On Mon, 17 Mar 2003 22:57:53 GMT, "Xelbon" <fuged@bout.it> wrote:

>The first version was the one-touch zoom, and it was a nice piece of glass,

>but slow focusing.

>

>The middle version is a 2-ring model with a tripod color. An excellent lens,

>except for minor vignetting wide open, and very slight softness when

>shooting wide open at 200mm at minimum focus (all three conditions taken

>together).

>

>The third model is larger and heavier, uses AF-S for faster focusing, and is

>optically a little better than the previous two, but it's hardly noticeable.

>This is also a 2-ring zoom with a tripod color.

>

>I prefer the middle version, since it focuses fast enough for me, and is

>lighter and smaller than the AF-S version. It's also a lot cheaper.

I think optically the 1st (single focus/zoom ring)

is the same as the 2nd (separate focus and zoom rings),

though the 2nd is easier to use on a tripod, or hand-held

for manual-focus (both are equal for hand-holding with

AF...).