Today Nikon officially announced the 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR Nikkor lens. The ultra-wide range 16.7x zoom provides a one-lens solution for Nikon DX-format DSLR cameras. Vibration Reduction (VR II) provides stabilization for both sharp still photos as well as HD video recording.
The 18-300mm VR features a total of 19 lens elements in 14 groups, with 3 ED glass elements to increase contrast and reduce flare and 3 aspherical elements. The 9-bladed aperture diaphragm stops down to f/22-32 throughout the zoom range. The lens can focus down to 1.48 feet (0.45m) and uses a 77mm filter size. Total lens weight is a reasonable 29.3 oz (830g). The Nikon 18-300mm VR has a retail price of $999.95 and will be available in late June 2012.