I'll second what Bill just said, Richard.

I was the same as you only about 15 months ago.

Have a look around. Learn, practise, and have loads of fun!

Cheers,

ds

I'm going to get one!

Not half bad!

Hey, Sally, don't worry yourself about it. As John said, it hardly makes any difference whatsoever.

Anyway, it's great to have you back. That's more important! And thanks for chossing a great subject....I loved it!

Here's a few I've taken, Adam.......

The filter I was using was just a UV filter. Dr O will back me up because he was trying to help me when I came up with the brainwave regarding the filter. One day I couldn't get a really sharp image and the next day, having taken the filter off, I could, taking exactly the same shot in the same light.

Anyway, if Adam is using a filter, I'd suggest taking it off to see if it makes a difference, as well as the other suggestions already made. It took me a little while to get used to this lens as it's much longer than anything else I'd ever used. Got there in the end, though.

Perhaps it depends on the make of UV filter, John, but it definitely happened to me. I took off the filter and all of a sudden the lens started to focus properly. Seems odd, I know.

I also recall someone else having a problem with this lens and a circular polariser. There's a thread about that somewhere.

I'd try some more photos now having heard a couple of responses, with a tripod and faster shutter speeds.

But one thing i found when I got the lens is that it won't focus well, particularly at longer focal lengths, if you have a UV filter on. If you've got one on, take it off.

Great stuff.

Yes, compete is the wrong word. It's just a little push to try to improve.