I started out in the days of film using an all manual Pentax K1000, which was a good camera for learning about photography. Once it was affordable to switch to digital SLRs, I bought a Canon 10D with a Canon EF 28-135 mm f 3.5-5.6 IS USM kit lens and a Tokina 12-24 mm f 4.0 AT-X PRO wide angle lens. When they added “Live View” to the DSLRs, I upgraded to the Canon 50D. Once full-frame sensor cameras became affordable, I upgraded to a Canon 5D Mark III, which has been my workhorse for many years. I am also now shooting with the Canon 5DSR, in order to take advantage of its higher pixel resolution.
I now use Canon “L” lenses, in particular, the Canon EF 16-35 mm f4.0, Canon EF 24-105 mm f 4.0 ISM USM, Canon EF 70-200 mm f 2.8 ISM USM II, and the Canon EF 100-400 mm f5.6 ISM USM II.
I have used screw-on circular polarizers for many years going back to the years of shooting with film cameras. I now use a Cokin Z-pro filter holder and sprocket type warming circular polarizer, 4X6 graduated neutral density filters, 4X6 reverse graduated neutral density filters, and 4X4 neutral density filters from Singh-ray and Lee.
For infrared photography, I use a Canon Rebel T1i converted as a dedicated infrared camera with an installed “Super Blue” filter, and a Canon 7D with a “Super Color” filter. Both conversions were done by Life Pixel.
For macro, I use a Canon EF 100 mm f 2.8 L ISM Macro, MP-E 65 mm f 2.8 1-5x Macro, a Canon MT-24EX macro flash, and two extension tubes (EF 12mm II and the EF 25mm II). The Canon 100mm and the macro flash have been my “go-to” gear for most macro images.
For Milky Way landscape photography, I have been using two manual Rokinon prime lens, a 20 mm f 2.0 and a 24 mm f 1.4.
When I am hiking to a location, I use a Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 carbon fiber tripod with an Really Right Stuff (RSS) BH-40 ballhead. For all other photography, I use RSS tripod and RSS BH-55 ballhead, which together weigh a bit more, but offer much greater stability. I use RRS L plates on all my cameras and also use their quick release lever clamps on the ballheads.