I have three or four Western Digital "My Passport Ultra" drives, and they work great for me. I purchased semi hard carry cases from Amazon for them, and they fit perfectly in the cases.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F5CKWBA/ref=asc_df_B00F5CKWBA4995795/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B00F5CKWBA&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167126093426&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6419098512537929530&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9017421&hvtargid=pla-143944840875

I would carry the drive in a separate bag from my camera, so that if one is somehow lost or stolen, you haven't lost both.

Sandy

Is it possible that you have "protected" those images from inside the camera software, and can go back in and uncheck the "protected" box?

Also, I always reformat my cards rather than deleting the images. My cards have been reformatted hundreds of times, because I reformat every time I dump the images to the computer. No problems so far.

Sandy

I've been using ACDSee for many years...probably since the first version. I'm currently using Pro 10. I've tried other programs, but keep going back to ACDSee because it's just comfortable for me.

I'm not a professional, I'm just a wife/mother/grandmother with a photo addiction. I can assure you that my family would MUCH rather I "chimp" the annual Christmas family photo and make sure I get it right the first time, so they don't have to reassemble and do it again later!

The first thing that came to my mind is one of the Olympus Tough, waterproof, drop proof, shock proof. Even if your granddaughter is very careful with her camera, so many times other kids pick them up and they might not be as careful. Just a thought!

I don't know the scientific name, but my mom always called them "Bleeding Hearts".

I have both Sony mirrorless system and Canon dslr system. I've found that I use my mirrorless camera for things inside, and the dslr system for things outside, because I like to use a zoom a lot outside. There really aren't any LONG zoom lens options for my Sony camera. I've also found that there are fewer low budget lens options for the Sony mirrorless.

Unless you really want the smaller size and portability of the mirrorless, it might be advantageous to stay with an slr body and use your current lenses.

I have a Sony NEX 5N and a Sony A6000, as well as Canon dslr's. While the A6000 menu is much improved, I would say that the NEX 5N menu is a bit "unconventional!"

While I have no experience with the A6500, I do have an A6000 and I also have an 80D. As previously stated, they're two different animals. I've been using Canon dslr's for 12 years and Sony mirrorless cameras for about 5 years.

I find there are far fewer lenses that I can afford for my Sony A6000 than for the Canon 80D. I don't have a lot of money to spend on lenses. There also aren't any super zoom (i.e. 150-600mm) lenses for the little Sony mirrorless like there are for the 80D. (Although you can buy an adapter to make lenses for the larger cameras fit, but then you give up much of the portability.)

Sigma has some excellent third parties lenses for the Sony mirrorless cameras, and I have three of them (19mm F2.8, 30mm F2.8 and 60mm F2.8). I also have a Sony 50mm F1.8, which is a great lens. I have a Tamron 18-200mm lens for the Sony A6000 but I find it very mediocre and don't use it much at all.

I use my Sony A6000 for indoor things or for outside when a zoom isn't needed. It takes great photos and is very portable and easy to travel with.

When it comes to photographing my grandkids' sports, I use my 80D, because the lenses needed for those things are more readily available and/or less expensive for my 80D.

If you are planning to need a lot of zoom I'd go with the 80D, because long zoom lenses are more abundant and cheaper for it. If you think you'll mostly shoot things closer up, then the A6500 would be fine.

Both cameras are capable of excellent images, but the 80D and lenses will be much more cumbersome for toting around.

Sandy

I don't know what kind of lighting you're in for martial arts. I take a lot of high school basketball shots, and I use either a Canon 70D or 80D, and for basketball I use the Canon 85mm F1.8. My best shots come when the aperture is F1.8, because I have to have a fast shutter speed.

Here is a link to a basketball shot and you can view the EXIF.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyhowell/32094941650/in/datetaken/

Oh my goodness, those finches among the blossoms is a fabulous photo and needs to be printed on canvas. It would be perfect for a bedroom wall or a sunroom!

I learned from my nephew that I will NEVER, EVER check a camera or a computer unless I am forced to. He took a trip to Germany and took a camera and laptop. He took some once in a life time photos, which he downloaded to his computer, and also left the original files on his camera card. He checked both the camera and the computer at the airport when he left Germany. When he had to change planes and transfer his luggage, they were both accounted for, but when he got to his final destination and claimed his luggage, there was no camera and no laptop inside. Clearly someone within the airport luggage system stole them. He made a report, but never got them back.

I believe you would need an adapter to make your current camera's lens fit the A6000. The A6000 is an E mount camera, and the regular slrs are A mount.

The A6000 is a very capable camera, and a good buy if you can get the body plus two lenses for $850. I purchased my A6000 for $548 a couple of years ago, for just the body alone, no lens.

You may want to purchase a third party battery charger from Amazon, because the A6000 doesn't come with a charger. It charges the battery while its inside the camera, using a USB cord. You can't take pictures while it's charging. Very inconvenient. But the third party chargers are inexpensive and make it much easier to keep a spare battery charged.

Sandy

I, too, use third party batteries in all my Canons and my Nikon. I do a little research on Amazon and only buy ones with a lot of good reviews. Occasionally I will get one that fails after a year, but for the money I save I don't worry it about, and just toss it in the trash. I might regret it one day, but so far I've been using generic batteries for 12 years.

Sandy

What a fabulous shot, and sepia tone adds to it!

Sandy