Why gear is both the most and the least important
Good equipment is important in photography, but it can be easy to get an excessive equipment focus. As a person who is above average interested in technical gadgets (read: "nerd"), I know this all too well. Through many years of different interests, I have often fallen in love with different equipment. Typically what is just a little better than what I have. From experience I know that this infatuation only lasts until you buy it, because there is always something a little better or newer.
My passion for photography was born out of the joy of getting out into nature with a purpose. I therefore try to maintain and nurture the same passion, and rather try to develop myself in other areas than the gear first. But it is not to be underestimated that sooner or later poor equipment will be an obstacle, and then it is time to consider an upgrade. I still try to keep a good balance here. Photography is also not a cheap hobby, so it is good for both the soul and the wallet to invest in things you actually need, even if you want more.
I therefore divide my gear list into three: Things I want but have not bought yet, things I have, and things I have sold or stopped using. Also note that the links are affiliate links, which means that I get a small commission if you use them to buy something.
Wish list
Nikon Z7 : After thorough reviews, this is what I think I'm going to go for as my next camera. The future is mirrorless, and the Z7 is currently the king of the hill with high resolution, practical size and all the latest in technology
Nikon D750 : A cheaper alternative to the Z7. Starting to get a few years old, but you can now get this used under $1000. For a long time this was at the top of my wish list, as with 24Mp it will give me double resolution from today, expandable screen and wifi. At a third of the price, it is a very good compromise that could probably be realized faster than the Z7. Still, the touch screen and higher resolution of the Z7 are so tempting that I probably will wait a little longer to get something that I think I will be more happy with in the end
Nikon Z6 or Nikon D780 : These two are more or less twins in functionality and price, only with and without mirrors. I still consider what I get extra compared to the D750 as too little to justify the cost. These therefore end up in shared third place.
Gear I'm using
Nikon D700 : My first full-frame camera, a real workhorse and a great camera! Bought used for less than $300. Takes fantastic pictures, but with 12 megapixels it gives little room for cropping afterwards. As a gateway to full format, it has nevertheless been a very good investment, and I do not think I will ever sell it.
Nikkor 28-300mm 3.5-5.6 "superzoom": My absolute favorite lens due to its versatile applications. I take maybe 80% of all my landscape photos with this, and about 100% of other photos (family, vacation, sports, etc.)
Nikkor 18-35mm 3.5-4.5 wide angle: Extremely lightweight, and nice to have lying in the bag for those cases where the super zoom does not go wide enough.
These are the only two lenses I have and I have never missed anyone else. Without having a very strong basis for comparison, I have not noticed any sharpness issues with the super zoom, but such a zoom range must necessarily come with a cost. Maybe this will become clearer the day I upgrade to a newer camera, and I may have to replace it with a 70-200, possibly in combination with a 24-70. In that case, I will miss the simplicity of a lens that covers most of my needs, so I guess I will keep it for more everyday use anyway.
Sirui T-2205X Tripod: This carbon fiber tripod with ball head is very good. It weighs little, it is steady, and gets tall enough to work comfortably at full height, although I usually set it up at lower heights. It has spikes that can be screwed out for better grip on slippery surfaces, the center column is practical for fine adjustment of height and the ball head works just fine. The screw locks on the legs work very well, but I am usually not patient enough to adjust the stand completely level. I am therefore considering getting a level head to be able to level the ball head even if the tripod is slightly skewed. This makes it possible to get perfect panoramic shots without spending a lot of time getting the stand completely level.
Lowepro Rover Pro 45L AW backpack: This is a very good backpack, and is the one I use most often, especially if I am going out for a walk. What I like about this backpack is that it has good ergonomics with straps for the hip and chest so that most of the weight does not fall on the shoulders. This makes it comfortable for longer trips. It has two internal, smaller bags for the photo equipment, which is convenient if you, for example, travel by plane and want to take one or both in your hand luggage. It also has plenty of space for other stuff such as food and clothing in addition to the photo equipment. The backpack is therefore ideal for day trips, but I would think it might be a little too small for camping, without having tried it yet.
What I have to point out about this backpack is that the photo equipment is accessed by first opening the front of the backpack, and then each individual inner bag. This has two disadvantages: First, the camera is slightly less accessible than for other systems that open in the back with direct access. Secondly, it feels a little unnatural to have to put my backpack on its back when I have to grab the camera. I often travel in marshy and wet terrain, and when I put down my backpack, the back straps quickly get wet and dirty when they end up at the bottom. Then I would have preferred that it was rather the front of the backpack that had to take the hit.
But these are things I did not think of when I bought the backpack, and all in all I am very happy with it. Other systems probably have other advantages and disadvantages, and maybe there will be things I miss if I switch.
Gear I no longer use
Canon EOS 1100D: My first SLR. Was purchased for family use about 10 years ago, and was mostly used with full auto. Still, this was the camera I used to learn the basic settings such as aperture, ISO and shutter speed. And although the camera certainly has its limitations, in the right environment it can produce quite ok images.