would you mind pm'ing me how much you paid for the lens you have now? i've found a lens i feel is a decent price and i'd like to share with you

You can find them used at times on www.nikoncafe.com. You have to have at least 25 posts to see the for sale forum though. I would also email B&H. They are pretty good at contacting people when items are in stock. They have it for $1629, which is a decent price. All this being said, aside from the VR, the lens isn't all that much better than the 80-200 AF-S.

Wow, I'd say. That's a good price now, let alone four years ago.

That's the best way of thinking. The pictures you'll get now aren't worth trading to wait around for something new.

Good idea to wait for a VR lens, check fredmiranda.com if you haven't been. If I see one I'll let you know. I've used both the 70-200VR and 80-200 AF-S and they're both killer lenses, but once you have the VR on the long end it's hard to go back. I also really miss the extra 10mm on the wide end when I use the 80-200. Can't really lose with either though :)

Ah... thank god you chimed in... I can ask you about the lens now, do you really think the VR is worth it? Or just get the 80-200 AFS? I already have the money for the 70-200VR so its not like I'm still in the saving up process, I just loved VR with my 18-200 and thouhght that for a little extra money I might as well have gotten the top of the line lens. I've heard the optics are pretty much the same for the 2, but the 70-200VR was just a little better.

yep thats my major reasoning behind getting VR, I've had it before, I love it, and I know how well it does in low light conditions. Nothing can beat that in my opinion. I'll be shooting a wedding in November, and I know that it will be a low light situation. VR plus an f/2.8= :)

If you have had a lens with VR, then you know it doesn't help stopping action with slower shutter speeds. However, it will allow you to shoot at say, 1/60th of a second at 200mm hand held. Whereas with the 80-200, your shots may be soft due to hand shake at the same shutter speed. Today for instance, I loved having the VR. I was shooting an indoor dog show and I needed to take "title shots" with the handlers, dogs, judges, ribbons, etc. The light was poor and in order to get good DOF, I needed to shoot slower shutter speeds. The VR was very handy in that situation.

However, when light is good, and you are shooting at say 1/500th or faster, VR really doesn't do too much IMO unless your hands shake like crazy. One other thing, IMO, the 80-200 feels better in the hands. The barrel is the same diameter the length of the lens and just feels better. If you want the "best", then definitely go for the 70-200. It won't disappoint you.

thanks for the words of advice and we'll see how things play out when I decide on a lens. Either way thanks for the help Rich.

Chris

Wow that sucks to here that your 70-200 is messed up. I love mine so much, one of my all time used lenses. Better be for the price I paid for it. Must of got broke during shipping. Its a pretty tough lens. Mine rolled off my bed onto a carpeted floor and was so happy that nothing happened.

Good luck with getting a new one.

I have a 55 - 200 VR If you REALLY Need a Lens for this weekend...I'd let you borrow it. I dunno when you need it by or if its to late.

thanks,
yeah I have a feeling it was shipping or something else. I'm not really looking to spread rumors so I won't say what the other cause may have been, but if its true, then there isn't much I can do about it now.

thanks man, but I should be ok. I'm just going to wait another weekend.

Chris

Lol, Hey just trying to help out a fellow Nikon Guy.

No thats cool I really appreciate the offer

hey chris i didnt get a chance to go to my local camera store today so thats my fault. i'll stop in or give a call tomorrow while im pacing around waiting for my lens to come

no worries man, thanks for the help and the offer to even do it. I really appreciate it.

no doubt. i'll let you know tomorrow what i find out

Thanks

yo the store right by my house has one but the price is a bit higher than you just paid.