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Nikon announced the replacement for the popular 80 - 400 lens with an updated version, now listed as the AF-S NIKKOR 80-400MM F/4.5-5.6G ED VR LENS

While this may prove to be a great lens and an opportunity improve one's glass, I believe that the price is likely to chase many enthusiasts away. Just shy of $2,700.00, it is a huge jump on the previous model used my many amateur wildlife photographers.

Have a look at these links for more insight:
http://photographylife.com/nikon-80-400mm-f4-5-5-6g-vs-80-400mm-f4-5-5-6d
http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/03/05/Nikon-launches-AF-S-Nikkor-80-400mm-4p5-5p6G-ED-VR-telezoom

An update very much needed! More expensive yes but probably worth it. I would never have considered the old version mainly because of the slow AF en glass of a lesser quality than most other wildlife lenses. With those two things adapted I think the new lens has become very attractive. Good move by Nikon.

Wonder how this new 80-400mm is going to compare to the much loved 100-400mm Canon equivalent. Both lenses need updating, the 100-400mm has been around close to 15 years.

It looks like this lens will be a massive improvement from the previous one.

Perhaps this means an updated 100-400mm?

The price is rather worrying, coming in at $2700 and therefore probably coming in at around the R25-27 000 bracket

Hi Timbo

I have no doubt that this lens will have to be a HUGE IMPROVEMENT of the lens it replaces. There are, at least for me, a number of concerns and it also brings a number of dilemmas.

Firstly, the MTF graphs indicate that this lens will be superior in terms of sharpness across the range - that is good; Secondly, the VR has been improved, so hand-held will probably be much better; it will still work (how well, nobody yet knows) with a 1.4x extender on the newer Nikon bodies, giving a reach of up to 560mm on FX and equilavent of 840mm on DX bodies;

The downside for me will be the price and I believe that your estimate of R25k - R27k is a bit optimistic if bought here in SA ..... I think you can expect R30k+

But here is the dilema .... What, if any, would be the improvement of this lens over a 70-200mm f2.8 with the associated 1.4x, 1.7x and 2.0x converters attached. Changing converters may be inconvenient, but you do gain the benefit of having a similar reach with a lens that has a fixed, and not variable aperture ...... and that is a huge benefit when dealing with the isolation of a subject in portraiture, AND you can save a chunk of change in the process.....

Personally, for an outlay of R30,000 for a lens, there are a number of other options that provide for a better solution, at least on paper for the moment.....

As suspected, this lens is available on pre-order from Orms at R36,995.00

The lens price needs to be lowered, that price is to high for the lens and for the customers who are going to be buying that lens