Bobbert

You could also try extension tubes.  Cheap,  add them to any lens.

Have a good look at Alien Skin Exposure X3.  It is a RAW editor and organizer, and IMHO better than Lightroom.  Video tutorials are  excellent. Free trial available.  I’ve never enjoyed post ...

Placed 47^th in the challenge.

Placed 13^th in the challenge.

I've been using my 50mm f2 with and without the 1.4 teleconverter on my EM1Mk1 with excellent results.  It is a superb lens, and shines in the m4/3 world as well as it does with the e30.

Placed 19^th in the challenge.

Placed 21^st in the challenge.

I had 2 older V1 anchors. Kudos to Peak Design for acting so responsibly. THIS is how all corporations should treat customers, even when the failure rate is so low. Thanks++

Affinity is excellent but definitely not self teaching. Look at their video tutorials to get started and to get good.

Placed 39^th in the challenge.

Definitely NOT a crutch.  Ansel Adams was famous for post processing in the film days. It is IMHO as much a part of good photography as focusing. Don't sell yourself short - have a ton of fun with it.

CHEAP RAW - OV3 is the first. Then there are good free products to check out - Darktable Lightzone, or RAWTherapee. After that nothing good as a RAW developer is less than $100. FWIW I settled on ...

After some considerable experimentation, I’ve settled on Exposure X3 for RAW work - intuitive interface, clever work flows and excellent video tutorials. As far as self teaching goes, I learned it ...

I agree with you about highlight and shadow, except that I can work around the highlight and shadow recovery using a combination of exposure, black pint and white point. I have not found it ...

It really does the complete workflow including keywording. I find the interface very intuitive, and the results excellent, and personal... I can get a consistent “look” I like. They seem to be ...

I made the switch 6 months ago, and I’ve never had more fun post-processing. Their video tutorials are excellent, as is tech support if you need it.

Dodge, burn, basic white point and black point adjustments, sharpen, focus, specific colour saturation, vignetting, all in Exposure X3

Exposure  X3

Placed 11^th in the challenge.