[mst]

I don't understand why Nikon also uses reversed zoom and focus rings on this high level (according to specifications, constructions, and price etc). My impression was that reversed zoom and focus rings are only used on (more or less) consumer-level lenses by Nikon. On the other hand I don't get at all why they should be revsersed on some lenses.

When shooting with such a large and heavy lens, you need both hands to hold your equipment. To get best stability, your left hand wants to be as close to the front of the lens as possible. At the same time, that hand is the one you'll use for zooming, so having zoom and focus ring the way they are now on the 80-400 VR II makes perfect sense to me.

I never understood why Nikon chose a different route on the 200-400 VR. In fact, the placement of those two rings is one of the very few issues that successfully keeps me from buying that lens.

-- Markus