I keep my Panasonic ZS 100 on a shelf within reach by my computer. I'm often trying different things with it, experimenting, practicing, or just playing with it. Typically, I will switch it to electronic shutter when I do that. As for dry firing, I always use a snap cap.

I've had trouble with the autofocus at times, too. It seems like the camera wants to search for focus if there's not much contrast. I've usually just focused on the edge of the moon for a focus point. Work around is to go to manual focus; in manual focus, the exposure compensation button toggles between exposure comp. and Autofocus, using the SET Button to toggle between them. In autofocus mode, pressing the exp.comp. button autofocuses the lens, releasing it locks focus similar to BBF. If you have the Peaking feature [the little "sparkles"] turned on, you can use the ring dial on the outside of the SET button to make any minor focus adjustments you need. Press the SET button again and you are back in exposure compensation mode.

power lines, fence lines are bad enough; wait until every hilltop has a windmill on it.

I do my photo editing on a desktop; when the original mouse gave out, I replaced it with a cheap "Amazon Basics" mouse. It works fine for photo editing.

The primary change I made was going to BBF, and purchasing a sturdy, quality tripod and using it.

Just about anywhere from Hermits Rest on out to Desert View will be a great view, with the best around the Village and Visitors Center. If this is a "bucket list" trip, treat yourself to a helicopter tour; it's Fantastic!

If I'm going somewhere specifically for photographic purposes, I will take a DSLR. Normally though, I will carry my little Panasonic ZS-100 that works fine, and leave the heavy DSLR's and lenses at home in the drawer. It's not the value of the equipment, it's more the light weight of the camera and the fact I can carry it in a pocket or belt pouch, and not have the hassle of a big, heavy, inconvenient camera hanging off my shoulder.

I'm not a computer expert, but if it were me and I had a place to plug it in, I'd buy a big AC powered hard drive, plug it in, and use that. Keep it simple!

I've been using Powerextra batteries interchangeably with DMW-BLG10PP in my Lumix ZS 100 with no problems. Pretty sure they came from Amazon.

definitely the muted colors of the first one. Some things look better in color; other things in B&W. In this case, color is correct, but that is only MY opinion.

beautiful photos, beautiful colors; nice to see some pictures from the Needles section.

I think steam engines just look better in B&W than in color.

Beautiful set of pictures!

Beautiful set!

I usually carry my camera with the strap on my shoulder; but I also normally just loosely wrap my hand around the strap near the camera to cut down on the camera bouncing around while I walk. Once I had an old camera strap break while I was carrying it that way, and I was instantly able to catch the camera strap before the camera came close to the ground.