Nikon Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Lens

Pros: Very rugged and robust, outstanding optics, Vibration Reduction, VERY FAST Focus!
Cons: High Cost. No aperture ring.

Seven epinions reviewers before me have reviewed this lens and I'd have to say that every one of them has done a fine job of pointing out why serious photographers using Nikon cameras should own this lens. As of this writing, I do not, but I know a ...

Pros: Rugged, sharp at most apertures, extremely fast focus, vibration reduction, internal focus and zoom.
Cons: Slightly prone to flare, soft at f/2.8, expensive, heavy, frustrating lens hood.

Introduction I've been very happy with my slightly older N ikon 80-200mm f/2.8 D ED lens. No AFS focus, no VR, but great build quality and great image quality. I would never sell it to buy some new ...

Pros: VR mode up to 2 f-stops faster, great tripod collar design
Cons: "G" design lens--no f-stop ring, too many switches, poor FX performance

Having owned just about every 80-200 zoom lens that Nikon has made, I was initially skeptical about the electronic wizardry of this new VR lens. But after several weeks, I realized that this lens was more than just the VR mode. The optics are even better ...

Pros: Sharp, fast, precise, sharp and exact. VR actually works. Oh, did I say sharp?
Cons: Very expensive for the amateur photographer

Background The Nikon 70-200 2.8 AF-S VR is the successor of the 80-200 range of Nikkor lenses (all discontinued), but is more of a complete redesign than just a tweaked new version. The new lens is far more complex than the previous designs, ...

Pros: A 100-300mm f2.8G ED-IF VR lens with a D200 or'D' camera body
Cons: This 'G' Series lens will not work on earlier Nikon film camera bodies

I made the purchase of my 70-200mm f2.8G ED-IF VR lens recently after selling off my tried and true manual focus 300mm.f2.8 ED-IF and for the first time in my photography career, I made the move away from a camera bag full of beautifully fast ...

Pros: GREAT Sharpness, FAST focusing,Vibration Reduction, Quality build, good Handling, and Wide aperture
Cons: Heavy, EXPENSIVE, a bit of flare/ghosting in bright lighting

Absolutely the best lens, of any type, that I have used. I have owned over 50 different types of Nikon compatible lenses, from 55mm f1.2 AI lenses, to 24-120 zooms, to 135mm-F2 fixed length primes. This one tops them all. Three things that are critical ...

Pros: Bokeh... Sharpness... Contrast... Did I say sharpness?
Cons: She's a heavy weight

If I could make babies with the 70-200 VR they would come out almost perfect. Having the 70-200 VR is like being a professional. It's ability to shoot in low light is uncanny. The colors, the saturation, and the sharpness are top quality and usually ready for straight to print without any PP. Sure it's huge, and massive... but who cares when you can produce bokeh so good you can slice it like butter!

She goes with me everywhere I go. Even though I can shoot with her all the time she's always on my mind. When she comes out to play she makes everything look good - even when cloudy and gray. My 70-200 VR... you're a star.

Pros: Greate optics, no focuse hunting, with TC - you get 600mm with good aparture.
Cons: A bit heavey - need a strong back and a good backpack ,expensive - oouuch...

This superb lens gives the ability to take daylight pictures from long distances even with poor light. the VR mechanism cancel the hand shake like magic.
with crop factor you'll get a 300mm lens taking picture at dusk with no flash and no tripod.
adding to this a kanko or Nikon converter (I have the TC20II)
gives you 600mm all the way with only 2 f-stops lose.

when it comes to portraits this lens is excellent as well.
although a bit heavy until optic technology will get lighter (somewhere around the year 2400...)this lens will stay in my backpack as a prime lens.