Nikon D400 Compatible Lenses

As a successor the the Nikon D300s, the Nikon D400 is anticipated to be a DX-format camera, which means it will feature an APS-C sensor with a 1.5x crop factor.

The D400 should include an autofocusing motor, which allows it to drive the focus mechanism on older Nikon lenses and afford the Nikon D400 a greater variety of lenses to choose from (as opposed to more consumer-oriented Nikon DSLRs).

Nikon DX lenses were introduced specifically for Nikon DSLRs with APS-C sized sensors. As a result, DX lenses will not provide enough coverage with the lens circle on FX-format (or full frame) cameras like the Nikon D3s and D3x.

Nikon FX lenses will work with both APS-C sensors (like in the D400) and full frame sensors in the D3s and D3x. As a result, Nikon D400 users can enjoy the benefit of both DX and FX-format lenses.

A brief overview of lens acronyms and designations:

f/ number – This number is used to designate the lens aperture, which affects the amount of light that can come in through the lens and the ability to blur the background for flattering portraits. The lower the number, the brighter the lens. Lower is generally better. Zoom lenses can have a range for the f-stop, which changes depending on the focal length.

VR – Vibration Reduction – The lens senses shake or vibrations and moves the glasses elements inside in order to compensate for the camera shake and produce sharper images.

MM – millimeter – The focal length of lenses is measured in millimeters. Zoom lenses are designated with a range of millimeters, such as 18-55mm.

Macro/Micro – Macro/Micro lenses are great for shooting close-ups of small objects like bugs and flowers with incredible magnification power.

AF-S – Silent Wave Motor – The inclusion of an ultrasonic motor inside the lens makes its focusing fast and quiet.

AF – An autofocusing lens without an internal motor. Relies on the camera body to drive the autofocus.

D – Distance – Provides distance information to Nikon camera bodies for exposure calculations in 3D Matrix Metering mode, and TTL flash autoexposure

G – Indicates that lenses have only internal aperture control via the camera body with no aperture ring on the lens itself.

ED – Extra-low Dispersion – These glass elements reduce the presence of chromatic aberrations.

IF – Internal Focusing – To ensure stability in focusing, these lenses moves the inner lens group or groups without changing the lenses’ physical length. With IF lenses, there is no movement on the end filter ring of the camera when focusing.

NIKKOR – Nikon uses the NIKKOR brand designation on almost all of its modern lenses. It is a brand within a brand of sorts. Since practically all of the lenses below use the NIKKOR brand in the lens name, I have remove references to it in order to make it easier to read.

Nikon DX Lenses

Nikon FX Lenses

In addition to Nikon’s own NIKKOR lenses, there are a number of third-party manufacturers which make compatible lenses for the Nikon D400. The most popular of these manufacturers are Sigma, Tamron and Tokina.

Sigma Lenses Compatible With the Nikon D400

Sigma 70-300mm DG OS

Sigma offers a very large range of compatible lenses for the Nikon D400, which are listed below. Like Nikon, Sigma has a number of lens designations and acronyms, which are briefly explained below as well.

ASP - Aspherical lenses have a reduced number of lens components, which helps keep the size down and reduce distortion on wide angle lenses.

APO - Uses special low-dispersion glass designed to minimize color abberation.

OS - Optical Stabilizer – Like Nikon’s VR system, Sigma uses the OS designation to indicate a lens that senses shake or vibrations and moves the glasses elements inside in order to compensate for the camera shake and produce sharper images.

EX - The exterior of these lenses are EX-finished to denote the superior build and optical quality, and to enhance their appearance.

HSM - Hyper-Sonic Motor – This lens uses a motor driven by ultrasonic waves to provide a quiet, highspeed AF.

IF - Inner Focus – To ensure stability in focusing, these lenses moves the inner lens group or groups without changing the lenses’ physical length. With IF lenses, there is no movement on the end filter ring of the camera when focusing.

RF - Rear Focus – These lenses are equipped with a system that moves the rear lens group for high speed, silent focusing. RF designations are generally seen on large (and expensive) lenses.

DG - Sigma’s DG line of lenses are suitable for use on smaller sensor cameras like the Nikon D400, as well as use on “full frame” cameras like the D3s and D3x. In terms of size, the DG line is comparable to Nikon FX lenses.

DC - Sigma’s DC line of lenses are specifically designed for use with smaller sensor cameras like the D400. The DC lenses are comparable Nikon’s DX line.

Other designations like f/ numbers, “macro” and “mm” serve the same purpose as they do on other lenses.

Sigma DC Lenses

Sigma DG Lenses

Tamron Lenses Compatible With the Nikon D400

Tamron 17-50mm Di II Lens

Tamron offers a several compatible lenses for the Nikon D400, which are listed below. Tamron’s lens designations and acronyms are briefly explained below as well.

IF - Internal Focusing

ASL - Aspherical

LD - Low Dispersion – Type of glass element inside the lens designed to minimize color abberation.

AD - Anomalous Dispersion – Type of glass element inside the lens designed to reduce chromatic aberrations.

XR - Extra Refractive Index Glass – This glass allows the lenses to be physically smaller because of the way it bends light.

Di - Tamron’s Di line of lenses are suitable for use on smaller sensor cameras like the Nikon D400, as well as use on “full frame” cameras like the D3s and D3x. In terms of size, the Di line is comparable to Nikon FX and Sigma DG lenses.

Di II - Tamron’s Di II line of lenses are specifically designed for use with smaller sensor cameras like the Nikon D400. The Di II lenses are comparable Nikon’s DX line.

ADH - AD-Hybrid Aspherical

SP - High-performance specifications

FEC - Filter Effect Control

LAH - LD-Hybrid Aspherical

ZL - Zoom-Lock Mechanism – Prevents lens creep when hanging from your neck.

A/M – AF/MF Switchover Mechanism – Allows you to slide the focus ring back and forth to switch between auto and manual focus.

VC - Vibration Compensation – Like Nikon’s VR system, Tamron uses the VC designation to indicate a lens that senses shake or vibrations and moves the glasses elements inside in order to compensate for the camera shake and produce sharper images.

Other designations like f/ numbers, “macro” and “mm” serve the same purpose as they do on other lenses.

Tamron Di-II Lenses

Tamron Di Lenses

Tokina Lenses Compatible With the Nikon D400

Tokina offers a few compatible lenses for the D400, which are listed below. All are designed for use with smaller sensor DSLRs like the Nikon D400.