Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm F 2 8 Review | 54 Data compared

The Photography Life review highlights the Nikon 40mm f/2.8G DX as a highly capable and budget-friendly macro lens for APS-C cameras, offering exceptional edge-to-edge sharpness and accurate autofocus. It is praised for its versatility as a compact, everyday lens with excellent optical performance at an accessible price point. However, the short 40mm focal length results in an extremely tight working distance, often causing shadows to fall on subjects during close-up shooting. Additionally, the lens lacks image stabilization, and users may experience some softening and vignetting when shooting wide open at f/2.8.

The LensTip review of the Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX Micro 40 mm f/2.8G evaluates this macro lens designed for DX-format reflex cameras. Providing a 1:1 reproduction ratio and a 60mm full-frame equivalent field of view, the lens serves a triple purpose as a close-up macro tool, a standard prime, or a casual portrait lens. Optically, the lens shines by delivering very good image quality and sharpness in the center of the frame, alongside good performance at the edges. Additional strong points noted in the review include decently corrected chromatic aberration, practically zero distortion, a highly controlled coma, and an autofocus system that proves to be highly accurate. However, the reviewer expresses mixed feelings regarding its overall value and specific target audience. On the negative side, the physical build quality leaves room for improvement, and the autofocus mechanism operates quite slowly. Optically, it suffers from noticeable astigmatism, significant vignetting when wide open at its maximum f/2.8 aperture, and weak performance when shooting against bright light due to poor flare resistance. Ultimately, because its 40mm focal length provides a somewhat narrow field...

The ePHOTOzine review highlights the Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G as a compact, lightweight (235g) macro lens for DX-format cameras featuring excellent build quality and a protective mount gasket. It is praised for outstanding center sharpness, along with minimal distortion and chromatic aberration. Key advantages include quick, quiet autofocus via the Silent Wave Motor and useful full-time manual focus override. However, the short 40mm focal length requires a very close 16.3cm minimum focusing distance for 1:1 magnification, which often results in accidental subject shading. The lens lacks Vibration Reduction (VR), making stability difficult at high magnifications, and it does not feature full weather sealing.

The Nikon 40mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor DX is a lightweight, budget-friendly macro lens designed for crop-sensor bodies, but its real-world utility faces a significant identity crisis. While it offers high-end design traits like manual focus override (M/A), a smooth and precise mechanically linked focus ring, and an essential focus-limiting switch, its performance as a true macro tool is severely compromised. The most critical flaw is an abysmal 1-inch (3cm) working distance at 1:1 lifesize reproduction, meaning the physical lens barrel will inevitably shade subjects and scare off insects. Furthermore, optical performance is a mixed bag; while central sharpness is excellent, the corners remain visibly soft even when stopped down. It also suffers from high longitudinal chromatic aberration—producing notable green and purple color fringing—and irregular, misshapen background bokeh highlights. Despite these drawbacks, the lens displays practically non-existent geometric distortion, minimal lateral chromatic aberration, and superb flare resistance due to its deeply inset front element and included HB-61 lens hood. Vignetting is noticeable at a full stop wide open but becomes irrelevant at close focus distances. Ultimately, the reviewer struggles to find a...

The Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G DX is an affordable, lightweight entry-level macro lens that delivers impressive real-world performance on DX-format cameras. Weighing just 280g, it features a solid polycarbonate body, a metal F-mount flange with a weather-sealing gasket, and a precise manual focus ring with a focus limiter switch. Optically, the lens excels by providing extreme sharpness even when shot wide-open at f/2.8, with its "sweet spot" landing between f/4 and f/8. Furthermore, it exhibits excellent contrast, well-controlled ghosting and flaring, and virtually no chromatic aberration, making it highly capable for studio applications like product photography. However, the lens has notable limitations regarding its working distance and autofocus speed. Achieving a 1:1 magnification requires a very short 6-inch working distance from the sensor plane, which leaves minimal physical space between the lens and the subject. This close proximity makes insect and wildlife macro photography highly challenging, as the lens barrel and included plastic hood can easily block out ambient subject light. Additionally, while the Silent Wave Motor is highly accurate for macro work, its autofocus speed is relatively slow,...

The DxOMark review of the Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G establishes that this compact prime lens delivers very good overall image quality for APS-C (DX) format cameras. Tested on a Nikon D7000 body, the lens stands out for its high optical performance relative to its affordable budget price. Key pros highlighted by DxOMark include exceptional sharpness, recording a high resolution score of 49 lp/mm that remains highly uniform across the entire field. Additionally, the lens exhibits virtually nonexistent distortion, minimal vignetting, and invisible chromatic aberrations, making it highly dependable for reproducing precise shapes and flat planes. However, the review and market comparisons identify several cons related to its physical limitations and specifications. A primary drawback is its lower light-gathering capability; with a maximum aperture of f/2.8, it is noticeably dimmer and less sensitive in low light than standard companion primes like the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G. This smaller aperture limits extreme background blur and requires longer exposures in dim environments. Furthermore, its short 40mm focal length results in an incredibly close physical working distance at its 1:1 true macro...

The Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.4G is reviewed by Thomas as a highly appealing standard prime lens that serves as a quiet, modern successor to the older D-version. Evaluated on both DX and FX camera bodies, it stands out as Nikon's most affordable f/1.4 prime lens, offering exceptional image quality and high utility across full-frame and cropped sensors. Key pros highlighted in the review include its compact and lightweight design, a reliable and whisper-quiet Silent Wave Motor (SWM) autofocus system, and the practical addition of weather sealing at the lens mount. However, Thomas notes several optical flaws that keep the lens from perfection. The most significant cons include outright nasty longitudinal chromatic aberration (color fringing) and noticeable coma when shooting in high-contrast environments. Additionally, the lens exhibits some nervousness in its background bokeh rendering and completely lacks built-in image stabilization. Despite these drawbacks, its strong performance-to-price ratio ultimately earns it a Highly Recommended rating from the reviewer.

The Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G is a lightweight, budget-friendly macro lens designed specifically for DX-format (APS-C) cameras, where its focal length behaves like a 60mm standard lens on full-frame bodies. Tested on a Nikon D3200, the lens delivers heavyweight optical quality, producing standard JPG files with exceptionally high resolution that reaches its peak sharpness at f/8 across both the center and corners. It features a solidly built body with a metal lens mount, a Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for quiet autofocus, a seamless manual-override focus system, and nearly unnoticeable distortion at just 0.15%. Additionally, it exhibits excellent resistance to flare and ghosting—even when aimed directly at bright light sources—and delivers a highly appealing, smooth bokeh effect. Despite its high value for money, the review highlights several drawbacks, particularly for dedicated macro photography. Its main limitation is the short 40mm focal length, which requires the photographer to get extremely close (up to 16 cm) to the subject, easily scaring off insects or casting a shadow when using the lens hood. In terms of performance, the lens lacks built-in...

The Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G is a highly capable all-purpose macro prime lens designed specifically for APS-C format cameras. Tested on a Nikon D7000, it delivers very good image quality highlighted by impressive sharpness and a resolution score of 49 lp/mm across the entire field. Optically, the lens shines with almost nonexistent distortion and vignetting, alongside minimal chromatic aberrations that remain invisible in real-world shooting. At a highly accessible retail price of $300, it stands out as an excellent, budget-friendly choice for photographers seeking a versatile macro lens. While the lens holds its own against other modern Nikon G-series prime lenses, its primary drawback is a relatively lower brightness (maximum aperture of f/2.8) compared to non-macro counterparts. However, its excellent resolution and lack of distortion successfully compensate for this slower aperture, allowing it to achieve a similar overall performance score. When stacked up against its closest competitor—the Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM—the Nikon lens holds its ground, delivering highly comparable scores and matching the Canon's established performance across all tested categories.

The PCMag review rates the Nikon AF-S DX Micro-Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G lens an Outstanding 4.5/5, highlighting its 1:1 macro magnification and exceptional sharpness (2,245 lines at f/2.8) on APS-C sensors for only $279.95. Key benefits include a compact, 9.9-ounce design with a focus limiter switch and minimal distortion. The main disadvantages noted are the absence of optical image stabilization and significant vignetting when used on full-frame Nikon cameras, limiting its versatility for future upgrades. Despite these constraints, the review highly recommends it for APS-C users seeking high-value macro capabilities.