Nikon's cult compact tele zoom — the manual-focus Series E 75-150mm f/3.5, constant-aperture and small.
The Nikon Series E 75-150mm f/3.5 is a compact short-telephoto zoom from Nikon's budget Series E line, introduced around 1980. Priced below the Nikkor zooms but sharing the F mount and Ai coupling, it covered a portrait to short-tele range at a constant f/3.5 aperture and became a cult favourite for its rendering and small size.
This is a manual-focus Nikon F lens with a constant maximum aperture of f/3.5 across a 75-150mm zoom range, built with Ai-compatible aperture coupling for full-aperture metering. It operates with normal reflex viewing on the F system. Only the verified focal range, aperture and mount are stated; construction details are omitted rather than guessed.
This compact constant-f/3.5 zoom is well liked for its pleasant rendering and background separation across the portrait-to-short-tele range, and its small size and light weight make it easy to carry. It suits portraits, travel and general short-telephoto work. Many photographers value its smooth out-of-focus rendering for a budget zoom.
On the used market the Series E 75-150mm is common and affordable, a cult-favourite compact tele zoom. Inspect the elements for haze and fungus, check coatings, confirm the aperture blades are dry, and test the zoom and focus damping since Series E barrels can loosen and this model can develop zoom slack. It adapts well to mirrorless as a compact manual portrait zoom.