75-150 Series E

[richardHaw]

This came as a surprise (because I got this for $17 in a junkbox)...i was not expecting much after my experience with my so-so 36-72mm Series E (i might have gotten a lemon) 

this lens' image quality is crazy! it is already pretty good at f/3.5 wide open. I got this lens because I got several requests for a tear down and if a lens is cheap enough for me to buy for my blog's sake I will get it!

I overhauled this thing in under 3 hours which came as a surprised because this is a zoom lens. (the 36-72E took about the same time). The insides of the lens will make most modern AF nikkors look like cheap chinese made toys because this thing's chassis is a solid block of cast metal! the only stupid decision I saw here was the rear crucible of the lens is made of plastic. it only holds the rear elements and the iris assembly but a simple drop to the floor can potentially split this lens in half!

this is a pretty simple lens and I hope that this will not take a lot of time for me to blog. if you guys dont have this, then I suggest that you get one just for fun. 75-150 might not be much but it will come in useful for landscapes because of the size and weight if you are hiking. the lens also has some nice out of focus characteristics.

[Roland Vink]

It's my favorite zoom, taken many fine pictures with it. An excellent intersection of reasonable speed, compact size, useful focal length and close focusing ability.

[richardHaw]

It's my favorite zoom, taken many fine pictures with it. An excellent intersection of reasonable speed, compact size, useful focal length and close focusing ability.

yes! this thing focuses down to 1m  while the 36-72E and the 43-86's all focus down to 1.2m

i was told that Galen Rowell used this lens for that rainbow over the dalai lama's place photo.

[John Geerts]

yes! this thing focuses down to 1m  while the 36-72E and the 43-86's all focus down to 1.2m

Well, the also excellent Nikon 70-210/4 Series E focuses down to 0.56 m in 70mm position and 1.5m at 210mm.

[Hugh_3170]

Galen Rowell did a lot of photography from on foot and would frequently run or walk or very long distances to access his subject matter.  He was also an avid rock wall climber and mountaineer.  Lens selection and weight management was therefore an issue for him.  He would evaluate lighter weight lens offerings and those apertures that they would still perform adequately at maybe 2 or 3 proven apertures and he would just stick to those to ensure that he got sufficient image quality.  The 75-150mm zoom lens was one of his favourites.

http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php/topic,2040.msg23704.html#msg23704

yes! this thing focuses down to 1m  while the 36-72E and the 43-86's all focus down to 1.2m

i was told that Galen Rowell used this lens for that rainbow over the dalai lama's place photo.

[Harald]

Hi,

the lens also has some nice out of focus characteristics.

Just need to fix the zoom creep! Waiting for your tutorial. 

Harald

[Hugh_3170]

Harald, try Googling for Richard Liu's treatment for the Nikon 75-150mm zoom creep issue.

Hi,

.....................................

Just need to fix the zoom creep! Waiting for your tutorial. 

Harald

[Jan Anne]

Totally forgot about this lens but I should have a mint copy safely stored in one of my Storm cases 

Never really connected with it so its been a while since its last use, should be a nice candidate zoom for a Df or a7.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Add a CPU, which in this case is extremely easy, and it finds its place on any modern Nikon.

If this is the version with a metal ring to the rear, I'll gladly take it off your hands. Or we can swap. My copy is CPU-modified.

[ArendV]

I have not used mine for a long time, the following shots are wide open @f/3.5, the first two on a D300 at 150 and 120mm respectively and the last one on a NEX-6 at 75mm.
(and talking about 3D rendition, the first image definitely has some to me).

[Jan Anne]

If this is the version with a metal ring to the rear, I'll gladly take it off your hands. Or we can swap. My copy is CPU-modified.

Here it is, amongst some other tele's i used to own in the last decade.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

JA, please find it ... this is the version I'm looking for.

Reasons for me are pure cosmetics, as there is no change of optics from first to second generation of SE lense..

[simato73]

I also have it - this is the first lens I chipped.
The chip (provided by Bjørn) cost me twice as much the lens 

Although I am not using it much lately this is a fine lens, a pleasure to use (apart from the zoom creep, which I tried to treat without really fixing it).

[Hugh_3170]

A great lens, especially at the price. 

ArendV, I love your sample images from this lens, especially that of the cat.  Will be getting myself another cat later this year.  My old guy passed on in late 2014.

I have not used mine for a long time, the following shots are wide open @f/3.5, the first two on a D300 at 150 and 120mm respectively and the last one on a NEX-6 at 75mm.
(and talking about 3D rendition, the first image definitely has some to me).

[Bjørn J]

I bought that lens on impulse (very cheap), the one with the metal ring. I haven't used it much, though, but looking at the images here I certainly should put it to use. It has the zoom creep, but performing Richard Liu's treatment seems a bit complicated, so I'll just leave it as it is.