Just when you thought you can never get what you want it - there's an option and you have to take it in the minute...

Happened to me yesterday when I actually just wanted to by a cleaning towel for my lenes ( Sigma 18-50 f2.8 ) - just for fun I asked the shop here in SF (Discount Cameras) and they had it...

The Nikon AF-S 18-200 lens
with image stabilzer... announced in October 2005 - I am waiting for it since Jan 2006... 8 Months and no delivery...

of course there are some people on ebay that are selling this thing for way over 1000$ - and yet some of them MUST be japanese or couterfeit models...

In any case- I shelled out $1300 yesterday to get my hands IMMEDIATELY on this thing and loved to pay a 20% premium that probably the dealer earned (hehe - not really like the name "discount camera" ...) but hey - I got my US model, 5 yrs US warranty, could INSPECT and TEST-SHOT everything...

And here I am - only 8 months after waiting for this device I travelled San Francisco yesterday and I am AMAZED from this lens , compared to the prev. Tamron 28-300 lens this is SO MUCH faster, SO MUCH clearer... can't believe it... and I tought the Tamrom was already a great lens...