new 70-200 first shots

[alantemperton]

i am a new user and had my first outing with the lens today - light was poor cloudy and overcast. Comments appreciated. Also, is autofocus the lazy way? Should new users concentrate on manual focus?

[liza]

Depends on what you shoot. I rarely use manual focus, but then again, I shoot moving targets most of the time. People who shoot macros tend to use manual focus more. Your focus looks good in these, so you might concentrate more on composition. Filling up the frame with your subject is a good rule of thumb, as well as keeping the subject out of the center. Google "the rule of thirds" and you'll find lots of good information on the topic. Keep practicing and keep posting! :)

[futura]

I use a mixture of both AF and manual. I'll tend to go manual if for example I need to shoot a wild cat through a fence at the zoo or if low light causes the AF to hunt too long. A agree with the use of the rule of thirds to some extent but rules are meant to be broken and its not something that you should stick to if it didnt feel right for a particular shot.