Having used many of these Nikkors (often multiple samples),
I cannot resist adding my experience to Dr. Larkin's useful
and valuable summary of performance (my numbers appear to
the right of the original material below, in parentheses).
(This rating system does not allow for details of performance,
like variations in sharpness with distance, or the particulars
of wide vs. mid-aperture performance. It is too general, but it
is still a good guide.)


in article <3smsrr$en0@schema.fiu.edu>, larkinsg@solix.fiu.edu says...
(MUCH DELETED - SEE ORIGINAL ARTICLE)

>Lenses: Ratings:
>NIKON:
>20 f2.8 MF AIS Nikkor --------------------- 5,5 (concur, several samples used)
>24 f2.8 MF AI/AIS Nikkor ------------------ 4.5,5(concur, many samples)
>28 f2.0 MF Nikkor AIS --------------------- 4.5,5(concur, many samples)
>28 f2.8 Series E Nikon -------------------- 4.5,4(2.8,4 - of several tried, only one good when stopped down, others poor)
>35 f2.5 Series E Nikon -------------------- 3,4 (4,4 - couple samples, both good)
>35 f2.0 MF Nikkor AIS --------------------- 3.5,5(4.5,5 - many samples, some variation, most good)
>35 f1.4 MF Nikkor AIS --------------------- 5,5 (4.5,5 - few samples)
>35 f2.0 AF Nikkor AIS --------------------- 5,4 (4.5,4 - one sample)
>50 f1.4 MF Nikkor AIS --------------------- 4.5,5(many samples - 4.8,5)
>50 f1.8 MF Nikkor AIS --------------------- 4,5 (many samples - 4.8,5)
>50 f1.8 Series E Nikon -------------------- 4,4 (many samples - 4.5,4)
>55 f1.2 Nikkor ---------------------------- 3,5(a true dog) (concur)
>55 f3.5 Micro Nikkor AI and Non-AI -------- 5,5 (4,5 - many samples, field curvature in this lens near infinity is rather bad in most samples)
>55 f2.8 Micro Nikkor AIS ------------------ 4.5,4.5(5,4.5 - many samples)
>55 mm f2.8 AF Micro Nikkor ---------------- 4.5,4
>58 f1.2 Noct Nikkor ----------------------- 5,5 (3,5 - one possibly defective sample)
>60mm f2.8 AF Micro Nikkor ----------------- 5,4 (4,4 - one sample)
>85 f1.4 MF AIS Nikkor --------------------- 5,5 (concur)
>85 f1.8 AF Nikkor ------------------------- 5,4 (concur)
>105 f4 Micro Nikkor ----------------------- 4.5,5(3.5,5 - couple of samples)
>105 f2.8 MF AIS Micro Nikkor -------------- 4,5 (5,5 - couple of samples)
>105 AF Micro Nikkor ----------------------- 5,5 (5,5 - couple of samples)
>200 IF Micro Nikkor MF -------------------- 5,5 (4,5 - couple of samples)
>180 ED MF Nikkor -------------------------- 4.8,5 (concur)
>180 EDIF AF Nikkor ------------------------ 5,5 (New Version)(5,4 - is same under the paint as old version, just looks nicer)
>180 EDIF AF Nikkor ------------------------ 5,4 (Old Version)(concur)
>200 f2.0 EDIF Nikkor ---------------------- 4.5,5 (untried)
>300 f4.5 MF Nikkor (Non-ED)---------------- 3,4.5 (3.4-4.5,5 - many samples, some variation, most good)
>300 f4.5 EDIF Nikkor ---------------------- 4.8,5 (concur)
>300 f4 EDIF AF Nikkor --------------------- 5,5 (4.8,5 - one sample)
>300 f2.0 EDIF MF Nikkor ------------------- 5,5 (untried)
>300 f2.8 EDIF MF Nikkor ------------------- 5,5 (concur)
>300 f2.8 EDIF AF-I Nikkor ----------------- 5,5 (untried)
>300 f2.8 EDIF AF-N Nikkor ----------------- 4.8,4.8(untried)
>300 f2.8 EDIF AF 1st vers. Nikkor---------- 4.8,4 (untried)
>400 f5.6 EDIF Nikkor ---------------------- 4.8,5 (concur)
>400 f3.5 EDIF Nikkor ---------------------- 5,5 (concur)
>500 f8 Mirror Nikkor ---------------------- 3.8,5 (concur on newer version, rate older version 4.4,5)
>500 f4 EDIF-P Nikkor ---------------------- 5,4.5(Wimpy Tripod Mt.)(untried)
>500 f4 EDIF-AF-D Nikkor ------------------- 5,5(Much improved mount)
>600 f5.6 EDIF Nikkor ---------------------- 5,5 (untried)
>600 f4 EDIF Nikkor ------------------------ 5,5 (untried)
>600 f4 EDIF-AF-D Nikkor ------------------- 5,5 (Fast AF)(untried)
>20-35 AF Nikkor --------------------------- 4.5,4.8 (Pretty close to prime lens (untried)
>performance but some slight flare in high flare situations)
>75-150 f3.5 Series E Nikon ---------------- 5,4.5 (concur)
>80-200 f4.5 AI Nikkor --------------------- 5,5 (4,4.5 - several samples)
>35-70 f2.8 AF Nikkor ---------------------- 4.7,4.5(untried)
>43-86 Nikkor ------------------------------ 3,4.5(later vers. better
>but still not great) (2,5 - couple samples tried, incl. latest - terrible!)
>80-200 f2.8 EDIF MF Nikkor ---------------- 5,5 (untried)
>80-200 f2.8 EDIF AF Nikkor ---------------- 4.8,4(No Tripod Mt)(5,4.5 -
one sample)
>50-300 f4.5 EDIF Nikkor ------------------- 5,5 (untried)
>200-400 ED MF AIS Nikkor ------------------ 5,5 (A cult Classic for Africa) (untried)
>TC-14 and TC-14 B (Long Lenses ONLY) ------ 4.8,5 (NO Teleconverter is Perfect) (concur, but the TC14C comes close on some lenses - 5,5)
>TC-300 and TC 301 (Long Lenses ONLY) ------ 4.5,5 (See above)(concur)
>Sigma: 400 f5.6 APO Canon EF Mt. ----------------- 4.7,4.8(3,4.8 - two samples plus opinions of others have talked to - a very over-rated lens, I think)

Additional lenses not covered above that I have used:

6mm f5.6 Fisheye Nikkor (non-retro)-------- 4,5 (one sample)
7.5mm f5.6 Fisheye Nikkor (non-retro)------ 4,5 (one sample)
8mm f2.8 Fisheye Nikkor-------------------- 4.6,5 (two samples)
8mm f4 Sigma Fisheye----------------------- 4.4,5 (one sample)
15mm F5.6 Nikkor--------------------------- 3-4.8,5 (several samples,
a somewhat variable lens)
15mm f3.5 Nikkor--------------------------- 4,5 (two samples)
16mm f2.8 Fisheye Nikkor------------------- 4,5 (few samples)
16mm f3.5 Fisheye Nikkor------------------- 5,5 (few samples)
18mm f3.5 Nikkor--------------------------- 4.4,5 (two samples)
20mm Nikkors before f2.8------------------- 2.8-3.5,5 (many samples)
24mm f2 Nikkor----------------------------- 4,5 (one sample)
35mm f3.5PC Nikkor------------------------- 3.8,5 (one sample)
35mm f2.8PC Nikkor (earlier)--------------- 4,5 (few samples)
35mm f2.8PC Nikkor (latest)---------------- 5,5 (several samples)
28mm f2.8 (first version) Nikkor----------- 3.8,5 (two samples)
28mm f2.8 (AIS) Nikkor--------------------- 5,5 (several samples)
28mm f3.5PC Nikkor------------------------- 4,5 (few samples)
28mm f4PC Nikkor--------------------------- 5,5 (few samples)
28mm f3.5 (AI) Nikkor---------------------- 5,5 (few samples)
50mm f1.2 Nikkor--------------------------- (at 5-15 feet or so,5, otherwise 4,5 - several samples)
85mm f2 Nikkor----------------------------- 5,5 (several samples)
90mm f2.5 Vivitar Series I----------------- 4.8,5 (few samples - lens tends to flare near infinity)
105mm f2.5 (AI) Nikkor--------------------- 5,5 (several samples)
105mm f1.8 Nikkor-------------------------- 4.8,5 (several samples)
135mm f2.8 (AI) Nikkor--------------------- 4.8,5 (few samples)
135mm f2 MF Nikkor------------------------- 5,5 (terrible under
six feet, or so)
200mm f4 (AI) Nikkor----------------------- 4.5,5 (several samples)
1000mm f11 Mirror Nikkor------------------- 3.5,5 (one sample)
25-50mm f4 Nikkor-------------------------- 4.4 (several samples)
28-50mm f3.5 Nikkor------------------------ 4.3,5 (two samples)
28-85mm f3.5-4.5 Nikkor-------------------- 4.4,5 (few samples)
28-135mm f4-4.5 Tamron SP------------------ 4.6,5 (two samples)
35-70mm f3.3-4.5 Nikkor-------------------- 4.2,4 (several samples)
35-105mm f3.5-4.5 MF Nikkor---------------- 3-5,5 (many samples - Nikon's most variable-quality lens [variability is not generally a problem with Nikkor lenses])
35-135mm f3.5-4.5 MF Nikkor---------------- 4,5 (two samples)
35-200mm f3.5-4.5 Nikkor------------------- 2-3,5 (two samples)
50-135mm f3.5 Nikkor----------------------- 5,5 (several samples)
70-210mm f4E Nikkor------------------------ 4.5,4.8(many samples)
80-200mm f4 Nikkor------------------------- 4.5,5 (one sample)
100-300mm f5.6----------------------------- 5,5 (several samples)
100-500mm f5.6-8 Cosina-------------------- 4.4,5 (one sample)

In general, Nikkor lenses 35mm and under perform very well
center to corner at all distances by f5.6 (some do well enough
wide-open); lenses 55mm and over perform well even wide-open, with
non-IF and those without floating elements performing o.k-to-poorly
at minimum focus distance; zooms generally have remarkably good
close-focus performance at focal-lengths over about 50mm.
I would like to go into detail with each lens (center-to-corner
performance at each aperture and focus distance), but.......
Maybe someday if people want to subscribe to a set of newsletters,
I will get busy writing the details. Hope this helps.