Our local camera store has two of 'em, but the price is a bit higher.
I'm
not in a hurry, so I may wait. I've been scrutinizing that lens for a
while. Nice to talk to someone who has one.


Just remember it's not a "pro" lens, though I suspect a lot or pros
will buy one anyway. My 70-200VR is a lot like your 300mm. It's huge,
but the sharpness at 2.8 is amazing and the bokeh is beautiful. This
was shot with it for that creamy background (and the 18-200vr will not
pull this off of course)...

http://members.aol.com/bobsprit/images/parkbaby2.jpg

But I can't carry that monster of a lens everywhere I go. This angle
makes it look more manageable than it is...

http://members.aol.com/bobsprit/images/aagrip1.jpg

I also ordered a Tamron 90 Macro, which is an amazing portrait lens and
superior to the Nikon versions.
My main reason for the 18-200 was as a lens for the boat. Remember that
a DSLR has a crop factor of 1.5, so the 18-200 actually acts like a
27-300mm. I had a Tokina 12-24 for a while...gave it away, and will
probably buy another.


RB
35s5
NY