In article <4rcvdi$66g@mark.ucdavis.edu>, njshih@chicken.engr.ucdavis.edu says...

>After searching the ultimate MF Nikon 35/2 in the internet, I have
>learned that there is not only one model available. I have learned
>that Nikon have pre-AIS, AI, AIS, AF in this specific focal lens...
>Price varies from >300 to <100 in the market. [...]
>Are the pre-AIS series lenses inferior to the modern made? (I was told
>that the optical formular for the 35mm has not been changed since 70s..
>[Read it from somewhere in the internet...] In the other hand, I also
>learned that some pre-historic lenses are made before multiple coating.
>Thus there are not as good as the modern one... [....]

All MF Nikkor 35mm f2's from the very earliest non-AI (which was one of
the original few lenses offered for the Nikon F) to the current AIS are
the same optically, except for the addition of multicoating sometime
before AI. I have tried many of them, and while I have seen some
variation (especially in early ones), and a bit more flare than is
normal for most current Nikkors, most are very fine lenses, even at wide apertures. I preferred the MF 35mm f2 performance to the one AF 35mm f2
that I tried (which was a good lens, but did not seem as crisp as the MF version, especially at wider apertures). If I were buying one now (and I
may be.......), I would choose an AI or AIS MF 35mm f2 Nikkor.
Hope This Helps