heartyfisher said:
gentoo I dont think that is correct. The old 18-200 was a vr2 lens so anything after that would probably have been vr2 as well?

I am also certain the 16-85 and the 105 macro are also VR2

You're probably right. I wasn't too sure about this.

gentoo I dont think that is correct. The old 18-200 was a vr2 lens so anything after that would probably have been vr2 as well?

I am also certain the 16-85 and the 105 macro are also VR2

Thanks for everyones input! i am just now waiting for the spare 700 dollars and ill try to get the best deal on trading it in. Or just selling it on ebay for 1650 and come back and buy the VRII. I doubt it will happen this next year though

Most of the VR lenses are VR1. VRII is only a recent upgrade in the VR technology. There are two VR version of the 300 2.8, a 1 and a 2.

The 70-300 might be VR1. The 18-55 and 55-200 VR may be VR1 too, not surprisingly, since they're the lowest on the rung.

If money isn't an issue than do it.

thanks for the info adamz.. good to know that it has improved. I thought both were VRII. Does any one know how many VR1 lenses there are? I only know for sure that the 80-400 is VR1

hearty - I was testing the new one, side-by-side to my old one, and can confirm that it's app 1 stop better than the old one. as for being this useful, well... it all depends on subjects You are shooting. If You wanna benefit from it in sports, than it's not a big deal for You as instead of lens blur You will have movement blur. If You however shooting landscapes or still subjects than it's a nice upgrade.

I am sceptical about one more stop of vr.. I think they are just as good as each other in that respect. Agree with the corners and vignette being better..

ah yes I forgot to mention the lens as a superb portrait lens your bang on there smarterchild!

The VRII is amazing.... As it Turns out, the VR I is amazing as well.

For the extra $'s, you will get two things:

1. Less vingeting and sharper corners
2. Another Stop of Hand held VR goodness.

Item 1. matters if you care about such things, and then it only matters on FX.

Item 2. matters if you do a lot of hand held work at slow shutter speeds. Shooting sports? Who cares... you can't shoot sports at 1/8th anyway (unless its a very boaring sport).

As for your focus issues, it could just as easily be your D90. Try and borrow a D300 or some other model that lets you tweak the auto-focus and see if you still have the problem with your 70-200. If that's the case, I believe you can have Nikon callibrate your camera or lens.

If you have the money, go ahead and grab the VRII... Its loads of fun.

Smarterchild......I have both the VR-I and VR-II. I didn't have any serious issues with the Old VR-I, and definitely haven't had any with the New VR-II on either my D300s or my D3s. This lens works fantastic on both bodies, it is tack sharp, fast, and has no issues I can find what-so-ever. The close focus problem that was in such debate earlier is minor, if that, and is easilly worked around. If you look at the pictures I have posted in the animal thread in the past month or so are all with the new VR-II.

So in summation, I say go for it, you won't be disappointed at all.

You do get vignetting with this lens and a D3. Not sure if you've seen this review.

http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/nikon_70-200_2p8_vr_n15/page5.asp

Adamz- i notice alot of vingetting on my d3. I personally don't know if its alot or anything but i find it not a problem in my lens but just a problem with it as a whole. I am going to look into the AF on it but im still wondering if it would be smart to get rid of it and replace it with the new 70-200 while mine still holds value, and then id have a new lens for the next decade

smart - You have problems with vignietting on which body? on FF it might be visible but there's none vignietting on dx, at least in my case. as for AF problems, either You gonna sell it or keep it You should send it to Nikon for adjustments, as You shouldn't have any problems with AF on this lens, once again I don't have any problems with my at least.

I really love using that lens for Portraits. esp on my F5.

ill have to try that out in daylight. Im going though photography block right now since its been nothing but freezing outside lately.

Interesting I have heard the issues about vignation with the old 70-200 but my sample doesn't seem to have any problems therefore,I have no interest in the new VRII. After buying the Magic Lantern guide for my D700 I was very worried (old 70-200 gets bashed). I agree with monty11 try some really high shutter speeds at 2.8 because remember this was a lens for action (sports) not so much a landscape lens.

Ill have to try that. But I'm planning on keeping my lenses for years to come. I'm still wondering if itd be smart to sell my 70-200 now for about 1650. And get the new 70-200 for 700 more

I can't really speak for the difference of the lenses as I've used the 70-200 on rare occasions (when I borrow it from a friend). I just enquired if you had tested the lens sharpness in excellent lighting conditions where the shutter speeds are very fast. If you still get blurry shots then just have the lens calibrated.
I'm pretty sure comparisons will or perhaps already have popped up on the net. Perhaps you can get some info from those. Keep an eye on photozone.de and dpreview.

The ONLY camera of mine that i will use 2.8 with it would be my F5. I havn't tested it out outside of shooting high school basketball on my d3 which i just recently got about 2 weeks ago. Which that turned out pretty decent. Ive always felt like my 70-200 is a bit slower then all the rest

A great way to test it is to take it outside with really bright weather and get some shots from a tripod at 1/500 or faster shutter speeds and at the camera's native ISO.
I don't think that there are many (if any) lenses that you can use wide open and achieve its full potential.

With the new 70-200 out and there seems that the problems of the lens have been figured out. I am wondering if it would be a smart idea for the long run by trading in my Fairly new 70-200 2.8 VRI for the VRII. I think about this because i just recently bought the lens about 4 months before the actual release of the lens. I am curious how much better the new one is compared to the older version. I do notice at 2.8 mine Vignettes a lot and i find my self having to shoot at F/4. Also previously on my d90. I always have thought my lens had a focusing problem. I always ended up with blurry shots. RARELY sharp.