Thank you all so much for appreciating, this is not really the lens I'd have used for such task but I was out to take pics of my son attending an event thrown by his school and as such thought that rather than being limited by a prime I'd take the versatile but not great quality (compared to primes) 28-300VR lens, it is very flexible but no meat no fish, I actually decided to put it up for sale (along with many other items I don't use) but troubled at what to get to replace it.
By the way, stopped down and handled with care the lens is quite sharp and Vittorio's face speaks loud, he went through a lot in life and is quite an authority here on the island, sort of a shadow major if you know what I mean.
Thank you again and buona luce!!!