I needed a faster lens. If I had the proper white balance, I could have used the JPEG files, which incorporate the noise characteristics of the sensor into the processing. I could potentially take the JPEGs into Photoshop using the Bridge program, but I opted for a "retro" grainy look instead and keeping the best color that i could.

Not that I am trying to being a critic, and maybe i should have just done a P.M. but your other photos did not show the grainy aspect and looked exceptional, so there had to be a reason. I note then you were awarew of the difference and had a fine reason for what the pictures show as a difference.

Oh, I am very aware of that. I am just miffed that the photos are not up to my normal standards.

I was shooting ISO 8,000 to 25,600 (set automatically) to get a shutter speed of 1/60 second, the minimum I thought was acceptable for a good photo. The result was a clean shot but noise. My takeaway from this was to get a faster prime lens around the 8-12 mm focal length range, drop the shutter speed to 1/30 second and use the correct white balance setting. I would adda monopod as well, but I think they are not allowed.

In the meantime, I like these photos too much not to post them, and I am getting positive views from people, so apparently they are happy with my "snapshots".

I would not say that I dislike any of the photos, just that they differed from your usual perfection. I wondered if there was a reason for what I saw, and you handsomely explained the reasons why there seemed a diference. Thanks.