You need a camera that will let you do closeups which are done with the macro setting. My last camera was an older Fuji FinePix and I just replaced it with another Fuji FinePix s1500. I don't know if it's similar with all macro settings on cameras, but on these Fujis, when I use the macro setting, a little flower icon shows to indicate I'm using the macro ;-) There are a zillion places to buy cameras, and all with a zillion settings, but you need first to look into what you want vs what you don't need and that will help you narrow down the selections. I bought my old camera "used" from a camera store, it was a trade-in, had been cleaned up and tuned, so to speak, and I was happy with it. I had it for nearly a decade, but good thing only last so long. I needed a newer camera and knowing what I wanted I did some comparison shopping online and at a few stores. I happened to have been at BJs to pick up some items and wandered into their electronics aisle, found the cameras and read the comparison sheets and bought this new Fuji right then and there. I did have to also buy a separate storage disc which didn't come with the camera, but I'd rather shoot photos and save them on disc and download the disc into the computer rather than downloading out of the smaller built-in storage that is in the camera itself. You need the storage disc because the camera can't hold squat on its own ;-(

I also use a Panasonic Lumix FZ30 and purchased extra macro lenses for up close and personal shots of eggs. Works great for a 12x zoom camera. Love the LCD screen flips out and rotates every which way. Also bought a Sony DSC-H9 earlier this year. Couldn't resist the lure of a 15x Carl Zeiss lens. Works quite well and has a pretty good macro mode. Still want to get suitable macro lenses for closer detail shots. Am still trying to get used to it. It is really lightweight (I got used to the heaviness of the Lumix). Great sized LCD screen but it doesn't rotate...just flips out and up/down. Don't like the fact that the camera button for mode settings moves too easily. Any slight brush with your thumb move the wheel to another setting. Has a great zoom for viewing photos and of course, the detail on the photos are fantastic. You can really zoom in on an uploaded photo without distorting the pixels. It also has a night shot feature which I've tested but haven't found any good subjects to photograph. Kind of dream of being on an African safari and photographing lions on their night kills :o) ROLF (Will be attending some Blacklight Moth-ing treks in October so will definitely be trying it out then) Oh...and I had to purchase a separate multi-bay card reader since the dratted Sony H9 camera card doesn't work on my computer. Didn't want to hassle with having to connect the USB cord to the camera everytime I had to download photos. I still take both cameras out into the field with me. Usually leave the Panasonic Lumix in the car and bring that out only if I find caterpillars or eggs I want to photograph with the macro lense attachments. ~ Cat

Kathy the macro is a Nikon (Nikkor) AF-S 85mm f/3.5G ED VR. I also have a Nikon 55-200 mm zoom but the macro takes better and more close up pics. This macro lens is about the strongest this camera can handle. Maybe after a year or so, if I progress I'll invest in a D700 that can handle a super macro but I'm not ready to spend $2500 for a camera body and another $800+ for a lens. Going from a digital point & shoot to the 5000 was a big enough step for me right now. lol Once I become more familiar, if I do, I'm going to look in the pawn shops for equipment. As long as I know what to look for, which I don't at this time, it will save me a lot of $$. You can get really nice camera equipment for a fraction of the retail cost at a pawn shop.

Maggie Sue, thanks so much for the encouragement. I feel a lot better after looking at the pictures in the photo shop. I didn't take anymore today but must get click happy tomorrow. I finished sewing my Bento Box quilt top. Sharon F. posted a picture of a block and I went from there. I really like it so will flick a pic tomorrow. I don't have a computer or printer... it will be getting the pictures from the camera over to Photobucket. Then I will be okay. I have to do this on my DD's computer at her house. I didn't get a user's manual but I found some info at Kodak web that is usefull so I need DD to print some of it out for me to use as reference. I had to call my Sasktel support people because of some E-mail problems. The nice fellow I talked to asked me if there was anything else he could help me with today. I said I have this new digital camera...do you know anything about them. He chuckled...no, not today. I thought it was worth trying!