So, I went to Amazon, and searched for whatca called it, and I read the first sentence:

This Amazon Renewed product is professionally inspected and tested by an Amazon qualified supplier. Box and accessories may be generic. Learn more

The learn more is a link

That is all I am going to say. :)

May I offer one suggestion for your trip:

Every picture tells a story - Only if you find the story before you randomly shoot. Pictures are like a sentence - every one must have a subject. When you set up the photo, make sure you can answer the question - what do I want to say about this scene?

If I offered one, it would be second hand from the web. I was actually looking for some comments from this group on quality of some of the "its just as good as PS", because where this group has given us their personal reviews of equipment or software, it far exceeds what is out on the web. I personally use PSP 2019, and have since about 1986 (Ver 0.1 in DOS 2.2). I don't look at PS or Affinity because it would just cost me money or envy if I liked them. I know that PS and LR do have incremental quality improvements over PSP and ASP, but I am happy with the Corel line. I don't spend $10/month, but I do spend $$54 per year to maintain PSP - I would like to see PSP go to the subscription model based on my experience with the µsoft office subscription.

The elephant in the room is that there are few good clear nights in the Great Lakes states, Michigan has about 59 clear nights a year, and there is no spot within 150 miles of Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland or Milwaukee where the ambient lights does not reduce the sky to about a magnitude 3 or 4 compared to a magnitude greater than 8 or 9 in much of Arizona.

That being said, there are dozens of local astronomy clubs in the great Lakes region where folks gather once or twice a month to discuss looking at and photographing the universe. You have never seen lens envy until you have seen a guy with a 20 inch f/5 reflector looking with envy at the guy with the 30 inch f/3.3 reflector.

This site will lead you to contact information on over 95% of astronomy clubs in the US:
https://www.astroleague.org/

I saw several different programs mentioned and the relative cost of each, but I did not see an entry discussing quality. I am left wondering whether it is because A) all programs deliver essentially the same results, or B) in the age of electronic display, any differences in quality is lost in the noise level of the displayed images..

How much quality are you personally willing to give up, and how much workflow are you willing to put up with to save a few bucks here and there.

If I can politely say it, I think you just missed a great shot. Your position and lens choice have altered the proportions enough to make it slightly uncomfortable. Perhaps a higher viewpoint , or two steps back.

Background is great, color is magnificent, photo is very crisp.

one person's opinion

According to Instagram's own Terms of Use, "Once you have shared User Content or made it public, that User Content may be re-shared by others."

"Instagram says it can sell your photos and grant permission on your behalf."

You are going to purchase a new camera and at least two lenses; are you sure you want to buy into old technology - the Canon T series may be dead after the T8i- Canon is trying to move us into the full frame mirrorless with the Canon RP. Yes, it is an extra $500, but you put yourself on a path that winds into the future not a path where you can see the end of the trail from here.

If you are intent on the T7i (You will love it) you may want to wait one more month. Once the T8i becomes a real camera, the T7i will drop in price - typically $100

Canon 1D, Nikon 5D, Hasselblad H6d, Lieca M10, (tell me when to stop)

Because, you see, the best camera for instagram would naturally be, "The Best Camera".

Perhaps the better question would be what is the MINIMUM I will have to spend considering my photographic subject matter and my photographic prowess to achieve the level of praise I desire from the instagram platform.

1) if you have an event, and it becomes only you and "him" it is not an event, cancel it for lack of interest and get in your car and drive into town.

2) If you have the event, take someone you are familiar with and the two of you approach and get to know this person. Talk about his camera, why he chose the particular camera bag he has, etc. Questions that will inform you if he really is a photographer or just a picture taker. Discuss his interests in photography, and learn as much as you (and your friend) can learn. Find out if he has kids, mention you are in your 40th year of marriage, ask lots of questions. You may feel better about him, or you may put him on the defensive.

3) If you really want to get rid of him, ask him to volunteer to run the next event (Poof, where did he go?)

Suggestion: Write down exactly what you did to capture and process the first shot, and then....
Keep doing it over and over and over - That is a great shot!

(Although you could have asked the lizard to lower his chin just a little and slowly turn only his head towards the camera... )

You really need about a 55 inch monitor to resolve pixels in 4K.

My next computer, I will concentrate on Graphics card quality, processor (8 pipe), and memory (32G), and only then will I concern myself with Monitor Size and capability

8-12 hours a day, 5-6 days a week for 20, 30, 50 years, Sitting, Scrunching, waiting, not moving a muscle for 45 minutes waiting for that shot. Thousands of dollars in equipment and equipment to transport that equipment and vehicles to haul that transported equipment. Check the light, set the camera, check the light, set the camera, if I wait 15 minutes that light will be exactly where I want it - Check light, set camera, check it again

Cold, wet, miserable, Damn I hate this job.

Wow, I got it! I got that shot, I love this job.

(At computer) Wow, perfect, don't change anything! Well, maybe... nope, leave it, Print it!

I would check the chemicals on unimportant shots first. It may be actually expired as well as being Waaaaay beyond its expiry date.

Example: Canon EOSR

Canon $2299
B&H $2299
KEH $2299
Amazon $2299
Best Buy $2299
Normans $2299
(Local Store In Kalamazoo/Grand Rapids, Mark's in GR, Riley in Holland and The Camera Shop in Muskegon will meet this price)

Now, if you just throw away all that warrantee paperwork , then you can drop the price by $300

There is this misconception that B&H and Amazon and other online are cheaper, and it is not true. There is no local market any longer, we live in a national/global market, and the prices we pay reflect the market influences.