D L X From United States of America, joined May 1999, 10569 posts, RR: 53 Posted (6 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 6640 times:
... and are you getting one?
I heard some good reports about it early, but now it seems the news well has dried up. At $530, I don't expect it to be a barnburner lens, but maybe I'll be surprised. Or, maybe I should save a little more and get the 18-200 VR? What are your thoughts?
JeffM From United States of America, joined May 2005, 3266 posts, RR: 53 Reply 2, posted (6 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 6610 times:
Quoting Viv (Reply 1): Here is a shot taken with it.
Viv, how's that lens' IQ and sharpness? Has it got lots of CA? I haven't heard really good things about Sigma's 18-200 lens, so I don't know how Nikon are with that super zoom.
D L X From United States of America, joined May 1999, 10569 posts, RR: 53 Reply 4, posted (6 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 6596 times:
D L X From United States of America, joined May 1999, 10569 posts, RR: 53 Reply 6, posted (6 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 6589 times:
Avsfan From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 250 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (6 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 6562 times:
Quoting Viv (Reply 1): It's out in the U.S. I have not tried it.
If this quote refers to the Nikon 70-300mm VR lens, then you are wrong. The lens was suppose to be available in the US back in Nov, but the release has been delayed until some time around mid Dec. You can pre-order the lens from online camera stores, but will have to wait until it is shipped from the manufacturer, which could be delayed even further.
Nice shot though with the 70-200mm f2.8 VR. I am going to save a little money and get a Sigma APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG / HSM lens.
Louis
"Oh I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth...Put out my hand and touched the face of God"
D L X From United States of America, joined May 1999, 10569 posts, RR: 53 Reply 9, posted (6 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 6561 times:
Quoting Avsfan (Reply 8): Nice shot though with the 70-200mm f2.8 VR. I am going to save a little money and get a Sigma APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG / HSM lens.
Alibo5NGN From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 772 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (6 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 6555 times:
I would start with the 18-200 VR and then add the 70-300 VR later. For some reason, the 18-200 VR is still almost 2/3's more expensive than the new and as yet unavailable 70-300 VR.
Quoting Aero145 (Reply 3): I haven't heard really good things about Sigma's 18-200 lens
The quality of my shots with my new Nikon 18-200mm VR lens has improved exponentially. The difference between my old Sigma 28-200mm and the new Nikon (Nikkor) lens is night and day. I wish I had bought the Nikons earlier. I took so many superb shots this year only for the Sigma lens to do them in.
Quoting Avsfan (Reply 8): The lens was suppose to be available in the US back in Nov, but the release has been delayed until some time around mid Dec
Ken.
It takes knowledge to make a career. It takes wisdom to live a life.
UALDUDE From United States of America, joined Oct 2000, 167 posts, RR: 3 Reply 12, posted (6 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days ago) and read 6533 times:
I have the Nikon 70-300mm VR on order and it will ship sometime in the next few weeks, hopefully. I also have the Nikon 18-200mm VR and it is awesome. Very sharp, the silent wave autofocus if really fast and very smooth and quiet. Great lens. I am hoping the 70-300mm VR will be as good. It has several of the same qualities, silent wave autofocus, VR II, and updated glass to work with digital cameras better. I notice with my 80-400mm VR, I do get some flaring once in a while.
CalgaryBill From Canada, joined May 2006, 686 posts, RR: 6 Reply 14, posted (6 years 6 months 2 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 6445 times:
Quoting Avsfan (Reply 8): The lens was suppose to be available in the US back in Nov, but the release has been delayed until some time around mid Dec.
If the D2x, D200 or 18-200 are any indication, the 70-300 will be "available" this month but nobody will actually be able to get one until next March! Nikon has been doing a terrible job of pre-stocking for product rollouts.
If anyone wants to see some unscientific test shots, including some 100% callouts, go to the nikonians.org discussion forum and look in the Nikkor Lenses sub group. I'd post a link but not sure if it violates A.net rules.
D L X From United States of America, joined May 1999, 10569 posts, RR: 53 Reply 16, posted (6 years 6 months 1 week 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 6360 times:
D L X From United States of America, joined May 1999, 10569 posts, RR: 53 Reply 18, posted (6 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 6307 times:
Apparently, it has now arrived in people's hands. I'm still looking for an online review before I buy it. While early reports suggested that it would be a breakthrough lens in its price range, I'm beginning to think otherwise.
D L X From United States of America, joined May 1999, 10569 posts, RR: 53 Reply 20, posted (6 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 6294 times:
I had read some other photographers (on dpreview.com) talk about how the MTF charts Nikon had published made this lens appear to be very sharp, and had declared that when it comes out, it will be the best prosumer lens in the mm range. But now, I've seen a couple sample photos, and i'm not overwhelmed. Although, without having the lens in my own hands, who knows. Maybe those shots weren't taken with an eye for maximum sharpness, as is the case when trying to upload to a.net.
I had also heard that the VR isn't enough to allow good low-light photography because the max aperture is still f/4.5.
Basically, I'm going to wait until my local camera shop has one, and test it on my equipment.
Clickhappy From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 9460 posts, RR: 72 Reply 21, posted (6 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 6287 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW PHOTO SCREENER
Well, you can't get something for nothing. At $550 a copy something has to give, in this case the max ap. If low light shooting is your concern then the 70-300mm VR shouldn't even be an option. Save your pennies for a 70-200 f/2.8 VR.
The whole sharpness thing is a load of crap, too. You are on the right track by waiting to get your hands on one, but it will take more than 5 minutes in a camera store to know if you are going to like it.
Buy from a local store who will allow you to return or exchange it if you are not happy.
If I was in the market for such a lens (I'm not) I would take a flyer on it for $550. If I didn't like it I would blow it out on eBay. Of course, if you aren't on a waiting lsit you will be waiting a while, and the used ones will be selling for a premium.
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined May 1999, 10569 posts, 
From Ireland, joined May 2005, 3109 posts, 
From Iceland, joined Jan 2005, 3071 posts, 
From Austria, joined May 2005, 85 posts, 
From Canada, joined May 2006, 686 posts, 
From Netherlands, joined Mar 2005, 3779 posts, 
From Germany, joined Jun 2006, 49 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
