The second ... for the second attempt

The purchase of this lens has a history:
At first I had ordered my model without OS -I call it here HSM, of which I was very excited basically, I admit also because of the price, but I lacked the stabilizer.
So therefore the question arose:
I give the extortionate price for a Nikkor 70-200 1: from 2.8 VRII -short VRII- or I risk at a glance, or better by the Sigma. So I decided on the latter.

Expectation:
Had my besherigen sigmoid (17-70 1: 2.8-4.0 and 10-20 1: 3.5) compared with the Nikkor always a unique selling point, so has the VRII a direct competitor of Sigma - just ours, I call OS it here.
Thus, I expect a similar performance, optically and mechanically.

Since I am in the pleasant position to test both lenses simultaneously, I will formulate this review partly dialectically. I will also respond to the HSM.

Housing / feel:
It's plastic. This can on cool days be quite advantageous, the finger will not soon cold, such as the VRII, seriously: Very solidly built, almost delicate in comparison to the HSM, interesting: zoom and focus ring are now reversed and turn the other way around. The arrangement now enstspricht the VRII, just rotate the zoom ring entgegengetzt - so be it ...
The build quality is fine. Nothing rattles -in the off state, see further Arrow or wobbles, so it should be.
The aluminum ring on which the stand base is mounted, is lined with plastic so that when turning from forming grooves in the lens, which is a good detail. The ring can -As remove the HSM without disassembling the lens. In contrast to the HSM, there is a M / AF switch.

The sun visor I want to dedicate a separate paragraph here:
The extension for cameras with DX sensor as for my D300s is meant really fond of, but unfortunately totally impractical: first, the thing is again 2.5 cm longer, on the other hand you have to set the Obekjektivdeckel on the extension and if you wrong the sun visor around want to put on the lens, it needs the extension, which remains fixed on the lens should be / remain. If you want to put the sun visor right side up, dissolves in the worst case -So almost always- the extension from lens instead of the aperture of the extension - and then fumbling starts - an upside-seated sun visor of the extension solve - have fun!
The extension remains in cardboard, especially as the sun visor of the HSM, let alone that of VRII to lengths surmounted (why actually, I thought the opening angle would be equal ...).

Weight:
Maybe a little lighter than the VRII but insignificantly, a bright tele weighs just 1.5kg.

Appearance:
Unlike the first reviewer I made a different finding in my "Photo Series": In my judgment, the lens is "up out", so that's VRII through the entire zoom range constant, dimmed slightly sharper than at open aperture.
Unfortunately, the OS does not have the minimum focusing distance of 1m great as she had the HSM. It is now at 1.4 on a par with the VRII.
In CA I have the lenses do not explicitly investigated, but could not find special at the first sighting of my shots.

Stabilizer:
That was the criterion to invest so much money in these chunks for me. Sigma and Nikon are pursuing a slightly different strategy, like the VRII offers the Sigma 2 different modes: Anders can VRII as the man here choose between a horizontal and a vertical horzontalen + stabilization. Reason: the stabilization intervenes fairly rigid and the picture may be small pans ever "nail down" shortly. The positve effect is: man can at max. Focal length photographed verwachlungsfreie images at almost ludicrously slow shutter speeds. We're talking about 1 / 20tel @ 200mm with hook elbow.
The VR of Nikkor is something timid, allows in normal mode also pans and provides the Active Mode for the stabilization of moving vehicles. By VRII ended up at 1 / 40tel @ 200mm conclusion. From this value, the pictures were blurred.
One more thing: The VRII operates much quieter, the Sigma, it sounds as if every time the gyros of the gyro sensor startup. The intended not so, but every time I antippe the shutter sounds a clear "Ratchet". Delayed function of the OS can have no festellen.

AF:
Fast, quiet, fail without front or back focus, the performance of the sigmoid colon are the VRII least equal.
The HSM can get closer, in which VRII is at 1.4m conclusion This OS focuses to 1.3m to 1.2m manually

Summary:
To date, I can say that I am very satisfied. Sigma has since put together what friendly environment.
Too much, I have not scanned and the first outdoor use is still to come, but I'm in good spirits and will add my experience on occasion. So far 5 Stars!

Addendum of 10/04/2012:
So I have now successfully brought several outside bets and also a concert behind me.
The sheer weight sometimes some effort is necessary, but I have never regretted lugging the Trumm. Mentioned at the very edge: a Kata 3N1-30 SLR Sling Backpack does a good job here.
Concert Photography:
Unfortunately the lighting was probably his dark day, so I had very little light available. From almost endless series with ISO1600 at full aperture and shutter speeds slower than 1/20 sec. Then came still quite a few usable images out (the band was certainly very enthusiastic). Here, the OS more than paid made, the viewfinder image is formally still, stupid only that the musicians always move ...
Outdoor use:
Fast, reliable AF: birds, motorcycles, trains, everything is moving captured clean. The OS should be made really when panning to "2", otherwise "hops" the subject back and forth in the viewfinder (and on the sensor). The long sun visor (see above) shades without extension the front lens thoroughly. Shooting against backlight bring any particularly strong reflections. I use a Hoya UV Pro1 Digital Filter 77mm
Finally, I would like to refer to the report in dpreview.com: [...] the tests were however made with a Canon 7D or 5D mk2.