New telephoto lens

We got a new lens for our camera today!
The NIKON AF-S 70-200 F2.8 VR II

Here are the first shots without reading manuals or anything. I had to resize them a lot for the web. The models were really far away .

[silken]

Great photos! Congrats on the new lens! I am waiting for Nikon to put out some new cameras. But they are way behind schedule due to the earthquake last year. I feel due for a new one and possibly a new lens as well!

[ronaldhanko]

Superb lens and nice shots.

Thanks!
Silken, I heard that about Nikon. Yesterday at the Henry's I saw people getting on the waiting list for the new Nikon camera.

[Oscarman]

Congrats on your new lens and nice photos.

[tropterrarium]

Be careful with focus. On both images the focus is behind the animals and the eyes are a bit blurry. You want the eyes tack sharp. Look at the grass and you will see that the sharpest grass blades are behind the animals. Not sure where the problem is. On my camera, I can calibrate the autofocus setting for each lens. Not sure that is possible on yours.

It may also be the kind of autofocus setting you are using. If you have different settings, experiment with those.

Alternatively, focus manually. Then you may need a custom matt focusing screen. On my camera, I can zoom in live view for fine focusing, which I use regularly.

Depth of field is razor sharp with teles. So spot-on focus is critical. That is why I focus manually even with autofocus lenses, particularly with long teles (I have a 300/2.8 IS). Autofocus is simply not reliable.

[tucker85]

Congratulations on the new lens. I always get excited when I buy new camera equipment. As far as the focus, my Nikon has several focus points. When I push the shutter release half way, the focus points in use will turn red. I can change the focus point being used with the master control on the camera. I could also use manual focus if my eyes were good enough.