wow almost brand new......u sure ur camera is fungus free ar???? better check if it has fungal infection or no
well...time to shoot more!

2 try shot with and without VR. try 1/15 see the image blur... shud haf some different when u zoom in via viewfinder

why VR2? for the zoom lock? both are using VR version 2 also.....
the only reasons that i can think of
1) want longer range
2) want better built
3) want better VR (18-105 running on VR 1)

downside of 18-200
1) price
2) weight
3) size)
4) distortion (normal for zoom lens  )

honestly, i find both image quality are pretty decent.....and yes the VR on 18-200 is pretty good, i can shoot 200mm at 1/10 with some practice...ahaha

erh...u shud see ur viewfinder stabilize (like playing as a sniper in games)...else, listen for that VR sound..

zoom to the max and watch ur VR comes into ur VF!

u hav to set the VR to active mode. so that it's working while you're framing

Should be able to hear a high pitch noise the moment you half press the shutter, and when you release can hear a noise when the VR stops.

u will see it stabilize/vibrate(slight) thru ur VF.

i prefer 10-20 for the range...why not tokina 12-24?
nikon 18-105 has that sound during AF...some 'wheeling' sound....

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Added on January 5, 2010, 9:42 am
u suspect ur VR died???

AF-S noise and the VR noise is different. AF-S is much louder than the VR noise.

VR noise only kick in when you do half press on the shutter, just put your ears close to the lens and listen after your lens has already focused.

@Sp00kY

PP of your skies are over saturated

Post Processing...Editing your pict using software on your computer...

nikon software...viewnx?i dun think third party can...not sure though

hoya filter is just like any other brand except there are different quality. cheap one is normal but may cause flaring/reflection. high quality 1 is thinner thus reduce flaring.

sandisk is also like any other brand have different quality. the more expensive ones like 30mbs write faster compare to the 20mbs ones. <--talking about extreme II and Extreme III. if u got cash, get 16gb extreme 30mbs SDHC. it sure serves me well 

quality one. hoya pro1d is thinner than the normal uv filter  good choice of filter

CS3 CS4? 
here my pic spam

well...if think positively...if something that is good enough...it doesnt matter how long the warranty..
if something is crap enough...no matter how long the warranty, it will not be enough...