Give your local Best Buy store a call and they will schedule an appointment for you to go into their store so you can see and feel the Canon SX-70. It is important that you have one in your hands.

The Tamron 18-400 and 16-300mm are great. I know several top notch photographers who use them. I had an EF-S 18-135 and 70-300. We were on a trip to Australia. The 18-135mm wasn't long enough and the 70-300 wasn't wide enough. I lost lots of images because it took too long to change lenses on the tour.

We later took a trip to Japan and I used the older Tamron 16-270mm and never lost out on what I wanted to photograph in spite of the rush of the tour. I now have the Tamron 18-400mm and my wife has the Tamron 16-300 which we used on a trip to Alaska. Prime lenses may be great but not for tours. You don't want to change lenses in windy or inclement weather like you experience on tours. The Tamron glass is good enough to win photo contests.

Good natural light is very important! Just add a $15, 5 in 1 collapsible reflector disc kit that folds down to a case that is 1/3 the size. Have someone handhold the reflector(s) during the shoot. I carry my disc kit in the field with me and even use it outdoors for shooting flowers and people. Here's a link to B&H for the disc kit https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1016045-REG/raya_cr_51_22_5_in_1_collapsible_reflector_disc.html

I have a similar set for about 8 years and carry it in my backpack where ever I go.

I've used a 10 stop variable ND filter with the results that I wanted. However, it takes a little practice before you seriously use it. The only time you get the dreaded "X" is if you do not pay attention to the settings on the edge of the VND filter. If you go beyond the setting markings you will get the dreaded "X". Otherwise, it works great and is a very important tool. Use it right and you will like it!

Elements will cover your newer cameras and give you free RAW updates for about 3-5 years. Elements lists for $99.99. Adobe, right now has Elements 2020 on sale, on www.adobe.com, for $69.99. A new version of Elements should be released in October or November. Elements does everything I need it to do and is a lot less costly than the yearly subscription to Photoshop and Lightroom.

I use the Tamron 18-400 and really like it on my Canon 7D MKii. I had a Canon 18-135mm and 70-300mm and switched. On tours, you don't have time to constantly change lenses -- 135mm isn't long enough. l Then, you have to put on the 70mm - 300mm. Then 70mm isn't wide enough and you have to change back to the 18-135mm, etc. We went to Alaska for 21 days and the Tamron 18mm lens worked great! One lens, lighter to carry. You don't have to worry about dust on a windy day blowing into your camera when you change lenses. I won't go back to my Canon 18-135 mm and 70-300mm lenses.

Michael Freedman has another book entitled "The Photographer's Eye". Both books are kind of deep but some good tips.

No one really answered his question! Depth of field is a factor of: distance from the subject, focal length and aperture. Go to www.dofmaster.com and you can plug in your camera, lens, f/stop, and distance to the subject. That will give a real good idea as to what the depth of field will be for a particular situation.

The rebate is offered by Canon and not any of the dealers. This is the same offer through Best Buy. Here is the link for the rebate coupon: https://downloads.canon.com/nw/pdfs/promotions/printers/MiR-Form-PRO10-PRO100_0518_0630.pdf

I have used PSE for years and now have PSE 2020. I have 20 X 16" prints made all of the time, even for competitions, and those prints come out great.

Go with a monitor that uses IPS technology. They are only $20-$30 more expensive. IPS provides truer color, wider angle of view and many other benefits. My wife and I each have one -- different brands --for years. I check the color calibration once a year and don't see any changes. Just about all brands of monitors (HP, ViewSonic, LG, Dell, etc.) offer IPS. Here is an interesting link about IPS and compares other technologies:https://www.viewsonic.com/library/photography/what-is-an-ips-monitor-panel/

Contact: www.coolerguyus.com They have tons of fans and they have the proper tech support to be able to tell you what fan to use. They helped me select what I needed and I called them back for further tech assistance several months later. The have been in business for over 25 years and are easy to reach by phone.

Make sure your "super energy saving" is turned off on your monitor. I have an LG and noticed the problem you mentioned. I resolved the problem by switching off the Super Energy Saving mode.

Get a monitor that uses "IPS". It will give you truer color and only a few dollars more - about $20 - $30. LG makes them an so do many other brands.

I teach Photoshop Elements classes. There is so much newer technology in Elements 2020 that makes things easier and appreciably better than what you have. I highly recommend that you replace your current version of Elements. The $10 monthly subscription to Photoshop and Lightroom is for people who are really into post processing their images.