On Fri, 29 Jan 1999 17:45:13 -0600, Mike Sibley wrote:

>Twenty years ago I bought a Nikon FM with a 43-86mm zoom to use for
>"casual" photography, with all processing at the local drugstore. Now,
>I have acquired a darkroom and am interested in making B&W enlargements
>for the wall (11x14). The Nikkor 43-86MM zoom is in near mint
>condition, but I don't know how this lense compares to current
>alternatives. How much of an improvement should I expect in
>resolutioin, contrast, etc. if I were to replace the 43-86mm with a
>newer (better) Nikkor zoom? All help appreciated.

In a word: VAST! ;-) The old 43-86 was Nikon's one
"pop-bottle-bottom" lens... (Oddly, the last version
can be quite good.) For Nikkor alternatives, you
may find my Nikkor evaluation list interesting
(on my web page, under "I babble").