Best Nikon D40 Lenses Comprehensive Guide & Compatibility

Article Overview

When looking for a new lens for your Nikon D40 Camera, its best to first understand what lens best fits your specific style. Some camera lenses excel in very specific areas, but fall flat in others. Factors like Focal Length, Angel of View, Aperture, and the amount of distortion caused by the lens are all important factors to keep in mind. The below drop-down describes all of the important factors when looking for the right lens for you.

 

What Kind of Lens Do You Need?

Focal Length & Angle of View

The focal length of a particular lens determines a lot about how that lens will function. In literal terms, the focal length of a lens is the distance in mm the lens is from the photo sensor. In many lenses this is variable within a specified range. By adjusting this on your camera you effectively change the level of zoom. One of the pitfalls of a short focal length is that you get a lot of visual distortion. The closer the glass gets to your sensor the more the image will be squished towards the middle. This is caused by the curved edged of the lenses glass. That’s why a lot of the time in portrait photography, the photographer will choose to back up and zoom further in (increasing the Focal Length) to counter this effect.

Focal Length is also connected to another important factor, Angle of View. Angle of View is the portion of the area in front of a camera that will be captured. In wide angle lenses this can be as high as 180 degrees. This wider angle of view causes the subject of the image to become smaller. The narrower the angle of view, the larger the subject will appear in the image.

Aperture Range

The aperture of a lens is determined by a set of blades in a circular formation. These blades open and close to allow more, or less light into the camera sensor. Similar to how the pupil of your eye adjusts to the lighting in a room, the aperture of a camera lens must also adjust to change the level of exposure. In low light situations, such as night photography, or dimly lit in door sets, having a higher aperture range helps to lower white noise and create a crisper image. In areas of higher light, such as outdoors, its important to keep a lower aperture to block some of the excess light. Aperture is expressed as f/ followed by a number. The lower this number, the more light is let into the sensor. This is slightly counter intuitive and can cause confusion for some beginner photographers.

Aperture can also have an effect on Depth of Field. A lower f/ number, and thus a greater amount of light, will produce a more significant depth of field effect. The focus of the image will be more in focus than the foreground and background.

-Happy Hunting

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All Purpose Lens

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G

Product Details

Weight:

Aperture Range:

Focal Range:

Dimensions:

Lens Mount:

1.21 Lbs

F/22 – 3.5

18-300mm

3.9 x 3.1 x 3.1 in

Nikon F (DX)

Description & Compatibility

This Nikon telephoto lens can cover a wide variety of different shot types. It’s versatility is unmatched at this price point. In many cases it can replace up to two other lenses. It can be used for Macro shots as well as portrait and landscape photos. With a focal range from 18mm-300mm there isn’t much this lens can’t do. So while it may not be as budget oriented as other lenses, the fact that it can do so much more than makes up for its high price tag. The best Nikon D40 lens for multi purpose use.

Pros:

-Large Focal Range

-Extreme Versatility

-Large Aperture Range

Cons:

-Heavy

-High Price

Editor Rating: 8.5/10

Fish Eye Lens (Ultra Wide)

Altura Photo 8mm f/3.0 Professional Ultra Wide

Altura Photo 8mm f/3.0 Professional Ultra Wide

Product Details

Weight:

Aperture Range:

Focal Range:

Dimensions:

Lens Mount:

1.14 Lbs

F/22 – 3

8mm Fixed

3 x 3 x 3 inches

Nikon F-Mount

Description & Compatibility

Like many other fish eyed lenses this one has an extremely wide viewing angle. It’s able to produce images that cover an extremely wide area. The downside to this wide viewing angle is an increase in image distortion. For some this is one of the main selling points of a lens in this type as it adds a certain stylistic quality to the photos. The Best Nikon D40 Lens for ultra wide situations.

Pros:

-Sturdy Metal Construction

-Low Price

-Vast Depth of Field

Cons:

-Heavy

-No Auto Focus and Aperture

Editor Rating: 7.2/10

Portrait Lenses

Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D

Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D Lens for Nikon DSLR Cameras

Product Details

Weight:

Aperture Range:

Focal Range:

Dimensions:

Lens Mount:

0.35 lbs

F/22 – 1.8

50mm Fixed

2.5 x 2.5 x 1.5 in

Nikon F (FX)

Description & Compatibility

As the smallest lens on this list, you might expect this device to perform at a lower level, but nothing could be further from the truth. Not only is this a great lens for your Nikon D40 In fact, it’s compact size makes it perfect for travel and its large Aperture Range makes it perfect for nearly any lighting situation. While the fixed focal range is a downside, the fact that it’s fixed causes this lens to produce crystal clear images with minimal distortion. So while it may be limited, it performs far beyond its price. Amount the best Nikon D40 Lenses for the price.

Pros:

-Compact

-Low Price

-Light Weight

-Huge Aperture Range

Cons:

-No Auto Focus

-Bad for landscape photography

-Fixed Focal Range

Editor Rating: 6.5/10

Nikon AF-S DX 35mm F/1.8G

AF-S DX 35mm

Product Details

Weight:

Aperture Range:

Focal Range:

Dimensions:

Lens Mount:

0.44 lbs

F/22 – 1.8

50mm Fixed

2.1 x 2.8 x 2.8 in

Nikon F

Description & Compatibility

A great first lens if you’re looking to do some portrait work, or just want your pictures to come out crystal clear. Many of the reviews on this product say that it has spectacular image quality and is far better than the kit lenses that are included with the Nikon D40. It’s also very easy to use for newer photographers with no zoom to worry about and auto focus support.

Pros:

-Compact

-Auto Focus

-Light Weight

-Huge Aperture Range

Cons:

-No Auto Focus

-Bad for landscape photography

-Fixed Focal Range

Editor Rating: 7/10

Outdoor Lens

Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G Zoom Lens

Nikon 70-300 mm f/4-5.6G Zoom Lens

Product Details

Weight:

Aperture Range:

Focal Range:

Dimensions:

Lens Mount:

1.5 lbs

F/22 – 1.8

70-300mm

4.61 x 2.9 x 2.9 in

Nikon F (FX)

Description & Compatibility

One of the few telephoto lenses on this list, this Nikon zoom lens is the largest lens on this list. With that bulk comes a very large aperture range and equally as expansive focal range. Great for nature photography and all things outdoors, you’ll want to take this guy everywhere you go. It’s lightning fast focus and smooth zoom are also big benefits of the Nikon 70-300mm Zoom Lens. Probably the best Nikon D40 Lens for outdoor use around and at a budget price point to boot.

Pros:

-Low Price

-Smooth Zoom

-Fast Focus

-Large Aperture Range

Cons:

-Bulky and Heavy

-Lower Build Quality

Editor Rating: 6.8/10

Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G

 Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G

Product Details

Weight:

Aperture Range:

Focal Range:

Dimensions:

Lens Mount:

0.85 lbs

F/29-4.5

18-35mm

3.7 x 3.3 x 3.3 in

Nikon F (FX)

Description & Compatibility

This is a great wide angle lens for some of those closer proximity outdoor shots. It has a good wide angle to it and a little bit of play with the zoom. The image quality, much like many others on this list, is phenomenal. No focus issues, chromatic aberrations, or soft edges from this lens. It’s also a pretty light weight lens for this category. Overall a great pick for someone looking for a wide angle lens for their Nikon D40.

Pros:

-Great Image Quality

-Accurate Focus

-Perfect for Landscape Photography

-Light Weight

Cons:

-Slightly Pricey

Editor Rating: 9.2/10

Macro Lens

Nikon AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/4-5.6G

Nikon AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G

Product Details

Weight:

Aperture Range:

Focal Range:

Dimensions:

Lens Mount:

0.52 lbs

F/22-2.8

40mm Fixed

2.56 x 2.7 x 2.7 in

Nikon F (DX)

Description & Compatibility

A macro lens for those on a budget. That’s the best way to describe this lens, but don’t be discouraged by the word, “budget” because it doesn’t mean low quality. In fact this lens produces extremely high quality images. The glass used is crystal clear and causes very little distortion. It’s not great for low light situations, but the large Aperture allows for situations with large amounts of light to be shot with ease. This Nikon D40 compatible lens is recommended for anyone looking to try out Macro photography on the cheap.

Pros:

-Low Price

-Light Weight

-Compact

-High Quality Glass

Cons:

-Under-performs in Low-light

-Narrow Use Case (Not Very Versatile)

Editor Rating: 7.2/10

Editors Choice

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR

Product Details

Weight:

Aperture Range:

Focal Range:

Dimensions:

Lens Mount:

1.01 lbs

F/29-3.5

10-24mm

3.43 x 3.3 x 3.3 in

Nikon F (DX)

Description & Compatibility

This great lens is compatible with any camera that uses a Nikon F-Mount, including the Nikon D40. As one of my favorite lenses on this list I have a lot of good things to say about this lens. It’s performance is unmatched when a wide angle lens is needed. Landscapes and Urban photography come out crisp and precise. This along with an extremely fast focus speed make this lens a force to be reckoned with.

Pros:

-Large Aperture Range

-High Image Quality

-Fast Focus

Cons:

-Mildly Heavy

-High Price

Editor Rating: 9.1/10

In conclusion, no matter what Nikon D40 camera lens you decide to purchase, be assured that it will be the highest quality available. I hope that this article helped you find the perfect lens for both you and your camera. All of the items on this list are the Best Nikon D40 Lenses for their particular niche. If you want to know more about each of these devices feel free to check out there amazon reviews and thank you for supporting Flutter Lens.

Happy Shooting!