This is a hand-held snapshot, in a hurry at that, as I had about 15 seconds to get it off. I was doing something else when I saw the opportunity to grab this guy. I pulled the 105mm Micro, slammed on the Nikkor 70-200 f2.8VR, quick set the Nikon D2x to ISO 400, Matrix, P*, AFS, Auto WB, stepped to the right to get some interesting stuff in the frame beside the bird, and shot him at 200mm (equiv. 300mm), 1/125 @ f8.5.

Now, let's face it, with a 12.4MP camera at 300mm the shutter speed should be AT LEAST 1/600, unless you are made of granite. So, right off the top, I was shooting 2-1/2 stops too slow a speed. Fat chance!

Well, I looked at the image in Photoshop CS2 anyway. Certainly not a work of art. But, for grins, let's zoom in at 100% (2nd image). WOW! VR (or IS in Canonspeak) works! That's all I can say. I'll keep the lens.

The bokeh -- that's dappled light on limbs and leaves. The bird? Anna's Hummingbird. Location, Los Osos, CA.

Full frame . . . then look below . . .

100%