telnet vs nslookup

My current implementation of dns works fine when resolving using nslookup, pings, or digs. All resolutions are instantaneous. However, if I do a telnet to one of these addresses using the host name, it takes at least 10 - 15 secs. This happens even when I'm on the dns itself! Here is my named.conf file:

// The named.conf file
//
//
// Config file for name server
//
options {
directory "/var/named";
query-source port 53;
};
zone "lab.reno" {
type master;
file "lab.reno";
};
zone "24.172.in-addr.arpa" {
type master;
file "172-24.zone";
};
zone "0.0.127.in-addr.arpa" {
type master;
file "localhost.zone";
};
zone "185.140.in-addr.arpa" {
type master;
file "140-185.zone";
};
//zone "." {
// type hint;
// file "named.ca";


There was another implementation of dns (win2000) that was working fine and could resolve without this delay, so I know the network has no issues.

Could you point me in the right direction?

nslookup and dig queries the server directly.

ping and telnet queries the system, and the system queries the server for an answer.

Since you say ping is instantaneous and telnet isn't, then I find no reason to think it's a DNS related problem. Have you tried telneting to the IP to see if that's fast or slow?