Hi Wild Wally(??!!),

I've had the 80-400VR for over a year now and it has performed very well.
To get the best out of the lens you have to use it properly - no VR on the
tripod etc.  This lens is very sharp and though focussing can be a little
slow you are still able to achieve very good results.  I've even
professionally shot motorsports with the thing (much to the amusement of
everone else with Canon gear of course - they weren't laughing when they saw
the results).  Despite being a slowish lens (5.6 at 400) it is superb value.

Mine has just come back from about 2 months all over Asia where it performed
flawlessly in a wide range of conditions.  Of course you do have to lug the
thing around (along with your other glass) - it is not light, but for a 400
there are no complaints.

I purchased a new collar for it from Kirk photo
(http://www.kirkphoto.com/lenscollars.html).  The standard collar is not
good at all but for about USD150 you get a wonderful device that transforms
the lens when used with a tripod.

When travelling, I love to find a spot with a good view - perhaps early in
the morning as people are setting up a market etc. and 'snipe' away.  Last
week I was in Ca Mau (very south of Vietnam) with the 80-400 doing just
that - got some remarkable shots of people in their incredible environment.

So have a look at the lens - it is a very good performer if you take the
time to get to know it.  All the reviews say the same thing about the
collar - the standard one is not very good but for hand-holding, the VR
really works and you'll be taking stuff you never thought possible.

All the best and cheers,
Dave (Sydney)
P.S. I think a mate of mine may be having to sell his if you're interested.
It's almost new and a very reluctant sale (Sydney).

I love mine.  My GF and I have been shooting kitesurfing pix with it
(amongst many other things) on my D70 and it's fabbo!  The VR is
awesome for handheld stuff.....if you've got a steady enough hand, you
can get perfectly clear shots at full zoom right down to 1/60th.
MrBonk
www.mrbonk.com

What body are you using it on?

The autofocus is *SS--LL--OO--OO--OO--OO--WW* on a D70. It's just slow on a
F5.

What is your planned purpose?

Lots of people love 'em, lots of people hate 'em.

I like it a lot. It's very sharp and the VR works well (especially for a
bloke like me with less steady hands). For the focal length it's fairly
light and compact.

Focusing is slow. On a F80 and D100 I often found myself switching to manual
mode. With the D2H the focusing is obviously much better - good enough to
catch ducks in flight.

http://www.nikonians-images.com/galleries/showphoto.php?photo=9548&size=big&pass
word=&sort=1&cat=3106

I hate it personally.

Given that it drops down to 80mm, it has nothing on the Sigma 170-500.

I bought the 80-400 to replace the 170-500 which had an AF issue and a
Sticky Iris I thought I'd get a good lense. I was pretty dissapointed with
the waste of 3 Grand. I spent several hundred bucks and got the Sigma
repaired. It looks like I am the exeption to the rule listening to the
others here. I can get a 1/200 sharper with the Sigma at 400mm than I could
with the 80-400 at 1/500th sec at 400mm.

However. at 300mm below, the lense is  adequate verging on extremely good.
This is of course using it on a D100. I will look at trying it on a flm
camera soon though.

I used to have one before I purchased an AF-S 200-400 f4 and it was a pile
of crap.  Sloooooooooooow focus and not real sharp.  My opinion anyway...

Cameron