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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Claudia!" data-source="post: 204467" data-attributes="member: 8139">I sold my nikon 55-200mm a few months back. I was not satisfied with the results. In addition, I technically did not take care of it when I initially started with photography so that affected the results. Part of the reason I sold it was due to the fact that I fell in love with primes and rarely used my zooms. I missed that extra reach. Over the last few months, I have been doing my research. I decided on the nikon 70-300mm 4.5 IF-ED-VR. I finally had the time and $$$ to purchase it. I needed it before saturday so I went to the best buy deep into the center of Houston. They had 3 available, 2 new and one open boxed item. The two new ones where full of dust on the outside as well as particles on the inside. I was astonished because they where suppose to be new. The open box item was even worse but that was expected. I walked out without a lens. I went to my local best buy. My close friend who works there told me one was expected there today. I went in and bought it within 10 mns. I did notice a little bit of dust but nothing major (or so I thought). I cleaned it up when I got home. After cleaning it, I noticed that certain particles would not come off. It seems to be on the inside of the lens. It is about 3 small particles and one small scratch. Maybe a centimeter long. My issue is this, after looking at 3 new lenses, why did all of them have such issues? Is this common with zooms? I use to have these issues with my 55-200 but decided it was how I initially did not take care of it. My friend told me 2 more are expected there over the weekend. I plan to either switch it out or go back to primes. I love love love my primes. Right now I only have the 35 and 50 1.8g and the Tokina 11-16mm 2.8 II. I love all these lenses and don't seem to have these issues. I now truly take care of my lenses. I am shocked at how I treated them at first. Should I just return it for good or accept that all zooms are like this? My other issue is the weight. I have small hands. I planned to get a monopod to deal with the weight. As well, I can exchange the lens for the nikon 85mm 1.8g, which is suppose to be my xmas gift. Either way, I plan to get this lens, with or without a zoom. But I do want a nice zoom for various reasons. I choose the 70-300 because I can use it once I transfer to FX in the next year or so. It is within my price range as well. I just hate settling for such issues on what is supposed to be a new item. What would you do in my shoes?</blockquote>

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