New patent from Nikon (55-300 f:2.8-4)

With 5 ED elements it's definitely not going to be a cheap lens. The MSRP might well be on-par with 70-200/2.8 VR2 at US$2399, if not more. I take that as a good news, as generally the more ED glass the lens have, the better the IQ.

It might well be the AF-S 80-400 folks have been waiting for. Put a 1.4X TC on it and the lens becomes a 80-420 f/4-5.6 in an instant. Seems a better choice than a 80-400 as you cannot 'reverse TC' the 80-400 into a big aperture lens.

It might double as both a wedding lens and a wlidlife lens. Think of a family & friends wedding on any Pacific Island. You would be shooting a wedding and the next day shooting birds and surfers, all with one 55-300 f/2.8-4. No need to drag both the 70-200/2.8 and a future AF-S 80-400.

Seems like an attempt to out-do Canon's highly acclaimed 70-300 f/4-5.6L that sells for $1500.

Sounds too good to be true however.

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D800E
Nikon Zooms: 16-35/4, 24-70/2.8, 70-200 VR2, TC-20E3, 28-300VR.
Nikon Primes: 24/1.4G, 50/1.8G, 85/1.8G.