The NEW $2800 Nikkor 70–200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR. Using Fluorite elements, which Nikon themselves formerly dumped on

So, the replacement for the two dud lenses (VR1 and VR2) Nikkor 70-200 2.8 has been released, and its not only extremely expensive at $3100, but also will contain at least 2 primary Fluorite elements.

I have indeed for years now told people that the VR1 and VRII Nikkor 70-200 2.8 versions were "failures" on several fronts, in both speed and focus breathing, and of course I was correct.

Nikon was forced to KILL off both lenses for their new beast. I saw this move well over a year ago.
Despite the price hike, there is no existential denial that this new lens will be superior in both speed and performance. 

HOWEVER this new lens will also prove a BOON for team Tamron who right now (sic) are having naked twister parties over the cost of this new lens and projected increase in sales of 70-200 2.8 VC Tamron lenses resultant to this news.

22 ELEMENTS

Enter the Nikkor 70–200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR lens $2,800

LET NOBODY MISS the fact that the ZOOM RING has been swapped to the front of the lens.

*This is one lens you will surely want (must) to have insurance on. A nice drop of 3+ feet and there is a danger of serious lens damage 

This is NIKON'S own spin AGAINST USING FLUORITE in the not too distant past:
"While the optical properties of this new glass closely resemble those of fluorite, Super ED glass is more resilient to rapid temperature changes (thermal shock) and not as susceptible to cracking as the crystal structure of fluorite. Super ED glass also boasts a higher refractive index than fluorite, making it highly capable of correcting aberrations other than chromatic aberration"

Downsides of using Fluorite:
Fluorite is rather fragile to temp. changes, and can crack if transitioning between hold/cold environments.
Fluorite is quite brittle and worst of all it has perfect cleavage on three planes.
Fluorite materials also have their refractive index vary with temp; thus fast lenses are made "to focus past infinity". This is so at the temp extremes one can focus at infinity.
NASA rejected Fluorite because it would crack or explode under the stress of rocketing into space with its vibrations
Dropping a lens with Fluorite is a no no.
Fluorite is rather soft and is very slow to work with, it cannot be quickly polished.

Upsides of using Fluorite:
Zero scatter throughout the element. Very low dispersion.
Exceptional color correction down to 400nm. The Germans noticed this too when they were using fluorite as microscope objectives back in the 1800s.
Excellent CA correction
Lightweight

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