayonet lens shade (hood) and a black lens pouch together with a user manual and warranty card in a golden box.

The lens mount is metallic and the feel is typical and standard high Nikon quality although the package is made of metal and plastic. According to Nikon, this is a new design and it really handles well and balanced with my Nikon D5000. However, owner should have the supplied HB61 lens shade mounted to protect the lens as the front lens element extends out of the barrel at nearer to closest focusing distances typical of micro lenses.

Auto Focusing with Nikon's AF-S technology is silent, smooth and accurate, while the manual focus ring is tactile but responsive for manual override focus at close range. There is also a distance and reproduction scale window plus a focusing distance limiting switch.

Being a moderately bright lens, this lens when partnered with the higher ISO Nikon DSLR like the D7000 will perform respectfully under available or low light at the maximum aperture of f2.8 from ISO 1600 to 6400. Recommended body match for this lens is of course, the current D7000/D5100/D3100 or at least D90/D5000/D3000.

This is a great compact and light weight lens to bring on a walk-about when paired with the light weight Nikon D3100 and a great affordable upgrade for D3000/D60/D40x/D40 series of Nikon DSLR camera bodies.

This lens lacks a VR (vibration reduction) mode unlike its 85mm f3.5G VR sibling, but it does not seems to be a handicap as owners would soon find out as it performs excellently at f2.8 maximum aperture which more than compensated for the lack of VR. If your dSLR has low noise ISO 1600-3200 sensitivity, close up photos could be taken at moderate handheld speed of 1/20s - 1/60s without flash and under natural existing indoor light condition with some practice.

Noted that at close distances my Nikon D5000 appears to select program aperture at f3.2 to f4.2, on auto ISO 1600-3200, to optimize depth of field, which seasoned users of micro lenses would know is critical at close range, awesome! It seems that Nikon has built-in some "fuzzy" logic into its firmware. I noted that it is not possible to manually set the aperture to maximum aperture of f2.8 at minimum focusing distance when the lens is fully extended at 0.163m, it could also be due to the optimum design of the lens that this is the case, otherwise, my copy could be defective.

In the DX single "prime" focal length lenses line-up this special purpose "prime" lens does not pair up with Nikon's other offerings, the lens which comes close as competition is the excellent and cheaper AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm F1.8G which should be the better choice if you need the f1.8 aperture to do low light/existing light photography most of the time and do not need close focusing micro/macro function.

In terms of practicality of use and value, the Micro Nikkor 40mm f2.8G is an affordable and excellent multi-purpose lens and would be a special and exciting addition to your DX format Nikon DSLR system as a second lens with added versatility for close-up macrophotography and some low light photography at high ISO.

Image quality and resolution is superb although no special "Nano" lens coating or ED (Extra Low Dispersion) glass element in its design. Samples of first shots with this lens is impressive and would meet all expectations because all of Nikon's proven technology like Close Range Correction (CRC) and Super-Integrated-Coating (SIC) went into this new lens design.

For "bokeh" lovers,this lens produces a pleasing out-of- focus "pastel" background effect at maximum aperture of f2.8 which is quite nice to my subjective liking.

Please also see the unretouched natural lighting pictures taken by myself and uploaded into the image gallery with my TIMEX watch as the main close-up subject. I hope it could give you an indication of what this lens could do for you and your photography, together with all the other images I have uploaded.

I rate this five stars for a highly recommended purchase for Nikon DSLR DX series users who needs one and its excellent performance. Personally, I am very satisfied with this item purchased from a reputable retailer in Singapore, therefore I cannot comment on experience of purchasing photographic equipment from Amazon.com.

Thank you for reading my non-technical end-user review and hopefully it is useful and of help to you.

107 of 113 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this instead of the 35mm f/1.8 DX September 28, 2011

By Phuong Tran Nguyen

Amazon Verified Purchase

Many forum threads have pondered whether to choose the 40mm micro of the 35mm 1.8. I have owned both, used them extensively and can safely conclude that the 40mm micro/macro is the better all-around lens. It can do most the 35 can do, but offers the added bonus of macro and superior sharpness and resistance to chromatic aberration.

Here are the pros of the 35mm 1.8
- affordable prime lens
- fast 1.8 aperture makes it potentially wonderful for indoor and low-light shots when flash is not available or permitted
- extremely sharp if you get a good copy (I've owned two copies. One was tack sharp all the way down to f/1.8. The other had a lot of chromatic aberration and purple fringing wide open).
- great starter lens for a photo class

Here are the cons of the 35mm 1.8
- purple fringing wide open
- blurry wide open (what's the point of 1.8 if you can't use it?)
- lens hood is way too small
- build quality is plasticky (but this applies to 40mm micro as well)

Here are the pros of the 40mm micro
- A great lens for amateur food photography (at the actual restaurant/kitchen with actual food)
- Nikon's most affordable macro lens
- f/2.8 aperture is still very good for general photography
- Macro feature works like a charm
- Lens is lightweight enough that you can get away with handheld shots
- 40mm focal length (60mm on full-frame) makes it good for product photography of larger objects
- has focus limiter switch to disable macro and speed up autofocus
- great manual focus feel

Here are the cons of the 40mm micro
- autofocus hunts more than a regular af-s lens
- you're way too close to subject if you want 1:1 magnification (where 24mm wide object fills length of frame)
- Max aperture is f/4.4 at 1:1, but that's normal for all macro lenses

Because both lenses produce the equivalent of 52/60mm on a film camera, neither is appropriate for head & shoulder portraits, unless you shoot in landscape orientation. Both are great for full body or waist-up portraits. I like shooting up close, so I think you can fit a maximum of two or three people in the shot with these lenses. I would go wider for group photos.

Overall, though, I would choose the 40mm macro lens. It's sharper overall, focus is pretty fast (even when it hunts), and has the added value of close-focus/macro ability. Great for food & product photos.

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Macro on a budget September 4, 2011

By Jospeh C. Mccullough

I purchased this at the local camera store. I have to say for the price this lens is great. I have it mounted on a Nikon D7000 and have produced some stunning macro shots. I can't believe the clarity with the lens only inches away from the subject. Also takes great portrait and landscape shots. I am well pleased with this recent offering from Nikon; they truly make great lenses.