Girsempa, Fuzzy, and Chris....

Thanks for your replies.  Sorry to be late... I have not gotten any ebots today at all telling me that there was a response to this thread!

I didn't realize there was an aperture priority (semi-auto) mode like you use for macro.  I'm looking forward to looking that up.  (Note to self: go back to DPReview and check if the canon and nikon models have that.)  And I wish I could watch you work Fuzzy.  I'll be lucky to ever get the hang of shooting manual all the time.

Chris, so you used a coolpix, too. Cool! Your next point is just what I have been wondering about.  While Fuzzy shoots manual all the time, if it's wildlife or a living creature, I'm afraid it would be long gone before I got the settings all set. :)  I'm so glad you confirmed my thoughts on that one.  I can't imagine fuddling for minutes trying to adjust settings - I would get in a hurry and get befuddled just knowing the bird or whatever is fixing to fly away, and end up being all thumbs! :)  I can see where nature shots, waterfalls, etc. would give you more time to adjust the settings or take the same shot under different settings to experiment with what works best.  With as nice a camera as you have, I would imagine that you don't need to alter or PW all that much, as you probably get a very high quality image the first time.  I don't PW ~all that much, just adjust the saturation, levels, etc. and sharpen a little.

Y'all have been so kind.  Thanks so much!!  I'm sure I'll have lots of questions, when the time comes, about how to do this and that.  Thanks for the suggestions and offers of help.  I still say Renderosity rocks!!!  I never did get around to opening an account at DevArt.... cuz this place feels like home!!

Thanks again----

Maria