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Message: <blockquote data-quote="RJM" data-source="post: 1675360" data-attributes="member: 66340">That's strange as most bench tests of the 18-55mm VR show it to be one of Nikon's sharpest lenses and a great value. Same for the 70-300mm VR. Also, the D300 will automatically compensate for lens distortions and chromatic aberation, unlike your old D50, so sometimes lesser lenses get new lives. I know that was certainly the case with my 18-200 VR on the D90. Nikon is rumored to release several new lenses in Spring including a 100-500mm zoom so it may be prudent to wait and see since you have until Summer. Can't fault anyone for buying pro-level glass and the 70-200mm is known to be a pro workhorse lens for portraits and indoor sports. Certainly tempting too since with the release of the new VRII version the old lens is being dumped for a song, ~$1300 here in Japan. But for me, its size/weight is alot more than I want to lug around in outdoor nature while still having to shoot at F8 anyway to minimize its corner softness for stunning Yellowstone landscapes. Plus Nikon has fast/sharper primes within the 70-200mm focal range that are cheaper and are less of handful. cheers,Rick</blockquote>