How do you become familiar with a new lens?

I started using a new one last week and the first shoot I did with it was fantastic, second not quite as good and the next couple I am frustrated with my results.

I realize this has to do with other factors but I thought I'd ask what others do to familiarize themselves with a new lens...see if there are any good ideas or techniques.

Only time will do it. Don't take it off your camera until you know that lens inside and out.

Not to sound facetious, but by using it.

Which lens? Post a couple of examples where you feel the results are poor.

When I get a new lens I shoot a lot, even stupid stuff around the house. I am mostly looking to see that the focus performance is spot on and that the frame is sharp across the board and all focal lengths.

Alright here's my problem...it's my new 85mm f/1.8

Took the 1st shot, didn't like the posing, Mom needs to be where Dad is. Repositioned them and then took the 2nd shot...as you can see totally blurry. I went and pulled up the focus point on both photos as I figured that's where I went wrong and it was the center on each. Why are the leaves in focus in the second shot and none of their faces? Is this a DOF issue? I am bewildered.

Both photos had the following...
f/1.8
1/250
iso 200

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It missed. I get inexplicable misses periodically with all lenses / cameras. The AF systems are not perfect and they will throw a miss now and then.

If the lens consistently misses (and in the same direction each time) then you have a correctable problem. If most shots are not misses, the lens is fine.

Are you kidding me? It missed?

I've never heard of such a thing and I was beating myself up ALL weekend over it (I am an advanced newbie).

I believe you. I am just shocked at the simplicity of it.

mike_d wrote in post #11323057
Only time will do it. Don't take it off your camera until you know that lens inside and out.

that´s an excellent advise! that´s same thing I´ve done with my my lenses, works like wonder, I even put aside everything else so I´m forced to learn them completely

JCJohnson wrote in post #11329628
Are you kidding me? It missed?

Yes, really. I get misses all the time. Usually the misses are really small (small enough that you could get an 8x10 to print just fine) but sometimes you just get a big miss.

Just mount the lens in some decent light and shoot a bunch of subjects. See what you get. One miss in ten is no big deal. If 9 shots of 10 are misses then something is wrong.

JeffreyG wrote in post #11329659
Just mount the lens in some decent light and shoot a bunch of subjects. See what you get. One miss in ten is no big deal. If 9 shots of 10 are misses then something is wrong.

I don't think anythings wrong but I'll keep a look out for this.

Thank you very much for your words of wisdom.

Here is an example for the heck of it. In this post I'll give you the full image.

I was on a walk with my family and shot this of my daughter. I actually snapped the shot three times. Two were sharp, one was just a hair off. And this is with a 1D4 + 70-200 II.

Full image (the keeper)

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And here at 100% views of the keeper and the one shot that was just a hair off. As you can see, this is not a challenging subject and I certainly was able to keep the AF point on her. Plus, there is nothing else the AF point could have grabbed that would not have been off by a mile.

The camera simply missed. This happens.

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yup, it makes sense.

I think I'll take my camera in for a cleaning. It needs it and maybe it'll help.

Oh and your daughter is beautiful.

The 85 1.8 is a great portrait lens, but I would not use it for a group of more than 2, who are standing right next to each other. The DoF is just so shallow, one person is in focus and no one else. Best thing to do is really practice with it and try just one subject for a little while.