New Nikon 16-35mm f4 ED VR wide zoom lens ($1260, late February)

It's wide-angle day at Nikon! Together with the 24mm f1.4 prime, Nikon is also revealing a brand new 16-35mm f4 ED VR wide-angle zoom lens. Both are, as you can expect, 35mm full frame lenses! Nikon estimates an opening price of $1260 with a late February 2010 release date.

Nikon 16-35mm f4 ED VR main specs
+ SWM
+ f22 minimum aperture
+ 17 elements in 12 groups (two ED, three aspherical, NanoCrystalCoat)
+ closest focusing distance around 1 foot
+ max-mag 0.25x
+ nine diaphragm blades
+ 77m filters
+ weights 24 ounches (680 grams)
+ lens size y 82.5 x 125 mm
+ angle of view: 107° - 63° (83° - 44° with Nikon DX format)

Disambiguation
The lens has vibration reduction which is VR II technology, but it is named VR because it is the first iteration of the lens. Hello confusion?

Further Reading
+ dpreview
+ Photo.net
+ Ryan Brenizer at End User blog
+ Imaging Insider
+ Nikon herself with tiny MTF chart and sample pictures
+ Nikon press release

Preorders
+ Adorama
+ B&H Photo - listed only, cannot order yet
+ Not listed (yet) at Amazon