7Artisans has released a Nikon Z-mount version of its AF 40mm f/2.5 LITE, a full-frame autofocus prime that weighs just 90 grams. It follows the L-mount version released earlier in the month, and it lands in a corner of the market Nikon owners have been notably short of: genuinely tiny, genuinely cheap autofocus glass. Orders are open through the 7Artisans store.
Ninety grams is the number worth pausing on. That is lighter than most lens caps and body caps combined, and it turns a full-frame body into something you might actually carry all day without noticing. Paired with a compact Z body it makes for a pocketable, almost point-and-shoot setup — the sort of combination that gets a camera out of a bag and into use.
Autofocus is driven by an STM stepping motor, and the 40mm focal length is a sensible, slightly-wider-than-standard choice: natural perspective for street, documentary and everyday shooting, wide enough for interiors, tight enough for environmental portraits. The f/2.5 maximum aperture is moderate rather than fast, which is part of how the size and price are kept down.
7Artisans has historically been a manual-focus specialist, and its move into affordable autofocus follows a broader shift among Chinese lens makers — Viltrox, TTArtisan and others have all pushed in the same direction, and the result has been a genuine expansion of what is available at the budget end. For Nikon Z shooters in particular that matters, since third-party support for the mount has lagged behind Sony E.
The usual expectations apply at this price: we would want to check corner sharpness wide open, autofocus speed and consistency on older bodies, and how the lens handles flare. But as an inexpensive, ultralight prime to leave on a camera, it makes an easy case for itself.
7Artisans AF 40mm f/2.5 LITE: Specifications
Mounts: Nikon Z (new) and L-mount; full-frame coverage.
Focal length: 40mm.
Maximum aperture: f/2.5.
Autofocus: STM stepping motor.
Weight: 90g.
Series: 7Artisans LITE — the company’s compact, lightweight autofocus line.
7Artisans AF 40mm f/2.5 LITE: Price and availability
The Nikon Z-mount version is available to order now through the 7Artisans store, with wider retail availability expected to follow. The L-mount version launched earlier in August at around $159. UK pricing is to be confirmed — we’ll update this story once it is available.
