Contact your local Small Business Development Center, usually associated with a college. They are an arm of the SBA and have free assistance and many resources. Find yours at SBDCnet.org
As others have said, if you don’t have to have a laptop, go with the big iMac. My early 2009 is going strong with a new ssd. Max out the memory, but don’t buy it from Apple. MacSales has great prices on high quality RAM, been using them for 30 years.
This is the one I have. Fits iPhone 7plus, rotates horizontal or vertical. Very sturdy aluminum with brass insert for threads. You can buy a separate remote cheap enough. My priority is a stable platform.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01L3B5PBI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I agree with everything Andy said, with two additions. But first I’ll say I have used a Domke bag for 50 years, it will hold everything listed and more.
The additions are, if you’re hiking, a fanny pack. I have one that will carry all that stuff plus 20 rolls of film. Mine is a Buck’s Bag and has two removable side pouches. If you’re walking, try the Scott E vest, they have many configurations an hold an amazing amount of stuff all hidden from sight.
Here is my two cents. I have cloud back up, external HD backup and I use a paid SmugMug account for anything I need to share or make available to a third party. The next external drive I purchase will be an SSD, the cost is now reasonable.
File size reduction in Photos is accomplished via the export command. You May select from one of three sizes.
I’m lucky enough to live in the mountains above LA so I have lots of nature and great night skies.
I have a refurb Canon Powershot 300 purchased from Canon that is a perfect complement to my iPhone (just kidding, it’s so I don’t have to carry the DSLR). You can buy the 20.2 mp 360 for less than $200. You can eliminate the shutter lag by pre-focusing.
https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/powershot-elph-360-hs-black-refurbished-digital-camera
I don’t see anywhere that you actually inquire what they want to learn. If they are not already familiar with the basics and enthused about expanding their technical knowledge, you will overwhelm them. To some people, learning photography is “how do I turn this thing on and which part faces forward”.
The mechanics of your equipment and the juxtaposition of shutter speed and aperture are critical in the process. In the beginning you must understand light and how it reflects off of myriad surfaces. You must also understand the two dimensional nature of an image and how to translate the three dimensional image in your mind’s eye to that film. Ansel Adams penned an instructional series that simplifies his exposure zone theory and the journey which is photography.
I have a Logan similar to the 4000 but about 45 years older. I once, because of poor planning, had to cut 57 mats in one evening. It performs flawlessly. Two tips: use industrial grade razor blades and put masking tape on the back of your guide rule.
When you first sit in front of it, you are overwhelmed. It then captures your imagination and becomes your personal unicorn! Things will never be quite the same again.
Here is the answer to your other questions
https://shuttermuse.com/glossary/stm/
The others are correct, many brands and options equal choose what feels right for you by touching the candidates
I have a Viltrox purchased on amazon for less than $30. It has multiple modes, including bulb. Works very well on Canon
I had a grey market A-1 back in the day. When I took it to Canon, they explained the policy, but since I had a USA power winder attached, they considered it all under warranty and fixed it for free