I have used a variety of new cameras of different brands and helped others with their cameras too. If a new camera is produced by a manufacturer (doesn't matter which one) and chooses to change the file format of its image files, then no piece of software will be able to open those files successfully unless the camera manufacturer has chosen to share file information with the company that makes the post processing software before the software is released. Once the camera is in production and being sold, the companies that produce post processing software like adobe can then engineer the ability to open the file. This may take a couple of weeks. Having bought new Canon cameras and new Sonys in the last couple of years since Adobe went to the subscription model, I have been pleasantly surprised how quickly they have upgraded Adobe Camera Raw for the new cameras. This may be true of other software too, but it is not a particular issue with Adobe. It is true that Adobe (and a lot of other software too) can't take full advantage of special features in some cameras. You can do some things with Canon's software DPP4 and Sony's version of Capture One that you can't do in Photoshop, but DPP4 is pretty clunky software. Capture One is not bad. But that is a different issue with specific Camera brand software.

Lightroom CC is not as feature rich, maybe because it is designed for mobile devices--tablets and phones, but Lightroom Classic CC is continually adding new features. This is confusing and I wish Adobe would make these distinctions clearer. Depending on what you are doing, it may not pay to upgrade from the stand alone version, but for other things in might.

Use whatever software you want. I can't imagine anyone here really cares; I certainly don't. I think the rant about the subscription (which comes to $120.00 a year for a product which has been improving dramatically) is silly. But process your photos with whatever you like. I wish though that professionals wouldn't mislead others with misinformation like "Elements is just as good as" or "you have to be connected to the cloud via the Internet to use the product" would stop perpetuating this nonsense to others who are trying to learn how to process photos (and yes, I was in a college class where the instructor went on the rant and said this to his poor unsuspecting students). Ok, that is my rant. As one of the posters stated earlier, you have to be connected to the cloud to set up the program, but not to use it. I also like the way I can use it on both my laptop and desktop by signing out of one and signing on to the other. There are other programs out there that are free or less expensive, but one shouldn't underestimate the significance of the ability to process photos with a quality product that is probably more affordable now than it was 10-15 years ago when you had to buy the whole package for several hundred dollars and then upgrade it annually for almost what you pay for it in monthly fees.

I don't know where you live, but if there is either a local camera store or a Best Buy nearby, go take a look at some of the mirrorless cameras you are interested in. Much of whether or not you will like a camera depends on how it feels to you and how you like the results from it. Most cameras now have really good IQ so it really depends on how easy it is to get that IQ (which more often than not depends on ease of use and how it feels as it does tech specs). The tech specs can be important if you can master them because in the end, they can make things easier, but it really depends on you and what you like to photograph. The Sonys and Fujis (and for smaller sensor cameras the Panasonics and Olympus brands) are the most popular and most tested mirrorless cameras. The APS-C Canon cameras have been around for awhile too. They don't have the tech of the others (which could be a consideration), but they are easy to use and on the less expensive side. All will have a bit of a learning curve. If you photograph with others, you might see what they have. It is easier to learn a new system if you know someone who you can ask about features.

I have been using various versions of the Sony RX100 since they came out. I now have version VI, which is my favorite (though I have said that before). The quality is excellent for such a small camera, the autofocus has gotten better with each model, and it now has a viewfinder and a decent zoom. Everybody has their favorites. This is mine. I have used various small Panasonic cameras too, but I just haven't found any other pocket camera that can match the IQ for me that I can get from the RX100s. Whatever you decide on, I would recommend a camera with at least a 1" sensor.

I think I felt safer in China with my cameras than anywhere else I have traveled. There are a lot of soldiers near tourist destinations and in general the Chinese were more interested in me taking their picture than raising concerns about what I was taking pictures of. Russia, on the other hand, was probably the place I felt the least safe with my cameras. Use your street smarts and you will be fine, but the police as well as theives can distract you into making mistakes that could be costly. You can take pictures almost everywhere, but many places charge you extra for bringing a camera in (this didn't bother me much, I simply paid the fee and took as many photos as I wanted). I regret that I didn't try to sneak a picture in the St. Petersburg subway because it is deep with many murals and quite fascinating. But I obeyed the no photograph rule there. I really didn't encounter any issues at all in China. I haven't been to Mongolia, Vietnam or Cambodia yet; all are on my bucket list, but friends have taken photos there with no incident. In general, I was using wider angle lenses in both China and Russia more than others. Some of this is me in that I tend to be more of a wide angle shooter.

I mostly shoot with ff Canons and Sonys, but I have been using various Sony rx100s since they came out for travel backup, hiking, going to places where probably not a good idea to have a large camera, etc. I have been consistently impressed with the outstanding iq from these cameras. I had the original which went with me to the summits of some pretty high mountains, gone ziplining and to quite a few countries in the world. It's been rained on, snowed on, etc , dropped on marble at Hearst Castle (only slightly scratched)-was still working flawless when I sold it a few months ago along with version V, so I could buy version VI. Why I had kept the original even while upgrading was because of the slightly longer lens than models iii-v. When the VI came out, I knew it was what I wanted and I haven't been disappointed. Everyone (including me) will recommend their favorite cameras, one of mine has to be the RX100s (all of them).

It's possible I just go to the play button to view the image, but if you go into the menu and scroll through it, there is probably a place where you can click view image and how much time you want to view it after taking the picture. This is my fourth RX100 and the best yet; the camera is really good considering how small it is, but I do get a bit stymied by Sony's defaults and menus sometimes. Good luck

I haven't noticed too much of a delay in delivery time since B&H switched, but it is very inconvenient when they refuse to let you hold the item at a FEDEX facility for pick up. I used to regularly do this with UPS and never had a problem. I don't buy the--it's safer if you sign at a home. I have to show my id and sign for packages when I pick them up at Fedex(it doesn't seem to be a problem for other vendors--only B&H). What this means is that I have to take off work to wait for delivery and Fedex is notoriously bad in my area for not coming when they say they will.

My bigger concern is the packaging, which has deteriorated significantly (and yes, I emailed B&H about it and did not post about it on line, until it just happened again). I got a response from B&H a month after I sent pictures showing how poorly packaged and damaged boxes were (happily didn't affect what was in the boxes, but no thanks to the shoddy packaging from B&H), basically saying "that's awful, but nothing else." I just got another package from them which took ages to arrive and the package was broken open showing the item inside--nothing protecting the product at all. In fact, the whole bottom of the package was torn loose. Of course, they say the problem is with FEDEX and FEDEX has repeatedly told me to notify B&H that their packaging is horrible, who knows who is at fault? I continue to buy from B&H, but I am now trying other places first (and I regret saying this, as I have been buying goods from B&H for almost 25 years when I used to buy audio equipment from them). They have always been superior, but when you buy a $3000.00 camera, you don't want the box its in bashed in and no protective covering at all--they just simply popped the camera box in a larger brown box for shipping.

a great photo and a good idea!

I have dealt with that Canon service center quite a bit. I have always been very pleased by their service and they have always stood by their repairs. I do believe the warranty is for a year. I would ask to talk to some above who you spoke with.

I have known about diffraction and always mostly kept apertures below f16 unless I wanted a sunstar or something like that. I never really understood it or thought about it much, so I really appreciate the way you started this discussion and the various responses here. This is one of the best most useful discussions I have read either on this forum or on others, so thanks to all. I especially appreciated the Steve Perry video Gene51 linked to. It really helped me to answer the op's question in my own work--yea, it's there but what is the practical impact of it on my photography, especially when I would like a larger dof. Again, thanks to all of you who participated here.

Probably still too new. Give Adobe a week or two and they should be able to update camera raw to read the files. It's always frustrating with new cameras, but companies like Adobe are much faster with the raw conversions these days than they used to.

I have had a number of cameras/systems over the years. The cameras and lenses have been superb and rarely require any customer service. But, I use my cameras a lot, sometimes in places where the elements can get to the equipment. From my experience, Canon is heads and tails above everyone else; there is no comparison. I am a CPS member, which certainly helps, but I always got good service from them even before I became a member. They honor their repairs and get cameras back to me in a timely fashion. I had a horrible time with Nikon when I had a D600 that spewed so much oil on the sensor so regularly that I switched to Canon. They refused to acknowledge there was a problem with the camera until long after I stopped using it. When they finally did repair it, I had moved on, though I must say they did a great job with the repair. I agree that Panasonic service is terrible (but it was for an older camera, maybe they are better now). I am now using some Sony gear alongside my Canon gear but I would have no clue where to take it if it needed a repair, so the jury is still out there.

I have dealt with few companies in recent years that have been as attentive to their customers as Canon. I do realize, however, that I might be luckier than some in having a service center close to where I live (though the Nikon facility is close too and I don't think their service comes anywhere close to what Canon offers).

Would I buy equipment based on the quality of service--perhaps. Nothing is worse than having a camera fail when you most want a shot. Pros depend on good service. I am not a pro, but service is of some import. I have stayed away from Nikon because of my bad experience with both the camera and the service. Will see what happens when I have a problem with my Sony gear. The reality is that most cameras and lenses work correctly right out of the box (the D600 was an exception here ) and keep working for years if kept up well. For most hobbiests like myself, it is nice to have great service, but probably ok if I don't.

You didn't really lay out your needs. I love my Canon 16-35 f4 lens. I got it shortly after it came out and it pretty much is always on the camera except when I specifically need a different lens. It is amazingly sharp for the price and it is been to much of the world with me. I can't recommend it highly enough. I also have the 16-35 f2.8 III lens that I got for astro-landscape photography. Here I needed the faster lens, but unless you are doing that kind of photography the F4 version is a terrific, relatively inexpensive, and lightweight lens. Even though I have the 2.8 version, I still usually travel with the f4 version because of its weight and the image stabilization in it. I have a friend with the 2.8 II version and it is not as sharp as the f4. So, I would say unless you want to do a lot of night photography, you will be very happy with the f4 version.