Image borrowed from NikonusaWhile I have a Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VR lens that's one of my favorite and most used lenses, that doesn't make me stop thinking that maybe this new VRii version just might be better.
The new lens sports a better Vibration Reduction system allowing better handheld shots up to 4 times slower for shutter speed than a non-VR lens. The older version of this VR lens can do 2 times slower. What this means is that the new lens will theoretically allow you to handhold without camera shake down to about 1/15 second at 200mm.
The theory is that you should be able to handhold any lenses at the reciprical of the focal length of the lens without camera shake. So at 200mm, you should be able to handhold the lens at 1/200 second shutter speed. VR gives two more stops (1/100, 1/50 second) and of course VRii adds two more stops (1/25 and 1/15 second - roughly.)
This is a huge improvement in the theoretical value. While the standard VR is supposed to give 2 times the ability, I have been able to handhold my older VR lens 3 times (down to 1/25 second) consistently. So I wonder, if VRii is capable to 1/15, can I really then do maybe 1/8 second at 200mm??? That would be awesome!
The new lens also improves on edge to edge sharpness and minimizes vignetting issues. A new nano coating on the lens should help make things clearer too when dealing with ghosting and flare. The new lens is slightly heavier than the old one (1540 grams vs 1470 grams) and it is slightly shorter too (8.2 inches vs. 8.5 inches.)
At a suggested retail price of $2399.95, is this lens worth it? The older version of this lens sells around $1899.95 (depending on where you shop.) We shall see. The new lens is expected to be released around November 2009.
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