In article <01bbf96f$bcd851c0$0be440ce@default>, afc@cl-sys.com says...

>{most of post deleted]..............the newer [Nikkor] AF lenses
>being the superior lenses optically. [..]

Well, gull-durn, I can't resist jumping in here...! ;-)
I would agree with this (generally), if comparing the oldest
examples of Nikkors with the newest, but not if comparing the
AIS Nikkors with AF Nikkors - many of them are identical
optically, many of them are unique to each part of the Nikon
line (so aren't directly comparable [as in, the 15mm Nikkor
is infinitely superior to the AF version, and the 24-120mm
AF is infinitely superior to the MF version, since the
equivalent lenses in the alternate barrels don't exist]),
and a few older lenses do outperform the newer versions.
Also, there is that matter of feel - given the choice between
a solid, smooth-operating, good-feeling MF lens, and its
optically identical rougher, floppy, plastic AF version,
the choice is easy for me...
Hope This Helps