jay_white_feather

Thanks for all the great comments. From using the lens now for one week and benefiting from all of your comments, I've learned lots. Having never used VR before, I'd thought it would compensate for all types of movement, including hand shakes. Matt said it best -- I was feeling a bit "cavalier about my technique." I guess I'm going to have to cut down on coffee!

What I do love about this lens is the great versatility of having 18-200 in just one lens. And, to compensate for my minor shakes, I find that if I take 2-3 shots of the same image (hand held) that I almost always get at least one keeper that's fairly sharp. Also, if I use it with a tripod and turn VR off, I can get pretty darn good focusing even at distances down to about 30" like this one.

Thanks again everyone. I'm really grateful for all your help. Jay<div></div>

Oops. My apologies to anyone I might have confused, and also to Rick for mistakeningly posting my reply without thinking about logging him out. I was excited to thank everyone for the great ideas. Sorry for the mixup.

Also, here is a 100% crop. The photo was shot at f8 with 1/60 sec and at 200mm.

For several days I've been using the Nikon 18-200 VR lens. Many of my initial

shots turned out great, but an equal number lack a tight focus. I've read in

different posts that both the Nikon VR and Canon IS lenses take some getting

use to but the Nikon instruction sheet that comes with the lens doesn't offer

much help. Other than not having VR turned on when the camera is tripod

mounted, I'd be grateful for any tips on improving my technique in using this

lens. Many thanks for any suggestions you can offer. Jay

In the next few months, my wife will be attending a 2-week long

seminar in India (Varanasi, Agra, Bodhgaya.) And, I am considering

accompanying her and using that time to photograph. Because I am

primarily a landscape / nature photographer, I am trying to

investigate what photo possibilities there might be in or around

these areas.

I would be very grateful for any suggestions or comments anyone

might have who has either traveled in or lived in these regions.

Many thanks. Jay

Hi Everyone

I'll be traveling to Santa Fe (in early March) and would like to

take use several days for Nature/Landscape photo shoots. I'd be most

grateful for any suggestions as to possible nearby locations or

resources I might check out.

Many thanks.

Jay White Feature

I'll be traveling through Page, Arizona in late October. I would

like to find a Navajo guide who knows the area and has worked

extensively with photographers. If you have had experience with any

individuals, I would very much appreciate hearing about how to

contact them.

Many thanks for your help. Jay