After owning the Nikon Z50 for 2 1/2 years I decided to add the Nikon F mount 40mm micro DX 2.8. I used the original FTZ adapter. The new lens works perfectly with the Z50 and so does the FTZ. This time of year where our home is spring comes rapidly about this time of year. So that motivated me to get out the cameras and start shooting. And it was time to add a lens or two to see if I was missing anything by not having those lenses.
As you can see this lens and camera combo is great for botanical shots such as the ones posted here. At 40mm full frame on a DX crop sensor size you are looking at about a 60mm full frame equivalent. In my type of shooting which is mostly landscapes and some family – travel shots this becomes quite a useful lens. I also have the Nikon 16-50 Z zoom. I have used that lens a lot and it is well made, reliable, and sharp. But not as sharp as this 40mm fixed focal length micro. Plus the bokeh is very smooth and pleasing on the 40mm. More so than the 16-50 to my eyes. In the past I have owned two of the Nikon DX 35mm f1.8. I used them on a Nikon D3200 and Nikon D5500. This lens is a sharper than the 35mm and the 40 has better bokeh. The 35mm 1.8 is over twice as bright as the 40 2.8 so in low light you want the 35.
So I guess the question might come up, why not use a full frame Z lens like the 50mm f1.8. I have this lens. I have used it on the Z50. To me the smaller lighter 40mm makes this a more balanced in the hand kit than with the bigger heavier full frame on the Z50. If you want to do macro the smaller macro lens is much better when you get up close. I would say that if Nikon ever comes out with a lens like the 40mm DX in as a Z lens, and if the price is not too high, it likely would be even better than the older DX lens.
The alternative that I also have is the kit 50-250 Zoom Z lens. When you set it between 100mm and 135mm you get very nice quality micro shots with quite good bokeh. It is somewhat a walk around lens too, but you are limited to the widest setting is 50mm with a crop sensor, so about 75mm compared to the 40mm being 60mm cropped. And in addition there is now a Nikon 18-140 variable aperture zoom. It is supposed to be quite good and I have not used it.
If you are looking for a nice walk around lens for the Z50 or ZFC or for that mater any F mount DX Nikon I can recommend the AFS 40mm f2.8.
Bob Nuttmann 