Richard..."apart from a saw..." LOL!! well that'll work! LOL!!! you're a nut! :) I just checked my manual and seems i CAN adjust the contrast directly on my cam. I'm wondering if i'll be able to see any difference in my viewfinder though. i didn't notice those lines in my viewfinder when i was taking the picture. i guess i'll just have to experiment and see what happens. no idea what "spot metering" is...i'll have to look that one up. about the tripod, well i always shoot in shutter speed mode on my cam, and i rarely use a tripod. i know i should, but i just can't get the shots i want with a tripod! do you have that problem too? this one, i think i was on my tiptoes with my cam perched on another branch. those two recent duck shots in my gallery...i'm was on a sloped bank...tripod not possible. those murky water shots...i'm either directly overhead, on my knees, or on my belly. i just don't find a tripod practical most of the time. those duck shots...i don't know how, but they turned out pretty damn good considering i wasn't resting my cam on anything. anyway, thanks so much for the great advice, Richard!!!!! ok, wanna hand me that saw now??? :)