[joachim]

Interesting... intended as an answer to the EF-S 18-135 IS maybe?

 

Anyway, the pricing makes it clear that this is not an update to the 18-105 VR, but a new product, which will most likely exist next to the entry-level offerings: $599 in the US, 619 EUR in Germany.

 

-- Markus

 

It was suggested that this would be the kit lens for a soon to be released Nikon APS-C body.  I just struggle to see what is needed.  They just (on a Nikon time scale) upgraded the 5 and 7 model and with the D7100 having moved up in general quality from the D7000 I don't see a D300 sucessor and I doubt that would be a lens for it.