why not buy sigma 70-200 F2.8

that's true, but i find it odd that he would want to trade straight up for it...gonna have to check it out personally.

Maybe he doesn't shoot sports or in poor lighting?

I'm sure it would be hard to be rid of the L, but if you need/can use 2.8, you won't be sorry.

Peachman,
Those pictures look soft but I can also see that there havn't been enough light to carry out the test. Redo it in better light conditions or with the flash. Test only at 2.8, if that's sharp the rest will be as well.

Use this ... http://md.co.za/d70/ch​art.html

Must be on a tripod and nice and secure. Take your time. You could try it at 2.8 70, 100, 200mm to start with and see what you get.

Both the shots I've seen from your lens seem perfectly fine to me. DOF is tricky at times. You need two experiment with it. You've captured something many pixel peeping sharpness nuts miss. Real kids, real emotion, and very pleasing composition. So, you cracked the hardest part

condyk wrote:
Use this ... http://md.co.za/d70/ch​art.html


. You've captured something many pixel peeping sharpness nuts miss.

Hahahahaha! You'r kill'en me Mr condyke...you really have a way with words!!

I get your message...! I'm just like a dog with a stick that won't let go when it comes to this new lens,,,right now it's plenty of cash for me to be parting with and if it's not correct I want to return it while I can...I guess with all the hype over this lens I thought I could throw my flash away

Mr Bugeye, I did 70mm 100mm, 135,mm and 200mm. It was done on a tripod and at different distances from the The quality went down hill proportionally.. I know I need more light to "see what she can do", but I did buy it , after all to be able to work in low light situations...and...it'​s just nice talking to you guys

It's not only the lens that affects sharpness i low light though, the camera need a certain amount of light to get enough contrast to autofocus properly. Aim for the small text or even better a barcode next time to get a good contrast. The pics you show of that package is not up to par with what you should expect from that lens but I'm still not sure it's the lens that is the problem. Flip up the flash and take another pic, if that's not better send it back and get the newer DG version.

Peachman --

You want to separate out whether the lens is a problem or the focus is a problem or whether there might not be a problem at all.

I second Condyk's recommendation of this focus test -- use a tripod, mirror lockup and cable release, take your time and be sure. Do the test in bright light. Take several shots with AF, and try several using manual focus, take the best of each, and compare. Then you'll know if the AF mechanism is working right.

With a long focal length lens at f2.8, you have very little allowance for user error.

hope it works out for you,

thanks David..makes good sense...and thanks for the thread on the test...

I had good light yesterday , although it was failing as this soccer game got started...I goot some good quality from this lens,although not many winning photos...here is a photo that worked out ok although there is still some motion blur..(see the grass for lens clarity) shot on sports mode at f5.6,1/2000, ISO 400(?) This shot has been drastically reduced in size so I'm expecting it to show dark....The lens, however has eliminated the grey look I was getting in photos with anything other than bright sunlight...it's getting better as I get use to it !

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darn - i love that shot!!! i'm very very impressed with that lens!

nice action shot.

PEACHMAN wrote:
This is my last try tonight...I've got no lights set up and dealing with my grandson...took this with the light over the kitchen table...I'm driving myself nuts....not crisp as I'd hoped right out of the box...I'm sure its operator error........I'll wait for real light tomorrow

1/50, ISO 200, Av 5.6

that's very nice!

So how's it going? Done any real tests yet?

No real tests that follow a routine as you suggested...I'll have more time this weekend to do those..However I am slowley recognizing the big differences as I work the PP on shots I have taken with it..The shadowy grey that I had in almost all my earlier photos is gone. The focus is incredibly quiet compared to what I was using and the pictures that I did take at the soccer game in failing light are more crisp than anything I have used before. The focus is fast, however once or twice it seemed to go out of focus on its own while following the subject in servo mode (sports mode only on 300D). The above photo is not the best example of what the color and crispness has been on some of the photos I took,,but the better ones were nothing worthy, composition wise , of posting here:o.. I think most of my earlier reservations about the lens were from shooting in lousy light and maybe performance anxiety coupled with buyers remorse!....I will keep you posted!! (and expect some or this weekend ! thanks for asking...and thanks all for your help!

get a new avatar photo with an even bigger smile.

congratulations.