Practitioner ? If you mean a doctor you are correct. They don't listen very well. Most of the docs don't but there are some exceptions.

"Not knowing how to use his Canon Power Shot". Yes because there are too many unnecessary buttons on it and the owners manual is like bloatware at 120 pages. It was sent to me by a friend who no longer wanted it. He probably got a little depressed when he found out he couldn't remember some of its features. This can easily happen to people over 70. One other factor: Is there anything in your area worth photographing ? It's like rolling prairie here at 7000 ft. There used to be more wildlife but it diminished when the ugly wind farm was put up. I'd rather have an ugly hedgehog any day. Something else the turbines ruined was the steadiness of astronomical seeing when you're downwind from them. In the photo B is downwind. In any case you get discouraged when invaders move into your area. I was going to build a small observatory here but was defeated by overpopulation and big companies.

(Download)

Now that's a good answer. I have an HP 4370 scanner that takes 35mm negs, but it won't work in windows 7. Yup, thats what I've got. I probably need to upgrade. That's annoying when the old (like me) system still works. I also have Irfanview and another DSLR with removable lenses. I boxed it back up and now I can't find that Olympus Evolt. It looks like new. Oh wow it's 3 AM. Gotta get some rest. Thank you

"With the aid of some sharpening in PP" ..... Did you mean PayPal, Photoshop or Pikes Peak ? :)) How about recommending some good used equipment and or some shop (even something from a home shop) No imagination
anymore. When I was a kid I had to improvise lots of things to make a toy. A pipe became something like an anti aircraft gun.

I'd like to find something below $50 that would be okay for photographing 35mm and a few 120 negs as well. I'd be using a Canon power shot SX40 which I never had time to fully understand. Thanks

Lots of philosophical thinking and common sense advice. I'm enjoying this. Thanks to all of you

Hi Bill, That was educational and made me smile. Thank you

Does that mean I should throw it off a bridge :)) Just kidding

waaaaay to expensive

I think an slr that takes AA batteries is truly a bridge camera. I might buy the Fujifilm FinePix S after the 1st of next month. Then I can throw these older Olympus pocket cameras in the trash. I've got two FE-210s and each one makes soft photos. I could get an unpleasant surprise but I'll have to look at the sellers ratings and ask questions. This is just a temporary thing

Thank you Bill 45 ..... I see some on ebay and they are very reasonably priced. Best regards .... Alan

Oh I'm not going to get rid of it. It has an incredible zoom. I'll have time to learn it, but I might buy one of those Fujis which was previously recommended. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Frank. Best wishes for a happy new year.

I don't like phones

Thank you revhen, but I don't think she's coming back

Doesn't sound like what I'm trying to to do. I may have to use my really old point and shoot camera even if the pix are a little soft :(