Hi to everybody, this is my first time here, and since I saw alot of Nikon stuff so here it goes: I just saw a NIkon 75-240 4.5-5.6, I know it aint THE lens but hey it look nice and is small and most of all cheap!!! 200$ here in Spain, buuuuuuut: The mount is plastin and its made in China. And its quite small apertured, But since I was offerd a used 80-200 4-5.6 for 170$ maybe this one with the added leng and NEW, bould be a better buy, so If anyone has any experience with this lens I would apreciate to know about. Special coments on the optic and the plastic mount. BTW this lens is for my N90 (which I hope to tun in a few month to a F4s. thanks alot. Diego k.

-- Diego K. (taisabaki@yahoo.com), October 19, 1999

Answers

Diego, Yes, I have one. I also have a lot o other Nikon stuff. I bought it because I take a lot of pictures while travelling for business and I wanted something lightweight and cheap, because I felt there were too much missing slides due to the limitation of my "standard" 28-70 zoom. At that time I was considering buying a Tamron or a Nikon 80-200 4-5.6, then this Nikon was introduced. I already have a 75-300 (now discontinued) and, since I find myself using very often the 200-300 range, I thought that getting to 240 mm instead of 200 was useful. Further, the price was fair for something bringing the Nikon name. I got the first sample delivered to my photo dealer here in Italy. At the beginning I was worried by the plastic lens mount. After a couple of months, three flights in Europe and roughly 300 slides shot with this lens my opinion is that this lens is a good lens for the purpose it was designed. Maybe it cannot compete with my 75-300, I didn't made any comparative test since in my mind I have clearly stated the sistuations in which I will take one lens and the situations in wich I will take the other. Instead I have a lot of nice shots of the Netherlands I would miss if I didn't bought it because my 75-300 would have remained at home anyway, due to its size and weight. So: buy this lens if: 1) You are looking for a lightweight and cheap but fair nikon lens and you are not obsessed about maximum quality. 2) You don't want to cry that much if the lens goes damaged or stolen. Don't buy: 1) If you are looking for maximum quality and you can afford more expensive lenses. 2) If you plan to use it manual focus. The focussing scale is missing and the lens itself is a pain to use in manual focus. I suggest to make an AF/MF test with your camera. On my F90 I use it 100% AF. Regarding the fact that the lens is made in China, I've learned by experience that the most important thing is the quality level of the production of one company, not the production site. People can be trained to make good products and good quality systems can be set up everywhere in the

-- Luca Stramare (phormula@libero.it), October 20, 1999.

Well after looking it over, and some other lenses I got to the conclucion I want a fixed aperture lens, as not 4-5.6, because I'll use i with my F90 but with my FE as well, so I need a lens tht would keep the aperture so I can use it in Auto (the FE doesnt have TTL) and those are very expensive since they are 2.8. Solution? to Ill keep my "since forever Tokina 80-200 1:4, it aint 2.8 but its constant. Today I took it apart cleand the fongus and its like new again. Kids dont do it at home unless your a complete morrun like I am, since Im no repaiman but it was easy and amazingly I put it all together and it still works! At first I made a mistake with the elicoidal focusing and its scale (focused a 200 yard distance, marking 15!!!) but i fixed it up in a few minutes. Its beter than bungee jumping, that thirll that you have when you realize you have just ruined a fine piece of photo gear (not the cae sbut close). Thanks anyway Diego k.

-- Diego K. (taisabaki@yahoo.com), October 23, 1999.