[Arkady]

They all weigh a ton, mate. Even the new 300mm f2.8 with the carbon hood.
I leave it in the car unless I know I'm gonna need it.

The 300 and 600 are both very good lenses (I sold my own 600 for £2,000 last year to pay for a new boiler - now I wish I'd let the buggers freeze, but there you go...), although the 600 was a bit too long for most subjects.

I find the 300 to be the long lens I use most - used with a Nikon DSLR it gives a 'film' focal length of 450mm anyway.

I'm not a fan of some of the new VR lenses - we've found the 80-400 VR Nikkor to be as soft as butter optically, despite some heated arguments with the Nikon bods who say it's the best thing since sliced Hovis.

I would go for an older-spec AF-S 300mm f/2.8 IF-ED. More than adequate and there should be some coming on the market now as newer lenses become available.