Rumors of a replacement for the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 G VR have been around for a while now.  About a year ago, Graham Watson (the cycling photographer) appeared to have inside details on the updated lens and that it would be announced September 2008.  That came and went with no new lens.

Here we are a year later with this lens probably the hottest replacement desired among many Nikon shooters.  On the Japanese site, Kakaku, a poster who was right on with a Nikon D700 and SB900 leak said the lens is coming and offers up some specs to boot:

• VR II
• Nano coating
• New Auto focus priority and manual focus priority
• Weight 1540g (+70g than Gen. I)
• Length 209mm, slightly shorter than Gen. I
• Closest focus distance 1.4m
• 77mm filter

I wouldn’t expect this lens to be bargain priced; however, I don’t think that it will stop it from flying off the shelves if this info is legit.

[via Nikon Rumors]