Nikon 70-200 VR - Release date?

[ken_canning1]

Anyone heard a release date for the long-awaited Nikkor 70-200 VR ? I

noticed in the B&H and Adorama web sites that only the "grey" 80-200

AFS lens is listed, perhaps a sign?

[cliff_lesergent]

The last announcement from Nikon was a release date of April 1, 2003 (April Fool's Day...?)

[angel_o.]

In Germany, a first version is supposed to be available in March 2003 (http://www.nikon.de/html/aktuelle.html). I guess, the U.S. version is not going to be delivered much later (probably earlier, but that's just a guess).

[rick_falck]

Makes sense. They probably figure that if passes the scrutiny of those pesky Germans, that the wacky warranty obsessed Americans will accept it ;)

[alex_lofquist]

Now you will have something on which to spend your income tax refund!

 

Alex

[neil_lupin]

its certainly on sale in the UK, but at, I think, £1200, it'll probably be worth waiting for April in the States...

[michael_cunningham3]

Greetings,

 

The Nikon 70-200 VR landed on U.S. camera store shelves at the end of the first week of March. Unlike the release of the F5, when each store received only 1, shipments were fairly generous, with 4 or more to each store. I liked the extra stability of the 80-400 VR, so I traded in my trusty 80-200 f2.8D, and acquired the 70-200 VR on 3/11/2003. Street prices are $1799-$1899.

 

The lens seems pro quality, despite the "G" designation. Similar to the 80-400, the 70-200 provides about 2 extra stops...which is great for indoor shooting without a flash. It also is nice to have AF-S and VR in the same lens. I expect that Nikon will eventually add VR to most of its longer AF-S lenses.

 

Mike