In article <5bmob1$n1t@news.acmenet.net>, golem@shell.acmenet.net says...
[most deleted...]
> ..........................The Nikkor 1.8 has
> the snap you expect from a Nikkor. Why is it
> that we can no longer routinely expect from a
> Nikkor the performance we had always come to
> expect from Nikkors ?

'Cuz Nikon seems to have learned from Canon that perceived
quality sells better than the real thing..., at least at
the bottom (and maybe middle) end of the market (where
the volume is...); the name (image) is more important
than what it's on...); and, good salesmanship brings
more sales than the quality of the products sold...
(But, you knew that...;-)
Hope This Helps