If there's one thing the 200 VR does, it is autofocusing on the D2x body. Using the group AF mode, you can pretty much jab the 4-way controller to ANY one of the pattern locational start points that you wish to use, and it focuses well,even in the shade at 7 PM at f/2.8. The autofocusing "hit rate" with the 200 VR is amazingly high. Plus, those backgrounds!