@Treckie: I do hear your 100-500mm reach statement. If I took the times i use the 80mm end of my beloved 70-300VR favorite field lens it would be minimal. In fact I use that when I brought or had on a tele when the shot calls for non-tele! I only use the 70-300VR as it is the fastest lens I know that is mobile and the 300mm is pretty good. But I have been places where a 600mm would have been the ticket! Then I just get out the binoculars and play tourist or use the glass to spot. So no argument about having 500mm on board.....but these wrist breaker lens which are very heavy are not what I need in the field. I am in places, say Alaska and get to compare my shots to the 200-400 Nikkor or 500 fixed Nikkor people and they are amazed at what I got by field manuvering and knowing where I am going and animal behavior (and luck sometimes). I sold some of my heavier Nikkor glass as it was not getting used and seemed to be on when the luck wasn't going so good.......What we are stuck with on a budget and shooting in the field is buying the lens, then getting it to the place where the action is.......I have tried the other brands like Tamron, Tokina, Sigma, etc. and my experience there has pushed me into just buying Nikon glass. I have owned some wonderful Zeiss, Rodenstock, Schneider,etc. lens but now I just get Nikons. I can't afford any more expensive experiments

I have played with the current version and thought it was actually really good for such a long lens. How are the Sigma's in that range?

@ DaveyJ The chance of an update is 100%; when thats the real question. I would rather have the reach of the 100-500mm than the 80-400mm.

My previous attempts at light-heartedness aside; Davey J, although it is nothing more than an opinion, I agree wholeheartedly with your written statement. From an engineering standpoint to a marketing strategy, a revised 80-400 w/VRII makes the most common sense for Nikon; there exists a large, loyal (albeit, presently frustrated) audience of believers waiting anxiously to pounce upon any new-updated release of this lens in present mm performance/form. It's such an obvious demand, it's almost shameful it has yet to be addressed by Nikon. Still, my response is simply emotional; its not my marketing strategy nor R & D bucks being put on the table. Yet, as the digital-software enhancement era of photography continues to develop, the consumer, and to a certain degree, pro-sumer market demand appears to be moving rapidly in the direction of prime-like-glass zoom telephotos, and a revised 80-400mmVRII would seem to make an ideal bridging lens between consumer/pro-summer demands. Additionally, the revision suggested would most likely keep the costs of such a new lens within reach of the "bread & butter" consumer market. Let's all hope your assessment is correct. I, like so many others waiting on the sidelines, can only wish!

I would far rather see an excellent 80-400VRII Nikkor than a 100-500. Reason is Nikon has a new patent for one and a rumor that it is eminent. I see no such development on the horizon for a 100-500mmVR Nikkor. @ Treckie I assume you are using the 80-400VR for wildlife?? What do you see as the % chance of Nikon releasing an update to your lens?

Waldo? She was last seen in her kayak drinking crocodile-tear Mojitos in an unsuccessful attempt to use her old 80-400mm as a lure to troll for salmon at the harbor entrance to the Elkhorn Slough...

NikoDoby said:
Waldo is currently shooting with a production version of the 100-500mm. Find Waldo and ask him.

Where is he ? ;-)

nsinha said:

Then where the hell is that lens? Will it be at all released this year?

Waldo is currently shooting with a production version of the 100-500mm. Find Waldo and ask him.

I am glad I did not wait for the 100-500. Instead I picked up the trusty ole 80-400. This will keep me content until they finally get around to releasing an update.

As I "patiently" wait, I must agree with Abhinav's comment, as many of us do. I once posted a satirical comment "I didn't have the gray hair I do now" when the 80-400 was initially introduced. As more modern features and functions of other lenses developed through the years, many of us have waited with baited-breath for the possibilities of an updated version of the lens. Unfortunately, for those of us restrained by price-point and/or other issues--spouses, raising children, economic pragmatics and a host of myriad additional compromising responsibilities, the much anticipated evolution of the 80-400 hasn't come to fruition. As an observer of Nikon Corp through the years, I recognize it's a company stead-fastingly focused on dictating shape and form of the Pro-sumer market rather than responding to the expansive average enthusiast and/or consumer interests within the market. "Responding" appears left to the provence of Sigma, Tokina and other similar manufactures. I understand; R & D is an excruciatingly expensive process for most companies. So why not focus on the pro "core" and ignore the wannabe's?..Hmm, still I wonder; I'm old & gray enough to recall there was once another rather "obscure, little company" that focused, and continues to respond to this day, energetically both to the professional and the average consumer enthusiast needs on the streets. The company appears to recognize responding to consumer wannabe's who may grow eventually into a mature, loyal base and following as a business plan has a future. And, this once rather obscure and little company has developed quite a loyal following through the years; Canon...To Nikon: Isn't something to be learned from all this, or must history repeat itself?

many of us are waiting for 80-400 replacement .I hope they do soon

I want a 10-500MM 1.4! Where is that? Anyone have a time machine, I bet they have them in 2078. ;)

Hi ALL

Everybody expected the Nikon 100-500mm AFS VR (or 80-400mm AFS VR lens) during Photokina. There were so many speculations about this particular lens. Since according to cycle 2010 would be consumer lens year, we all were excited. Even Thom Hogan has mentioned - "A 80-400mm f/4-5.6 replacment, but it'll be a bit differently specified than 80-400mm f/4-5.6 AF-S VR. There have been rumors of 100-500mm, and that may be it, but what Nikon is shooting for here is the highest end of the consumer zoom. The replacement, I'm told, will be far better than the original.".

Then where the hell is that lens? Will it be at all released this year?

Please update with any new info if you have.

Thanks