hi guys
thanks for all your work on the podcast. FYI on the new Nikon 18-200 VRII G DX lens -- one important piece of info you missed on the lens is that it is the first VR series II lens -- with improved VR compared to earlier first generation Nikon VR lenses. Nikon claims it can be handheld two stops lower than the earlier gen VR lenses -- I believe they are right - I shot with our Nikon rep's demo lens for about an hour, and got sharp shots at ISO400 handholding it indoors at 200mm (300mm effective focal length) at 1/8th sec!! Very impressive lens. For an 11X + zoom, it has negligible barrel distortion at 18mm. I shot the outside of our store building (brick) and there was very little curvature over the longer dimension - less than a brick's height of change (i know this is not very scientific testing!!) over the length at 18mm and I was about 30 feet back from the brick wall. Very sharp, very compact lens. Great idea for DSLR also to reduce chance of dirt/dust on CCD by less/no changing of lens.
Bob Laubach
Manassas, VA US