Compact and light weight compared to my 24-70 f/2.8 or 70-200 f/2.8. This makes it a nice all around lens for traveling. I took it to Hawaii and got some nice shots. However, there is vignetting and some distortion that need to be corrected in post processing. The bokeh is not as nice as my 70-200VR. I don´t believe it is a 300mm lens. Photos taken with my 70-200, at 200mm, look identical to this lens at 300mm.

So, if you´re looking for a nice 28-200mm lens that´s light weight and you don´t mind the slow glass, then this is a decent lens.

This is a great lens to have in your bag. This one lens does it all, and I mean all..
From wide to telephoto to Macro...I have never been disappointed.

I´ve been doing a lot of traveling in the last months, always having my Nikon gear with me. This lens has saved me a lot of effort avoiding to carry a few heavy lenses in my bag. On top the picture quality I get with the 28-200 is very good.

When walking around making images, I carry this lens affixed to my D3 with my 17-35/ 2.8 in my bag. These two quality lenses accommodate 99% of my creative vision and capture stunning photographs. The 10x zoom range is indispensable in composition. Quality Nikon optics make this lens a must-have for every photographer.

had this lens for a little while now, so far these are my observations:

it produces remarkable color, all throughout the zoom range.

focus is somewhat slow for $1000 lens, but hardly disappoints for regular shooting needs.

weight might be a concern for some people. this weighs the same as, if not more than, a d300 body.

bokeh delivers nicely beginning around the 70mm range.

somewhat flat images when used at the shortest length.

my concern though is the overall build quality of the lens (it says weather sealed). my unit has begun to develop 2 tiny fungi spots despite being stored with gel silica (not in a drybox though) after a month of non-usage.

i use this with my trusty d5000, and a slightly newer d300 and have been enjoying it.

I have been using Nikon equipment for over 25 years and managed a camera store for some years. I have used and owned several other brands, but have always stuck with Nikon.
I use this fine lens on my D7000 with terrific results. While it´s not the fastest lens in the world, it is extremely sharp and versatile. I find it useful in quite a variety of situations. It is smooth functioning and reliable.
This tends to be the lens I have on my camrea 80% of the time, as I can catch most photos I want with it and only occasionally need to change it out.
Very enthusiastically recommend this lens.

Of course for $1000, one cannot expect the performance of a $6000 professional lens, but for the serious hobbyist or travel photographer, this lens keeps things simple while shooting high quality photographs. In that regard, this lens is a bargain. Last summer, I spent four weeks on a scientific research vessel in the Amazon (constant heat, humidity, rain) and then two weeks in the Andes (bitter cold, dusty) and this lens performed well in all situations. I shot thousands of photos with the 28-300mm on my D300 almost exclusively, and In these difficult environments was most helpful to have only one lens for that very wide range. I now travel with a simple kit of the 28-300 and a close-up lens. Wonderful!

I finally took the thousand dollar plunge. This lens will replace three of my lenses for my D7000. I no longer need the junk 18-105mm kit lens or my super sharp 70-300mm VR. With the VR2 on this lens, I don´t see myself using my 35mm 1.8 dx much any more either. It is super sharp. I am counting eye lashes on my wife and daughter. The only softness I see is at 28mm f/3.5 but that sharpens greatly at 28mm f8. The lens is super sharp from 50mm to 300mm wide open. I rarely need wide for my style of shooting, but if I do my Tokina 11-16mm is available.

Mount the 28-300 mm on your cam, and you are ready for almost every situation.

I have taken astonishing photos at long distance from the town hall tower, indoor action with the swim team, as well as closeup pictures of flowers.

The 300 mm multiplied by 1.5 on my D5000 bring birds and animals extremely close.