On Fri, 15 Nov 2002 22:02:18 -0500, "Joe Addona" wrote:

>I actually lost a bet to a colleague claiming that it was impossible for him
>to have a 75-240mm Nikon lens, they just didn't exist. Well after he proved
>me wrong he actually brought the lens in to work.
>
>Since it is not available from any mail-order stores I'm guessing the lens
>has been discontinued. Does anyone have any info on this lens, re when it
>was available, what it sold for and quality of glass (if it is glass)?

Well, a couple of years ago I caught one of these
on an eBay auction with 7 minutes to go. Since I
like trying new lenses (see: www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/slemn.html), and it was
VERY cheap, I bid on it and got it. I should have:
1) done some quick research - cheap as it was,
I was one of those eBay idiots who paid more than
NYC-new for used, without return privilege...;-)
2) checked it out - describing it as a "pop bottle
bottom" does a disservice to the optical qualities
of pop bottle bottoms...;-)
Sigh! Here was evidence that Nikon had learned from
Canon that cheap mediocre lenses with a good brand
name sell, and can draw people into the line,
regardless of the effect (apparently minimal...)
on the brand's reputation... Nikon almost immediately
withdrew this poor lens, but in its wake have been
various other "unmentionable" cheap icky-plastic
disasters...