I got the new AFS 28-300/f3.5-5.6G ED VR for a couple of weeks. Though I used it for the first time today when my son took us to Shek O in his new car. Most of the photos were taken at the tele end and at around f5.6. The lens is much lighter than, says, the AFS 70-200/f2.8 but the zoom ring is somewhat less smooth. Nevertheless my first impression is satisfactory. Its about the same as the other new Nikkor lens, AFS 24-120 in look and handfeel.