TJ, I just revisited your bird photo's and the quality and clarity of them are so good. I looked up the camera you use (Cannon SX50) refurbished $240 and new between $330 & $400. I'm really thinking of buying one. I was wondering at what distance did you take the pictures of the birds you displayed here and did you use a tripod?
The Cannon SX50 would replace my Lumix Panasonic DMC-FZ5 that is about 8 years old. I carry a $100 Cannon Powershot in my pocket as I walk. The pictures they take are just OK but when used with Photoshop they can sometimes be special.
I entered two pictures in my first art show ever and won 1st place in the digitally altered category as an amature last week. At the reception there was wall to wall artists of all types. I talked to a photographer about his camera and saw some of his work. He used a Nikon DH-800 ($3000) with tripod ($800)and I liked your pictures more then his.
