Just run it through a normal test procedure.
Go outside, find a nicely lit scene, preferably brick walls? Ah, thats too cliche... but simple patterned scenes are best to test. So an urban scene with a flat wall with windows may be the easiest thing to find around Melbourne (specially those large brick walls).
Test all apertures ranging from wide open to the smallest in increments of 1 full stops.
Test most common used focal lengths. That is 18, 24, 50, 100, 200. Repeat aperture stops for each focal length.
Now the bokeh test, aperture priority, near closest focus of an object (street light or your own studio) and do some tests. Those glue sticks will work good here
But I prefer doing it with lights (so the donuts will show up)
Make sure your test is done via tripod (for resolution/sharpness), and turn off the VR. So you can use photoshop action to crop the 100% areas afterwards and stick them together to compare.
About the VR, just switch it on, turn camera down to shutter priority, start with hand-holdable speed, and move down in 1/3 stops each time. Until you have fully reached a non-holdable speed. That is how it works, the basic.
You may also try using VR and pan some subjects at slow speeds (1/100 or 1/50) at 200mm range. Then the possibility goes on...
Here is a review I did for a VR lens:
AF-S Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G Micro VR
If any other questions in doubt, just ask.
Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 5:26 pm
Also, ways to test such a wide range zoom?