Battle of the 40mm lenses for Nikon Z
Something for everyone
As I have progressed my way along the winding road of photography over the decades, I have settled on 35mm and 40mm lenses as my “standard” documentary glass. As such, I’ve plowed through many options for every brand I’ve shot, and today, I’m taking a look at some of the most popular options for the Nikon Z ecosystem, including one older F mount lens that has stood the test of time.
The finest resource on this topic is the video linked below, as it contains my exhaustive thoughts on the matter. I will, however, provide a cliff notes summation here for those who do not have 40 minutes to spare.
Below you will find each of the example scenes along with full resolution files from the Z9 and each lens for your close inspection. I hope these provide you some value while helping you draw your own conclusions.
If any of these lenses are on YOUR radar, please do consider purchasing using my affiliate links linked below.
Disclosure: this review contains affiliate links for this lens and other accessories.
The Lenses
Voigtlander Septon 40mm f2 for Z - Shop here
$699 - 205g - 52mm filter thread- 11.8” MFD - .3x mag - 7 elements in 6 groups - 10 aperture blades - f2 to f16 aperture - Manual focus only
Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f1.2 for Z - Shop here
$699 - 205g - 52mm filter thread - 11.8” MFD - .3x mag - 7 elements in 6 groups - 10 aperture blades - f2 to f16 aperture - Manual focus only
Voigtlander Ultron 40 f2 for F - Shop here (note this is the newest design, the older pancake I talk about has been discontinued. Both designs share the same optical design, though the new version has a closer MFD)
~$500 on ebay - 205g/330g with FTZ II - 52mm filter thread - 15” MFD - .14x mag - 6 elements in 5 groups - 9 aperture blades - f2 to f22 aperture - Manual focus only
TTArtisan AF 40 f2 for Z - Shop here
$168 - 176g - 52mm filter thread - 15.7” MFD - .10x mag - 9 elements in 6 groups - 7 aperture blades - f2 to f16 aperture - Autofocus
Nikon 40mm f2 for Z - Shop here
$296 - 170g - 52mm filter thread - 11.4” MFD - .17x mag - 6 elements in 4 groups - 9 aperture blades - f2 to f16 aperture - Autofocus
I must give B&H Photo a shoutout, as they graciously lent me both the Septon and Nokton for the purpose of making this video. Thank you, B&H!
The Test
I wanted to approach comparing these lenses in the most methodical, scientific way that I could. I was looking for overall image quality, consisting of edge to edge sharpness, bokeh shape and behavior, fringing behavior, flaring behavior, and overall looks and handling of the lenses themselves.
Lens Impressions
Based on my tests, I found the following…though I strongly recommend watching the video to see all of the nuance that led to these results.
Septon
Hated physically using it, aperture ring feels too thin
Constantly distracted by background rendering
Worst vignette and corners of all lenses tested
Small size advantage negated by overall experience and image quality
Expensive for the IQ you get
Nokton
Classic styling and excellent handling in the field
Looks and balances great on the Zf
Overall the best image quality of all lenses tested
Flat field rendering and low vignette past f2 means less processing
Much better overall value than the Septon
Wide max 1.2 aperture allows for even more versatile use than shown here
Ultron
Same size and weight as Nokton when adapted
Handles well thanks to a short focus throw
Image quality is between Septon and Nokton, though closer to Nokton
Significant barrel distortion will require some attention in post
Being able to use with F mount cameras is a huge plus
Extremely unique red ring flare gives this lens some secret sauce
Not being able to use the aperture ring on Z is a bummer
TTArtisan
Small size and low weight make it feel nearly weightless when mounted
Aperture ring is a very nice addition for an AF lens on Z mount
Image quality is a mixed bag, with low CA but dark metering and softness
Mixed reports of build quality online
Price is extremely attractive and the lowest of the group
Best used on lower megapixel bodies
Nikon
Build quality feels underwhelming for MSRP price
Lack of aperture ring is annoying to me among these options
Image quality is...fine - nothing special jumps out from the images it makes
Better autofocus than the TTArtisan, worse center sharpness from wide open until f2.8
Lots of cheap used copies floating around for sale
Gold rankings are objective best-in-comparison values, white are my subjective ranking
The Final Word
So…which lens do I recommend? That’s very nearly impossible to answer, because what I value most is quite likely not perfectly aligned with you. Since I shoot an F camera, the Ultron continues to be an excellent option for ME. If I was shooting Z only and was really focusing on a manual focus experience, I’d probably lean towards the Nokton. If I had kids or wanted to do more run-and-gun documentary work, the TTA and Nikon become more appealing. And if my goal is to travel as light as possible for my manual focus shooting, the Septon is a no brainer.
I love being spoiled for choice =)
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