I’ve been using the Nikkor 40mm f/2.8 macro lens for a while now, here are couple of my thoughts.
While great at macro, I mainly bought it as an everyday walkaround lens. Its focal length is close to the “standard” 50mm, it’s very sharp even wide open, still has a decent sized aperture at f/2.8, and is great for close-ups in a pinch.
Focus is surprisingly quick and accurate with such a long travel. There’s even a focus limiter switch to limit the focusing distance between 0.2m and infinity. Manual focusing is a bit stiff on my copy, and not very accurate either. I mostly just turn the focus ring to the minimum and move the camera back and forth for proper focus adjustment - which is actually what you probably want when shooting macro.
There’s no optical stabilization on this lens, which kinda stings at night. If I had to choose I’d probably go for a Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 instead. While that can’t do macro as well, it has optical stabilization, which I probably use more often anyway. Also the fixed focal length doesn’t suit me as well as I thought, I keep switching back to the 18-105mm kit lens. Could probably trade it in, or something.
As for weight and size, it’s barely there. Especially after a longer, heavier lens like the Tamron 18-400mm, this feels like a strong gust of wind could blow it off the camera.
Enjoy some pictures, taken with the Nikon D5300.
