I really want to start taking better pictures because my iPhone 11 just isnt cutting it anymore for like, nature stuff and my upcoming trip to Zion in three weeks. Everyone says Sony is the way to go so I was looking at their cameras but oh my god they are so expensive?? I saw one that was like two thousand dollars just for the body part not even the lens. I dont have that kind of money lol. My budget is more like 600 max for everything if that's even possible.

So I started googling and saw stuff about refurbished cameras which sounds like they are used but fixed up? I think? I'm honestly so confused if that's a good idea or if I'm just gonna get sent a box with a rock in it. I looked at the Sony website but they didnt have much in stock that I could find or maybe I was just looking in the wrong place because their menu is kind of a mess.

Then I saw sites like Back Market and Keh and Adorama and I have no idea which one is actually legit for Sony specifically. My logic was that maybe the official Sony store is the safest but then I saw a Reddit thread saying they rarely restock. Is it better to buy from like a big camera store or just some random person on eBay? Im scared of getting something with a scratched lens or a broken sensor thingy. I dont even know how to check if a camera is working right when it arrives.

Are there any secret spots or specific websites where you guys get your Sony gear for cheap? I keep seeing the a6000 or a6400 mentioned for beginners but even those seem pricey brand new. If I buy refurbished am I getting a warranty or is it just good luck hope it works? Sorry if these are really basic questions I just dont want to waste my 600 bucks on something that breaks in a week...