frjeff Loc: Mid-Michigan

Was not happy with my shooting technique (camera shake at long FL), so decided to practice a bit before I threw away the lens.
Here are three hand held shots with the lens at 70mm, 135mm and 300mm.

Am I improving, please?

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rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I'd say you were doing ok. Pay a bit more attention to keeping the horizon level, though.
--Bob

frjeff Loc: Mid-Michigan

Indeed!
I was paying so much attention to my Manual settings (new for me) and being still and steady that I totally forgot everything about composition!
Thanks for the reminder and encouragement!

Charlie'smom

Those shots are very sharp on the focal point. There’s no shake that I can see.

frjeff Loc: Mid-Michigan

Thanks. Maybe I am making progress.
This shot from this past week-end was my first at the full 300mm and I thought it looked a bit less sharp.

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Charlie'smom

It does seem less sharp, but maybe we’re missing the focal point in the black somewhere. But the good news is the pictures above are very good as far as sharpness goes.

swartfort Loc: Evansville, IN

I'm not sure this has "sharpness" issues as much as light issues. Very tough lighting with the bright bright reflections off of the dark water AND the dark loons. It might be as much of a "noise" issue as a focus/sharpness issue. Remember, that each lens will have a sweet spot, and I know that that 300 mm focal point on that lens is NOT sharp when the aperture is wide open (5.6 at that focal length I think). Try closing the aperture down a bit (7.1 or 8) and I think you will find that at the longer focal lengths you will get more crispness.

Your shots are great, learning to use Manual can be trying, but it is so rewarding as you get better and better. May I suggest before you go FULL manual, that you use Manual PLUS auto ISO. You deal with two of the three parts of the "light triangle" and the camera works ISO to make it all come together. Then as you get better, you can start to use your "two parts" in unison to "manipulate" the camera to choose an ISO that is appropriate for the shot you are looking for. This is a great "bridge" step to going FULL MANUAL.

Best to ya!!

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

The Nikon 70-300 VR is a very good optic. VR is very useful for that camera shake. Manufacturers talk about an improvement of 3-4 shutter speeds of VR, if you know what they mean because I do not. What I know is that VR in many occasions is a substitute to using a tripod.
Keep your shutter speed at least at 1/300sec. for more steady shots. I would say that ISO 400 outdoors is about right but be ready to raise the ISO in low light for steady shots.
The images you posted are sharp.

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

Did not previous images of your, but these are very very good.

Duane