Recently got this lens for Christmas (a few days before actually) and have been shooting with it and only it for the past few days. I really like its rendering compared to the lens its replacing (my Super Tak 135/3.5). Some photos I've taken with it on my Rebel XT...
-Really like how this lens holds general contrast even in tough lighting situations. My Super Tak, being single coated, would lose its contrast very easily and I would basically have to shoot at an extreme angle away from the sun (even with the hood on) to get the max amount of global contrast from it. This Nikkor can shoot nearly in the general direction of the sun and will still hold its contrast even without a hood.
-It really picks up fine detail (as seen in the MFD shot of the torn up branch). This is one of the things that surprised me. The fine detail its able to pick up reminds me of my C/Y 50/1.7.
-For some reason I'm having a tougher time focusing with this particular lens than my 135/3.5 Super Tak even stopped down to equal apertures. I feel like I can't trust the split prism with my focusing screen and have to eyeball it with the matte area. Oddly enough I have an easier time nailing focus with my Nikkor 28/2 because the split prism area is bang on with it.
-Maybe its me having a tough time focusing but the lens doesn't seem as remarkable at Infinity. The gain in contrast I've been getting is very welcome but my initial feeling is that its not as remarkable as it can be at mid-distances and MFD.
-Its bokeh rendition really is all its cracked up to be at certain distances but it has a tendency to give really defined bokeh and, given the wrong background will give the tube like effect for objects. Also double lining. At its best though it gives that painterly look that I've really wanted, so I'm happy to take the good and the bad in this case.
-All-in-all awesome lens, definitely worth the price it can be bought for. Really love the build quality from these Nikkors.
It's a fantastic lens, and it seems to get along well with just about any camera you mount it on. if you're traveling light, it also can do double duty as a semi-macro with an old Sigma 2-element 52mm achromat.
