Read this again…& again….so many issues are Operator generated….example
Pick a stationary subject, select your settings, take picture…Now add on remote control& place on tripod, focus on same subject, snap picture…compare….breathing is crucial & learning to gently depress shutter

Battery "swelling"...the old Ni-Cad batteries were very prone to this, lithium less o, but still occurs. Rule of thumb, place the battery on a flat surface a spin it...If it doesnt spin, battery is good, if it spins, the battery is towards end of life. Unsure if your camera has a place to check battery in your menu, but my Nikons do & will show not only current charge, but lifer of battery on a grade of 1-4 4 being new or best

Family is always first….& the big “R” can take a bit of adjusting, but rewarding…Congrats, THANKS for stellar service to all the customers

One of the better, yet often bypassed or not considered is the Nikon 18-300 (F/3.5-6.3) DX lens. Most folks go with the older 18-200, but as far as quality of images & having a slightly longer reach, I prefer the 18-300
Ken Rockwell a well known independent tester of Nikon bodies & lenses, has a nice write up with examples
https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/10-best.htm#dx

I paired this lens with my D-500 for a while, & continued to research other DX lenses. Nikon makes a much better lens, the 18-300 (see a report from Ken Rockwell) https://kenrockwell.com/nikon/18-300mm-vr.htm he is a totally independent reviewer, tester. I still have this lens (18-300) and use it for a lot of my remote shoots (Kennedy Space Center launch pad) & have been very pleased with results I have gotten over the past 4 1/2 years. I dug up an old image taken with the 18-300...largely untouched N-500, 18-300 1/8000 F/10 ISO 100 shot at 106mm

Format the card in camera (not on PC). try again, if issue is still present, try a different card (preferably new)

Step 1) Try a different Nikon Lens (not a 3rd party), if no changes, reset your camera to factory default as described in owners manual, also try a different memory card...not usual, but it may apply (Also format the card in the camera, not on PC

If all that fails, call Nikon Tech Support, they have tons of hidden ideas before they say (send it in)

Have her google "Rule of thirds" & also have her write down what she is interested in taking pictures of...people, landscape, macro, If she already has a camera, practice lighting settings in and around house depending on her mobility. Developing images with various software packages, i.e. LightRoom, ACDSee, CorelDraw has become a marketeers dream,,,it all comes down to her level of comfort & learning. Speedy Recovery

First, great camera....excellent choice. Batteries, so much has been written with folks on both sides...Buy name brand only, "I've used Brand X for years never an issue."
I've tried a few off brands and then took a "deep dive". Charging voltages: Any off brand that sells a battery where the battery can be charged with a different voltage ...I steer clear of. (Take a look at Nikons Tech Specs on the charging unit). Battery itself...I believe the latest Rev for the D-500 battery is Rev C & it clearly states the MaH, so if you're buying off brand make sure they match. Also look at battery temperature spewcs during use.

To me it really came down to this.....I can afford to spend $$$XXXX.XX for a well built camera, am I really worried about a few $XX to save?....

I gave up on watermarks years ago & just use “DigiMarc”..www.digimarc.com. Encrypted digital signature. Automatically authenticates true author, date, location etc

Miops hands down, unless you're handy with a soldering iron & want to make your own for about $12 in parts

With the Nikon 400 & Nikon 600, I simply attached a monopod to the base of the lens and walked away with it hanging over my shoulder like a fishing pole. Since migrating to the "Z" series, the 600mm is much lighter

https://www.mreclipse.com/SEphoto/SEphoto.html

He maintains this site & is one of the most noted experts on shooting the sun.

Rule # 1) Safety, Safety, Safety, proper solar filters & solar glasses Never look through the viewfinder
Rule 2) PRACTICE, depending on where you are at, you may not have a lot of time.

NASA & other sites maintain excellent resources for useful tips

Weather: https://ncsu.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=a65a18758b264f1790665a68b858b3d6 Everything on this site is based on past weather over a number of years, it will provide you with an idea of your chance with what the weather in your area will probably be.

I have a slightly older version, .The video that comes with it (opening screen) takes you through step by step. Tons of data on Google, YouTube & their tech support is located here in the US

Depending on the amount of data you want to have…jpeg vs raw any size from 1. TB up to 4 TB should easily do. I learned a long time ago, to get away from the spinning disk type of external storage & paid a bit more for Solid State. Many are now offered, some with “Can be dropped from 3-4 feet”….vendors are like buying a car…Ford vs Chevy, Seagate vs Western Digital….last years issues have most certainly been corrected by firmware.