OK, here goes...! ;-) Contrary to the almost universal praise
I've heard for this new Nikkor, I think it is mediocre, at best...
I have tried three samples of this lens, and I was not satisfied with
any (anyone want a well-aligned sample, LN, $350 plus $5 shipping?;-).
The first two samples were clearly out of alignment (opposite sides
of the frame had a different focus with the same subject at a constant
distance - mostly evident at the short end of the zoom range). The
third was well-aligned (and also stayed in focus with zooming). At
some FL's overall sharpness was not particularly good with any of the
samples. Edges and corners throughout with all the samples were not
good at the "widest" stops. Even the so-so AF 70-210mm f4-5.6 appears
to be better than this lens. The early AF 70-210mm f4 (constant) and
the optically-identical "E" version are much better. I prefer the older
75-300mm f4.5-5.6, or the 100-300mm f5.6 (quite a fine zoom...)
to this new lens. I was going to write up a detailed review of the
70-300mm, but performance was so disappointing that I will not
bother... An 80-200mm f2.8 Nikkor on a TC14C is much more than subtly
better, so, though it is much heavier and larger (and a stop faster
at the long end...), I will continue to use that for my near-300mm
work (I also have a fine AIS 300mm f2.8 to sell, but that's quite
another story...;-). Ah, I guess the "Canonization" of Nikon
continues...;-) Nikon has apparently learned from Canon how to
reap short-term economic gain by offering so-so optics with
interesting specs at attractive prices - but in the long run,
its image (and perhaps user loyalty, for what that's worth...)
suffers (one can trade on one's good reputation and name for a
while, but reality eventually revalues them...). (One may guess
that I wanted to like the 70-300mm...;-)