My analogy has been the old fashioned (and proven) card file system used by Libraries. The Card File contains the information about the book, including its location. You use the Card to retrieve the book (its location) and/or any data about the book, i.e., author, copyright, etc. The Book, of course, is not altered by the Card File. Lightroom's Catalog serves the same function. As in a Library, one could (given the time) browse the shelves looking for a file. However, it is more efficient to use the Catalog (Card File)... unless someone has moved the book to the Janitor's Closet (or another Folder) without noting the change in the Card File.

This is, also, my choices... and has been for many (10+) years. I am partial to Red River's 68lb Ultrapro Satin 3.0 (both single and double-sided). (I currently use an Epson Stylus Pro 3880.)

That has always been my understanding, also.

Okay, I give up. How does one delete superfluous posts?

I have itching to try this App... just haven't had time.
https://www.google.com/photos/scan/

I have been itching to try this App... just haven't had time.

https://www.google.com/photos/scan/

I have been itching to try this App... just haven't had time.

https://www.google.com/photos/scan/

Is this the URL you were given?

https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/products/details/cameras/dslr/eos-7d-mark-ii

I am old. Dates are too difficult for me... I can't remember what I had for breakfast this morning.

I have 2.11 TB and 162,968 files, 102 folders. Of those folders, 74 are Legacy (pre-Lightroom) the remaining 28 are in current use and then only to keep cameras separate -- to prevent file-naming conflicts. I use "Keywords" to isolate (quickly find) images rather than the confusing "folder" filing method.

My "Backup" system is similar... except for the Cloud part.

My Images backup system is accomplished solely with the program "Compare Advance" - http://www.bauerapps.com/compare-folders-windows-compare-advance/ - (there are many similar programs). I have two identical 4TB external drives that contain all of the Lightroom files (program and catalog) AND all of my image files. This was done, initially, by a simple copy-to procedure but is now maintained solely by "Compare Advance": one drive is attached to my desktop machine and the other goes with my Laptop while traveling.

"Compare Advance" keeps these two drives synced by simply copying changed/added files between the two drives. Therefore, on these two drives, this is done on a "as needed" basis.

In the meantime, after every processing done on the desktop, "Compare Advance" is used to copy the changed/added files to three external 3TB drives.

Since, this (Compare Advance) is simple copying, there is no fear of duplicating "bad sectors" or other HD problems.

This system has served me well for many years. I should mention, of course, that I always allow Lightroom to do its built-in "Backup" to the internal drive of the machine in use at the time.

I wonder. Lightroom writes the changes (those written to sidecar files for RAW images) directly into the JPEG file (since it is a writeable file). You can confirm this by opening a JPEG image the has been processed, closed and saved and then hitting the "Reset" button in the Develop Module.

I use the Manfrotto 685B monopod (see above post) and a ProMediaGear Tomahawk Gimbal with my Tamron 150-600. Incredible range-of-motion with that combination... and all of the weight is absorbed by the monopod.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1056496-REG/promediagear_gt1_tomahawk_gimbal_attachment.html

I am partial to the Manfrotto 685B because of its one-handed operation. Many sources - https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGNI_enUS483US484&q=manfrotto+685b&qscrl=1