I agree - for what you are going to use it for the A6000 is a good choice. The cost is not bad, including some lenses.
Be aware though that the A6000 is not weatherproof. So keep it out of the rain.

I use UV filters on my lenses. That being said, I use good quality U V filters, not the cheap ones. I have a good camera and good lenses. I don't think with today's cameras (DSLR) that you would get that much change in an image taken with our without a UV filter that the human eye could see, unless our blowing it up to mega-poster size. There sure are some strong OPINIONS on this topic, so I will just have to make a test and see for myself.
Happy shooting.

I am concerned about someone stealing my photography equipment. My though is that it is most likely someone wanting to sell or pawn it, not use it. I put a special tracing ID on all my equipment. I got it from "COPDOTS".
https://www.datadotdna.com/solutions/copdots/

It won't prevent someone from stealing my stuff, but if it ends up in a pawn shop or if by chance the police do find someone with my stuff I can prove it is mine.
Just a thought.

I am a member of a photo club. We have a -three- judge panel critique photos of members once a year. The photo can be framed and matted, canvas prints, or metal prints. If the print is framed most of the judges want to see as simple black frame and white mat. No fancy frames or colored mat. This seems to be the norm for many "photography" shows, as apposed to photography in an art gallery. I had a 16 x 20 photo, very nice custom frame and colored double mated that I entered in my art league annual juried show and won first place. I put the same photo in the photo club judged show and won nothing. Some other members in the photo club had colored mat nice frames and the judges comments were not favorable toward that type of format. So I guess it just depends on the venue and the "opinion" of the judge. Go figure. One thing I learned since entering art and photographs in shows is that it's all "very subjective". If it's a photography show I tend to go with plain simple black frame and white mat.

Here we go again. Now Play Nice guys.

If you have an LCD screen on the back of your camera you can use a HOODMAN - Hoodloop to view in Live View the focus before taking the shot, and after to view the image taken. The Hoodman focus clarity can be adjusted to your eye.
I use it a lot.

Converting a color to B & W in what ever post processing software you use is one thing. But keep in mind that conversion to B & W success depends first on: texture, contrast, patterns, tonal range, lines, shape & form. Not all color images make good B & W images no matter how much post processing you do. Good B & W scenes can be different from good color scenes. Not every color image is born to be B & W. Get it first in the camera, then in post processing. Using NIK Silver Effects Pro - will definitely help you select the ZONE range you want (The same zone range's developed by Ansel Adams).

I would also suggest when converting to B & W - employ the Ansel Adams Printing Plan. Of course you're doing this in digital so it is much easier. After you made your first B & W conversion and adjustments make a print. See what it looks like and then make additional adjustments as you see fit.

Try Smart Photo Editor Studio - runs about $40 - easy to use.

I fully agree with Chris Hayes. I have the Wimberly Sidekick and really like it. Takes up much less room and works great. I don't have to dedicate a tripod to have a gimbaled head. The cost is much less also. Much better deal I think.

I agree Topaz Studio is a good starting point. And if you have a few extra $ you can add some additional Adjustment- tools to it. If you sign on and watch their TOPAZ Webinars - they offer 20% discounts. I have Topaz Studio and find it to be a very good PP tool. Also look into Smart Photo Editor Studio - Run about $40 - has tons of presets that are FREE.

Disregard the comments on - "Fixed Income"

burkphoto - thank you for your long and very informative reply. I have a Canon Pro 10- which I have not set up yet. But all your input is so very helpful.

I use primarily B&W filters, UV and otherwise. And yes, if I'm going to shoot the moon I take the UV filter off. First time I shot the moon I wondered why I had two moons?
As everyone has been saying, basically good glass deserves good filters, don't go cheap. B&H many times has sales on good filters. If your a little short on cash and want to save some $ on say ND or CP filters buy the one you need for your largest lens and then get some step-down rings to fit your other lenses.

Having time to shoot can be a problem. Suggest you put yourself on a "make time for your self" schedule, even if it is only 15 or 30 minutes a week or day. Set that time aside just for you to go out and shoot some photos. May I also suggest maybe trying MACRO photography. You can find lots of subjects in our own backyard, a park close by, or even in your office or house. A very reasonable post-processing software is "Smart Photo Editor" about $40 - and has all kinds of presets to expand your creativity. Check out Mike Moats - Macro Club on FaceBook. He has tons of good stuff and if you join the club he offers all kinds of short videos.

If you have a smartphone with a camera - you have access to photography all the time. I have an iPhone 7+, it has a close up lens and a telephoto lens. You can get lots of great photography with today's smartphones. That way you can take pictures just about anytime without having to have your regular DSLR camera equipment.

I too have an engineering background and have to work at improving my creativity - it just takes practice, practice, practice. For some folks it comes natural, for the rest of us we just have to hone that skill. As time went on in learning photography I started to develop my "photographers eye". I started to see things differently and started to see in my minds eye what the photo could look like. It's really a lot of fun once you develop that skill. It doesn't take that much to grasp the "technical" aspects of operating the camera, it's the creativity that takes time. For me, I have started to focus on "lighting" - which is a major aspect of photography and "composition". Both of these will certainly expand your creativity.

Keep it up. Save some of your first photos (good or bad) and then a year from now take a look at them and see how much you have improved over that period of time. Then do it again.

Glad to see this post. Can anyone using the Wacom tablet share some good resources for training and video tutorials for the Wacom tablet?

photographers are looking at textures, tones, shapes, lines, contrasts of light and shadow.
Linda, you are spot on. I just finished a B & W workshop conducted by Mary Louise Rasvesa from Bella Vista Photography and these were the focal point she brought out.