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From: darrelj@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Darrel VanBuer)
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo
Subject: Re: Nikon E series vs Nikkor
Message-ID: <1919@sdcrdcf.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 22-Apr-85 11:35:59 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcrdcf.1919
Posted: Mon Apr 22 11:35:59 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 25-Apr-85 03:07:37 EST
References: <223@sbcs.UUCP>
Reply-To: darrelj@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Darrel VanBuer)
Distribution: net
Organization: System Development Corp. R+D, Santa Monica
Lines: 25
Summary: 

Optically, Nikkors and series E are very similar in design and quality.
Differences: E series are machine finished, Nikkors are hand fininshed
glass (so probably slightly better finished unless the person has a bad day).

Mechanical:  Nikkors are mostly metal (aluminum and brass) and everything
secured with screws, series E uses many fiberglass reinforced plastic
moldings, many of the little levers and tabs secured by deforming the
plastic rivets to which attached.  The mount is still brass, and one half of
the focusing tube is metal (so plastic on aluminum vs brass on aluminum).

The big difference is in durability (and if you have some really old Nikon
cameras, the lack of the prong on E series); the Nikkors will stand daily
motor drive use for a decade or more and considerable abuse, 
the series E lenses are more suited to
the kind of use given by a weekend snapshotter.

-- 
Darrel J. Van Buer, PhD
System Development Corp.
2500 Colorado Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90406
(213)820-4111 x5449
...{allegra,burdvax,cbosgd,hplabs,ihnp4,orstcs,sdcsvax,ucla-cs,akgua}
                                                            !sdcrdcf!darrelj
VANBUER@USC-ECL.ARPA