The unicorn exists!

[Kayaker72]

If they had pushed past 400 that would have been icing on the cake, but I think this lens will make a lot of people very happy.

Exactly.

It really does look like a great lens, perhaps one of the better ones. I was going over it again this morning and there seems to be improvement across the board. Better contrast, bokeh (using the theory that the closer the meridional and sagittal lines are, the better the bokeh), and very even corner to corner sharpness. Combine that with 4-stop IS, assumed better AF, etc. This looks like a great lens.

The only reason I haven't preordered this, as I am looking for something in the telephoto/super telephoto range, is that with the 1.4TC, the 30 mm line @ 560 mm f/8 drops to ~85%. At f/11, it is astounding (~96%). So, somewhere between f/8 and f/11 even with the 1.4 TC this lens goes from good to a very good option even at 560 mm. EDIT: I spent a little time looking at other lenses with MTF ~85%. This actually includes most of the Big Whites with 2x TC.

That may be enough for me. I am fence sitting. A few good reviews may push me over the edge.

Well, I guess there is also the cost factor as I would also need to buy a 1.4xTC (I own the 2x).