I bought the 70-200 (VR1) to use on DX and I like it. The wider end gives you 100 - 135mm equivalent which is good for portraits and the long end gives a decent reach so i'm happy with the range. Wider aperture definitely helps the speed and reliability of autofocus. I'm sure the VR 2 is sharper edge to edge for FX shooters but the VR1 was a top pro lens for several years and DX uses only the centre of it's frame where it is at it's best. Pro lenses are tough - take time to find a mint / used example owned by an enthusiast amateur and you could save enough for another lens, this will give you much better value for money than changing to a D7000.
Good hunting !

Go for a used 70-200 VR I -- just as good minus nano coating and the other real upgrade was that the VR in ver II is better from moving platform shooting (i.e. Car/plane/boat).

Do that and you can probably get both.

I Think I am going to go with the 70-200 first! Thanks for everything!

The 70-200mm f/2.8VRII is a superb lens...if you want it. The equivalent of 300mm and with a TC-14EII, 420mm...you have your telephoto, for sure.

Thomas279- Save anyway your change a buck here 5 bucks there and before you know it you got a bucket full.
Thomas279 way to go 2 jobs. keep it up.

I would go for the lens. Both bodies are due for updates. Might have some more news on those updates by the time you get the body then. Plus not sure the D7000 is a huge upgrade picture quality wise...just feature wise.

I have tried the 70-200 on my D5100 twice now i really liked how sharp the images were and the auto focus was quite fast in my opinion. It was also pretty light weight compared to some of the telephoto lenses ive tried before. I tried my aunts D7000 and I loved the speed (6fps) upgrade from my D5100, I really need a weather sealed body, the 2 sd cards is a bonus, the build in auto focus meter so I can use older lenses, and I liked the feel to it.

Oh and im 15 years old with 2 part time jobs so D800 might be a bit extreme for me right now but if you truly recommend it I will save :P

personally i find the 70-200 to be a bit of an awkward range for the dx format. on fx its nice especially if you're at an event, but if you're on dx, its to narrow(imo) most of the time.
also, the jump from d5100 to d7000 isn't so great, the only advantage is commander mode, dual card slots, dual command dials. dynamic range isn't so different and the sensor has similiar iso performance.

if i had to choose between the two (had a d5000, slightly similiar, i eventually upgraded to the d800) i would rather get the glass since it is pretty good

try using them both first to see whether its actually what you need, or for that matter, post what the two items would enable you to do individually here.

I currently own a D5100 with a 35mm f1.8 and an 18-105 f3.5-5.6, I am not sure if I want to buy a D7000 or a 70-200 f2.8 vrii FIRST. Within the next 8 months I will be getting both anyway but im not sure which one to get first.
Any advice?