Personal preference plays a huge role here so take my recommendation with a grain of salt. What I love, you might hate. But based on what you described, I think you'd really enjoy what I'm about to suggest.

Check out dedicated forums and message boards for this topic. The communities are usually very welcoming to newcomers and can give much more detailed advice than a general Q&A site. Plus they have buyer's guides and FAQ sections.

Honestly just dive in. You learn this stuff by doing it, not by researching it forever. I spent months reading about getting started instead of actually starting. Looking back I wasted a lot of time being scared to begin.

I've been into this hobby for over 10 years and the best advice I can give a beginner is: don't overthink it. Start with something affordable, learn the basics, and then upgrade once you know what you actually want and need.

Whatever you do, ignore the snobs. Every hobby has gatekeepers who act like you need expensive gear or 'correct' taste to belong. Forget them. Enjoy it your own way at your own pace. It's supposed to be fun.