my luv - Bunda - B.O.K.E.H 5

I love this lens. If you have $1,700 then this is most likely the best telephoto zoom ever made by Nikon at any price.

The only reason not to get this lens is the price, size and weight, all of which are to professional standards. You can get the same superb optical performance in lenses that cost much less, but they won't have VR, or they'll require moving a switch to get to manual focus, or they won't zoom, or they won't autofocus.

This 70-200mm f/2.8 VR (or the 80-200mm AF - D) is one of the two lenses used by most professional photographers every day. The other lens is usually a wide zoom on a second body.

The premium you're paying over other 80-200 f/2.8 Nikkors is for speed, ease of use, slightly smaller size and vibration (hand-shake) reduction; not sharpness or optical quality.

If you're contemplating getting this lens, just get it. If you're more familiar with the plasticy $500 - 1,500 VR lenses like the 18-200mm VR, 70-300mm VR, 24-120mm VR or the 80-400mm VR, then you've in for a pleasant surprise. The mechanical quality of the 70-200mm VR is several steps above any sub-$1,500 lens. It's completely metal, completely solid, and a pinnacle of professional durability, optical quality and precision.

For half the price the Nikon 80-200mm AF-D offers the same great optical quality. DO NOT be tempted by used 80-200 lenses or the discount-brand lenses, since a brand new, latest model Nikon 80-200mm AF-D can be had for the same price as used lenses or junky non-Nikon brands.

The 70-200 VR is a little lighter than my $1,500 80-200mm AF-S.

It is the most expensive AF telephoto zoom ever from Nikon. (OK, the new 200-400mm announced in September 2003 is $8,000.) If you can live without VR, as we have for 30 years of these lenses, you can get the same optical quality in the 80-200mm AF-D.

kenrockwell.com