On Tue, 9 Mar 1999 08:19:52 -0800, David Paris wrote:

>What I mean by this is: Is a certain model of lens produced 10 years ago
>EXACTLY the same as the one they are currently making? i.e. I am looking
>for a 300mm f/4 lens. I think they started making this lens is 1987. I
>have the ability to buy one in perfect mint that was purchased in 1988, or
>I can buy one purchased just a few months ago from Adorama. Both are in
>identical condition, but the one purchased in 1988 is a hundred dollars
>less. Are these lenses different at all? Or are they identical, optically,
>and cosmetically? (I haven't actually seen pictures of them). For some
>reason I'm hesitant to buy the 1988 lens, but if they truly are
>manufactured the exact same way, then of course I'd get the cheaper lens.

On my web page is a Nikkor ->lens-type<- list (under
"I babble"), which lists the optical variations of the
numerous Nikkors (without dates, though...). There have
been no optical changes in the Nikkor 300mm f4, though
there are several versions of the 300mm f4.5...