7. Summary and Conclusions

This addition to the stabilised stable of Nikkors has been long awaited. Without doubt the wait did deliver an excellent lens with a lot of positive surprises, besides some (likely unavoidable) negative traits. The important point here is that you get a package crammed with optical and technological achievements, which combine to make this lens a highly versatile tool for virtually all photographers. This lens may be expensive but it certainly offers the results you've paid for. Its poor performance for back-lit scenes is a draw-back only if you cannot work around this issue, so provided the photographer is up to the task, the VR lens still delivers. The attractive bokeh will endear the 70-200 VR to its users as well.

Winter Forest
	Put VR capability through its paces for creating your own visions. This feature may expand your image-making potential under low-light situations. Here, in the woods at dusk, I managed to get precisely the image I'd envisioned . (D1H, AFS 70-200 mm VR lens @105 mm f/8, 1/2 sec, VR mode Active)
© Bjørn Rørslett/NN 2003

This lens is slated to become a legendary Nikkor, offering excellent optical performance and a VR system which does its job in a truly professional manner. A pity for Nikon I'm not a candidate buyer of this lens, but Nikon probably isn't too bothered because a host of other people certainly will line up to purchase this lens.

The Long March Towards Revolution: AFS 70-200 mm f/2.8 G ED IF VR Nikkor Reviewed