Nikon 135mm 2.8 Series E: I found this lens in great shape for $100. I was wondering if anyone can advise me if this is a good deal BEFORE I might buy it. I do realize it is manual...

authorizeduser Loc: Monroe, Michigan

I found this lens in great shape for $100. I was wondering if anyone can advise me if this is a good deal BEFORE I might buy it. I do realize it is manual only and would be using it with a D300. I currently use the Tamron 18-250 but with an aperture of 3.5 ~ 6.3, the 135mm 2.8 is looking real good.

Thanks

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Its a very fine lens, and that's a good price for it. It won't have the speed or bokeh that the F2 model does, but its still a very nice lens. You will never lose money on it at that price should you decide to ever get rid of it, which you probably won't.

buffmaloney Loc: Indiana

The build quality of the series E is superior to most lenses built today. Optically it's a very nice lens. Buy it for me?

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

The E lens was a series of lenses that Nikon cade for a cheap set of early beginners, including the EM, FG, FG20. Somehow the message about novice cameras got lost on the way to the lens division, because Nikon produced one of the finest lines of manual lenses I have ever seen. I gave my Grandson my EM camera with a 35mm f/2.0 lens about 10 years ago and he's still using it to produce images I would, well, maybe not kill, but do great bodily damage for.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

authorizeduser wrote:

I found this lens in great shape for $100. I was wondering if anyone can advise me if this is a good deal BEFORE I might buy it. I do realize it is manual only and would be using it with a D300. I currently use the Tamron 18-250 but with an aperture of 3.5 ~ 6.3, the 135mm 2.8 is looking real good.

Thanks

I used one on my FA, before selling both. Many times, I've wished I'd kept the many Nikkors I've sold over the years.

turp77 Loc: Connecticut, Plainfield

LoneRangeFinder wrote:

I used one on my FA, before selling both. Many times, I've wished I'd kept the many Nikkors I've sold over the years.

What.... Sell your old cameras!!! LOL. I still have every camera I ever had! My first was a 1957 Leica M2 given to me by my Uncle in 1960. So glad I did, it gives me great pleasure just to pick one up and remember the shots taken with it (good or bad). I have at this time over 300 cameras 6 enlargers. Oh get the lens I have one and love it!

asaya Loc: Syracuse, NY

I own one it's a pretty nice lens unfortunately I don't use it as much as I should

CurreyPhoto Loc: Reddick, Florida

authorizeduser wrote:

I found this lens in great shape for $100. I was wondering if anyone can advise me if this is a good deal BEFORE I might buy it. I do realize it is manual only and would be using it with a D300. I currently use the Tamron 18-250 but with an aperture of 3.5 ~ 6.3, the 135mm 2.8 is looking real good.

Thanks

I Googled "E series lenses on D300" and was directed to a section of Flicker where there are lots of positive comments on all of the Series E lenses on modern DSLRs. Read the comments there for more information on these lenses. I have a 50mm f1.8 and it is very small compared to the more modern 50mm f1.8D. Look through the lens toward a light with the aperture blades open all the way to see if there is any fungus or dirt or other visible problems.

norman1312 Loc: London, UK

I used a 36-72 E series lens for many, many years (on an FE). I just wish I still had it to compare with the current lenses!
The results it gave were a good as anything I've seen recently.
So just because it's a 'E' there's no reason NOT to get one.

authorizeduser Loc: Monroe, Michigan

norman1312 wrote:

I used a 36-72 E series lens for many, many years (on an FE). I just wish I still had it to compare with the current lenses!
The results it gave were a good as anything I've seen recently.
So just because it's a 'E' there's no reason NOT to get one.

In may cases the E series is better built than the new lens are .......