Focus problems-Football with D1X w/70-200VR

[RayConway]

I just bought a 70-200VR lens and shot a football game on Saturday and am having some serious back focus issues that I never had using the same camera with a 80-200 f/2.8D.

Please take a look at the following link and if you guys have any ideas or advice of what is happening, I'd sure appreciate it.

http://homepage.mac.com/raymondconway/PhotoAlbum3.html

I forgot to mention on the top of the web page that I was using the shutter release to focus (as I always do) and not the AF-On button. I read Rob's post about the virtues of using the AF-On button and will definitely give that a try, but what I don't understand is why this problem creeps up with my new 70-200? Do you think the lens is a lemon?

Thanks in advance!

Ray

[RayConway]

For a comparison, check out this gallery, all shot with the same D1X body, also at f/2.8 but with the 80-200D
http://gallery.mpjconnection.com/album01

I understand that depth of field is limited at 2.8, but if you look at the photos in my original post above, shot with the 70-200VR, there is NO DoF, where as I got at least a couple of feet with the 80-200 in the link here.

Any ideas?

[Daniel_Bottner]

looks like one of the outer auto focus sensors was chosen instead of the center.

check your settings

[RayConway]

Daniel,

I don't think that was it. I shot 200+ photos of that game and if that was the case, the focus should have been consistent in that one spot (left of center for instance). But it was focusing all over the place, except where it should. If you look at the one series of shots of the RB carrying the ball toward the camera, its sharp in the right corner on one, the left side on another and center on others. I'm baffled...

Plus, can anyone explain the huge difference between depth of field at f/2.8 on the 80-200 vs. f/2.8 on the 70-200VR?

[HGregoryPorter]

Did you test the lens before the game or was this your first use of it?

Looks like you need to go outside and shoot a street scene or something where nothing is moving. Note where the camera is attempting to focus and then view the file and observe where it actually focused.