older Nikon 300mm help

[jubbin2001]

Hey all, I am in need of some assistance with a potential purchase. I have the opportunity to get an older mf 300mm Nikon telephoto lens fairly cheap (less than $150). Everything looks brand new except for wear on the barrel. I want to use it with my d80, to hopefully get sharper images than my 28-300mm Tamron. Is this a decent deal for the lens? It's the f4 Ai version, but I don't know much else about the lens, as I am new to identification. Any help would be great. Thanks!

 

[Derrel]

I used to own one of those. It's built tough. Some wear on the barrel is to be expected at the $150 price point. The 300 f/4 Ai has a rather stiff manual focusing ring travel, compared to today's flimsy-feeling, plastic AF lenses. it will mount on your D80, but will not give light metering. This lens's focusing travel is not optimized for follow-focus work.
The price sounds about right as to where you'd want to jump on it.

 

[jritz]

For less than 150, as long as the glass is good and scratch free, and if it has no moisture inside i'd say go for it.