On Tue, 18 Feb 2003 16:49:42 GMT, Michael Benveniste <mhb@clearether.com> wrote:

>On Tue, 18 Feb 2003 06:55:55 GMT, "Tony Spadaro"

><tspadaro@ncmaps.rr.com> wrote:

>>They've been losing so many pros to Canon of late that they finally decided

>>to make something people want. Looks like Nikon might put the end off for a

>>few more months -- if they actually get that lens out the door.

>

>To stay a serious player, Nikon has to upgrade and streamline its line

>of glass. But if the immediate need is to retain pros, why start with

>this one? Why not start with VR versions of the EDIF telephoto primes

>and include an aggressive trade-in promotion?

>

>Alternatively, if they wanted to do a "normal-range" zoom, why not a

>fast professional one, like the 28-70mm or the 35-70?

'Cuz one of the best sellers (and most useful) lenses in

the Canon line in the "mid-range" of quality/market is

the 28-135mm Canon, and MANY pros rarely use long/fast

teles - these are low-volume specialty items (my most

used money-making lens is the 35mm f2 by a wide margin,

and if the 24-120 VR can cover most of its uses and add

the rest of its zoom range, it will become, BY FAR, my

most-used lens - and I'm already planning to buy this

lens...!;-). The 28-70 is too restricted in zoom range,

and is WAY too expensive to be very interesting as an

alternative for most of what I do, though I expect a

VR version to appear by next year...