My copy is an ancient pre-AI, all metal version, probably dating from the late 1960s or early 1970s. Before I bought it, a previous owner "converted" it to AI functionality with a file and some course bodging. It doesn't look pretty, but it works fine on my F4 and FM.

This is a lens that I frequently use when I'm not going for any unusual optical effect - just a standard picture angle.

Its sharpness is okay wide open, but when closed down a stop, it's great. Anywhere from f2.8 to f16, it's sharpness is on par with 95 percent of all lenses out there. For a general use wide-angle or normal, it fills the bill. I've heard that the Nikkor f1.4 is the ultimate in sharpness at this focal length, but I can't justify the high cost of that lens.