Hi--

>> The latest one looks like a smooth cylinder front to rear
>> (earlier ones had "shapely" barrels with distinct rings,
>> and had chrome shift-screws instead of the black
>> cylindrical one of the latest version [the latest one
>> also has the shift mm scale on the shift mechanism
>> instead of on the barrel]). This lens isn't very wide,
>> being a 35mm, but is really sharp to the corners
>> (shifted less than three mm) wide-open, easily beating
>> other 35mm lenses (especially in the corners) at f2.8,
>> qualifying it (for me) as a sort of "speed" lens...

>Thanks for the reply!

You're welcome!

>I've just bought one of these second hand - from the description,
>it sounds as though it's one of the latest versions (generally
>cylindrical, black cylindrical shift knob which reveals shift
>scale on the shaft as you turn it. It also matches the picture
>in my old nikon catalog (1994-95 or thereabouts). I wasn't
>sure though, since I'd seen mentions of an AIS version and mine
>doesn't have a scoop on the mount.

It is the most recent.

>On a related thought - any recommendations for focusing screens?
>I've got the standard (K?) in my nikon FE, and am thinking of
>switching to a matte/grid version. It looks as though the choice is
>(a) hunting for a 2nd hand FE version (E?)
>(b) buy a current FM/FE2 version (brighter, needs exposure compension)
>(c) buy a 3rd party version (beattie intenscreen - presumably would
>also need exposure compensation).
> jerry.cullingford@ffei.co.uk

Probably the current FE-2 version (small notch in tab) would be the best,
though the older one may be as good. Brighter screens tend to fall off
at the edge faster when the lens is shifted, so you may not want the
Beattie-type. Grid is best, since the finder has distortion, and the grid will aid in aligning things in the VF. Meter only with the lens centered
(the F3 is the only one that can meter with PC's shifted). See "SLE(MN)"
on my web page for shift-vs-aperture info. Have fun with it!