You can change the size of the jpeg files in PS. Go to IMAGE and down to size and make it any size you want.

I think you can record images on the card in both raw and jpg (I know you can with Canon). That way you wouldn't have to convert to share them.

Our club meets twice a month. The first Monday is some project, designed by club members, to work on during the meeting. For example, taking images in a darkened room using a flashlight as illumination or maybe macro images (several set ups for whatever). The second meeting (3rd Monday) we have an invited speaker. We currently have a display of a hundred or so members' images in the local arts council. We do NOT have contests during meetings where peoples images are critiqued. We found that this was counter productive. If anyone wants comments about an image, folks are welcome to respond, but we don't devote a meeting to it.

I don't think the wolves have eaten most of the Elk in Yellowstone. The population may be down some but I haven't had much of a problem at all finding elk. As I said earlier I have been there 11 of the past 12 years. In my experience Elk are way more plentiful in Yellowstone than moose. I think that the Tetons are a better place for moose. Also, in the other places you plan to visit, you won't see grizzly bears and maybe not black bears, both of which make interesting subjects. Good luck! Have a good time!

Wouldn't buy one on a bet.

I have been to Yellowstone 11 of the past 12 years and I find that the vast majority of my images (wildlife) are taken with a 600mm lens on a crop sensor camera. You will need wide angle lenses for landscapes.

I can't imagine photographing wildlife (except possibly birds in flight) without using a tripod. The tripod needs to be sturdy. Too many people buy light weight tripods rather than getting ones that will properly support the weight of their lenses. I teach photography at a college and my advice to students is that their first accessory to their camera should be a sturdy tripod. They should imagine the largest lens they will ever use and buy a tripod for that lens. A person will end up buying fewer tripods that way. Take it from one who knows from experience.

I now go with 3 external backups (due to a bad experience with only 2). I have one at home, one at my wife's office, and one at my son's. I usually use 3 TB drives.

I would hope that a few of us, at least, would quit looking after we found what we were looking for.

The dirt may also be on the square lens that the mirror sends the viewfinder image through. Check that out too.

I highly recommend that you visit Mesa Arch. I also recommend that you go there in the daylight the day before so that you know how to get there. It is best to be there to set up to photograph in the dark of the morning so you can be in the front row of the photographers there. When the sun comes up, the colors are unbelievable.

I would go on Amazon and type in "monopod for cameras." They will show you all sizes and costs. If weight is a problem, get a carbon fiber one. Otherwise, the cheaper aluminum (which I use) should be fine. I just went to amazon, and got many hits from $15 to over $100.

I agree with breck. Try them both in your hands. I find that the controls I use most are more available to me on the Canon than on the Nikon, so I switched from Nikon to Canon. I cannot emphasize enough the need to hold in your hands the two models you are considering, side by side, in a camera store.

I really like the induro tripods. They are quite strong and much cheaper than a gitzo. Whatever you get, I recommend that it have 3 different degrees of leg spread to make it more usable from your chair.

A monopod would give you more stability than handholding and more maneuverability than a tripod. I frequently use one when photographing my grandkids playing soccer and basketball.