Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Country Mama - What kinda critter?

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Probably squirrel. If we want hickory nuts and we are not out there right away picking them up the squirrels will have them gone in a day.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

It is amazing that something can have teeth that can chew through that hull. We use a table vise to crack them.

Janice Loc: Kentucky

I think you did pretty darn good. Only room to improve now! smiling I just love macro

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Thank you. I think I am going to really like shooting Macro.

Janice Loc: Kentucky

I love macro - but with my bridge camera I don't think I can shoot true macro

pgr Loc: Alabama

Nice pics :)

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Thank you.

rayford2 Loc: New Bethlehem, PA

Hello, Janice.
I too have a bridge camera, a Panasonic FZ-50, that has many of the functions of a DSLR. It's limitations include a fixed f/2.8 35-400mm (35mm equiv) lens, a smaller sensor and a host of other handicaps.
I love photography but I have to live within my financial means without using credit cards or hocking the car.

So I purchased some useful additions that screw onto the lens to expand my options. Among them was a set of Vivitar close up attachments and a set of Vivitar filters which included a circular polarizer (CPL). I only use the CPL and the UV (lens protection).
I guess I've spent about $150 for accessories to my $200 camera and I'm having a hey-day with it. By no means does this imply they're as good as the accessories available to a DSLR user, but they work well.
Since I don't expect to be enlarging anything over 8 x 10 or cropping down to the extreme magnification I'm happy with what I have for now.
I would never attempt to play down DSLR's, only a fool would try that. And I certainly wouldn't try to compete with many of the UHH posters that have years of experience and the equipment to back it up.
As I see it, I'm happy I have the versatility now to take reasonable images...which is better than a cell phone camera, or worse yet, NO camera at all.
.....without breaking my bank account.

rayford2 Loc: New Bethlehem, PA

You're doing great CM, my novice point of view. Close-up and macro is a bit harder than one would expect, if they never tried it.

Janice Loc: Kentucky

rayford - I am in the same boat with you - low budget, sometimes no budget. Canon offers some filters and a wide-angle screw-on lens for my camera, but I haven't had the means to purchase those yet.

rayford2 Loc: New Bethlehem, PA

The big challenge is to find accessories that have reasonable quality. There are tons of junk batteries, chargers and accessories on Ebay, many are mailed from China or some other country.
Buying a junk filter or external accessory would prove to be a disappointment. But using junk electrical devices on your camera can prove to be fatal, especially cheap chargers and flash units that can overload the camera's electrical limits. Cheap batteries have a bad track record for longevity.
If it's electrical stay with the camera maker's accessories or get a name brand item from the major camera stores.

Janice Loc: Kentucky

Thank you for these words of wisdom! :thumbup: :-) appreciate it