Greetings All,
Luminar offers the following filters with the general objective of sharpening or increasing contrast in some portion of an image: Clarity, Details Enhancer [Sm, Med, Lg], Sharpening, Structure, Micro-structure. [I'm I'm talking about Luminar filters specifically, but I know other post processing software have similar options.] I've been through several Luminar tutorials and read what Luminar has to say about these individual filters, but I'm still unsure about how each of these work, what they do that differentiates them from one another, and what circumstances would lead me to use one instead of another. Any help anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Nikon D7000

It's no secret to this group that B&H has great customer service but this episode is worth reporting anyway. I ordered a Kindle Fire [and a few other items] so I could take along some travel and photo guides as ebooks that have lots of color maps and photos on a trip I'll be taking soon to some western national parks. B&H offers free expedited delivery, and they were to arrive 8/26. Yesterday everything arrived -- except the Kindle Fire. Its shipment had been delayed a couple of days [back-order I suppose] and its estimated arrival was now 9/2, the day I'm supposed to leave on my vacation. I called B&H and their customer service agent, Nathaniel, apologized for the delay, said they would send out a new Kindle Fire, overnight express so that it would arrive by Friday 8/29, and recall the previously ordered Kindle Fire that was already on the UPS truck -- so that I won't even have to go to the bother of returning it when I get back from my vacation. Wow! Now _that_ is customer service! I love doing business with B&H.

In researching for an upcoming trip to Grand Teton National Park I came across this ebook and wanted to share the find: "Grand Teton Photography & Field Guide" by Daryl L. Hunter. Do a search for this title and you'll find it right off. He has plenty of his own photos to show you what you can make from where and lists the GPS coordinates for each as links so you can go to a map to find each spot. He has discussions of well known, lesser known, and off the beaten path spots, with info such as when the wind usually calms to get reflection shots off the water, and where he's had the best luck finding different types of wildlife and birdlife. Written for photographers by a photographer. I downloaded a Kindle version for $10. It's worth a look.

Many thanks to all who have viewed and commented. I appreciate that you took the time to view and note your reactions. If you have a chance to visit a Pow Wow, please do so. They are open to the public and are very friendly, colorful affairs. In addition to the traditional dances and songs there are booths and vendors selling goods and food. It's a good time for all.

Here are a few shots taken with a Nikon D7000 and 10-300mm [the new one, with the 67mm filter thread] at the July 11, 2014 Pechanga CA Pow Wow.

The first individual pictured is Saginaw Grant, 78 years old, member of Sac & Fox and Otoe Missouria tribes. He is a US Marine Corps veteran, having served in Korea. Note the USMC Eagle, Globe and Anchor emblem on his head dress. Grant wore 4 EGA emblems incorporated throughout his regalia. I don't know the identities of the other individuals pictured.

Saginaw Grant

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You're welcome. I love Imaginomics for noise reduction -- it affords lots of control for different circumstances. Glad to be of service.

Here's #3 with Imaginomics Noise Reduction applied:

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There was an earlier thread "Nikon 18 - 300 lens" that discusses both lenses. Check out:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-229584-1.html
I use the 67mm newer version of the 18-300mm lens you are considering and like it very much. Here's my post to that earlier thread, with a couple of example photos:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-229584-4.html#3871286
Good luck.

Quite remarkable, #1 especially. Congrats on their capture.

Beautiful! So sharp. Congrats on a fine capture.

Wow! Very nice.

For my taste, #1 is good, #2 doesn't work, and #3 works to show the motion of the bird. In #4 the 1/800 speed is fast enough to capture the birds stopping their motion as "normal." #1-3 shows your experimentation to have some merit, but that it won't always work -- as might be expected. Thanks for showing us another way.

I have the newer 18-300 [67mm filter thread] and use it as a walk-around lens on my D7000. The spec says it weighs 19.4 oz., which I don't find too heavy. I carry it on an OpTech sling strap.

I find myself taking it along when I would have left my previous combo of camera plus pair of lenses at home. So for me it fills the bill in terms of images captured that I would otherwise have missed.

Below are a couple of shots so you can judge IQ. I was experimenting with ISO and f-stop tradeoffs with these so they have a bit more noise than I'd like but may be instructive nevertheless.

Heermann's Gull. 1/800; f/16.0; ISO=800

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Osprey. 1/1000; f/14.0; ISO=14.0

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Thanks for the explanation and illustration. As always, I learn lots from reading your posts. Much appreciated.