look at the shadow of your camera on its tripod - should get you very close

The first one has the most impact - and looks classy

I certainly have scanners - but, much prefer using a camera with a macro lens

I have had three cameras stolen and my State Farm agent said “when do you need it, and how much will it cost” - never a problem

Quite depends on what you want to photograph - I use a 55 for things like gems and stamps, a 105 or 180 for flowers and bees - I have a 200 and a 500 that I don't use as much, as well as a couple extreme close ups that don't focus to infinity - if just one, probably the 105 - can't much imagine why anyone would want something wider than a 55.

Quite nice - keep up the good work!!

When I studied with Ansel Adams, Ansel said "The image captured by your camera is only the starting point for creating the image that is in your mind" - but what did Ansel know about photography? Ansel didn't really "like" black and white (but for most of his time that was all there was - and he certainly manipulated it - he tried doing with color what he did in black and white - but it just didn't work. Were he alive today he would be using Photoshop to make his images do what he wanted them to - your camera does a huge amount of post processing when it makes a jpeg - if you really want "just what the camera saw" shoot AND print RAW just as the camera saw it - what you will quickly learn is cameras and humans don't see things the same way - and, if you learn how, you can do much better than a camera - which after all is just a box with a hole in it.

You will be losing more from not using a tripod, a good lens shade, and a cable release than from equipment quality

I do fine with a Nikon 18-300 and a Sigma 8-16 - of course others as needed

I always (rather tucked away) have an Apple "find it" disc - you should too - They are cheap

Unless you work from a tripod (I do) your loss of quality from hand holding, not using a cable release, or no lens shade far exceeds any quality you will gain from a newer lens

Why would you want to obsolete your good Nikon lenses??

Some of the “add on” lenses for your phone are pretty good - especially if you run the image through Photoshop

Alk the big stores - like B&H have just what you (safely) need

You have encountered a MBA - they are horrid people (no doubt yours would rather see you pay to hang pictures in HIS hospital) - if you give an inch he will totally loose respect for you, and phase you out at the first opportunity - I can't think of a time when I have seen hospitals cutting their prices - and you shouldn't yours - I would assume your price has been stable for a number of years, and you should point out that because you value your association you have not raised your price, in spite of increased costs on your end, and will make every effort to maintain the price level they currently enjoy.