Post processing, no clue. I wouldn't even know how to turn raw to JPEG in Sylkypix. Tried but couldn't figure it out. So yes, I have a long way to go. However I have never said or feel that a better camera will make one a better photographer. Does anyone?
My personal opinion is that a better camera gives the photographer more options to express his or her creativity. That's how I'd put it. A lesser camera, say a cheap camera phone, restricts a photographer's artistic/creative latitude a lot more than a high end DSLR would. Sure the iPhone can take great photos but can you take it with you to photograph a wedding? Well yes you can but it'd better not be for a paid job. Why? Because it only takes photos in one specific way with a much lower resolution, and that is it.
I really like nature photography. If I happen to see a scene that I want to capture it, it is because I like what I am looking at. That is what I want to see when I look at my photos in the future. I have no desire or reason to make them look any different. What is the point?
It sounds like you don't need an expensive, high end camera. What you're really saying you need there is a simple point-n-shoot.
But that's like saying you're happy with baked beans SOOC (straight out of the
can).
If you had
le baked beans from a renown chef like Heston Blumenthal, you know you're going to get the mother of all baked bean meals with the subtle flavours from the herbs and spices he'll add to it, the way he pan fries the beans first to add a little bit of crispness to the beans before baking them to perfection in the oven, and adding the finely balanced sauce which he whipped up fresh. Then he presents the meal on the plate with garnishes and an accompanying glass of fine wine.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with baked beans straight out of the can but damn, it's really, really nice to have Heston Blumenthal's baked beans, I could have that for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You haven't had baked beans until you've had Heston Blumenthal's
baked beans.
BUT maybe you've tried Heston Blumenthal's baked beans and you
still prefer regular baked beans SOOCan. Who are we to tell you that you should develop your gastronomical palette to the point where you can appreciate the difference between canned food and fine dining. You're asking us about fine restaurants and renown chefs, when in reality all you want to know is which can of baked beans tastes the best.
So here, you're asking us about fine cameras and what they can do but if it's just point-n-shoots you're after, well that's a different question.
So:
To say that because the camera is already doing some processing, it is ok then to add to it and post it as an example of what a particular camera is capable of is not fare in my eyes. Not in cases where the OP may never want to do any PP.
I think you're missing the point that a few of us are saying, that great cameras produce photos that generally look flat and bland via digital raw files, that's the
raison d'etre of high end cameras. The Leica camera for example, brand new it will cost you anywhere between $6000 to $9000 which is far more than Canon's high end 5DMkII DSLR camera which is about $3000-ish. But the Leica's JPG files are crap. Let me say it again - it's a $9000 camera and its SOOC JPG files are crap (as criticised by some). People don't buy it for its JPGs though, they buy the Leica for the way it renders is raw files.
If you were to judge the Leica just on its SOOC, you'd be totally and completely missing the point.