E3 is one of those camera that requires a bit of practice before you use it in anger, especially with sports or things that move! If you don't then you put extra pressure on yourself and that is the time when things go wrong and the camera gets the blame. You have to read the manual and check out other peoples settings that work for them and experiment. There are various web sites which have good advice. I made the mistake recently at an airshow i was using Ap and M settings when Tv for speed was the what was required. So your wife has a E3 with 150mm f2 does she. That means bread and dripping for two years in my book and i would lose three stone in weight.

Here is a starter for help, there are other articles on AF points etc

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/43/e3-sett.html

David.