I got this lens for bird closeups, as well as family action pictures. I took it out for a tryout at Palo Alto Baylands duck pond during breeding season at the heronry, when closeups are easy to get. Here are a few pictures from an hour or so shooting. The lens has a fine reputation, but even so I was surprised at the high quality images I was able to get, all handheld, all at 200, all but one wide open.