I recall my initial testing of the 24-70/2.8 back in late 2006, prior to the launch of the D3, when I received an experimental sample. Optics were the final design, but there was no final coating on any of the surfaces. Nikon wanted me to check the usefulness of the lens as such, including AF speed, which was phenomenal compared to the existing lenses at that time. However, it flared like crazy; no wonder considering the lack of multicoating.