My first DSLR. While some argue for the the low-light capability of a full frame sensor, I personally appreciate the extra reach the x1.6 crop sensor provides more. At least half of my photography is of wildlife, particularly birds. Having a crop-sensor turns my 70-300 lens into a 480mm (or 400mm to 640mm) while still being a budget friendly and light-weight lens. The camera is weather sealed and seems like a good compromise of price and features. I'll probably stick with this body until Canon's mirrorless bodies are at a point where I want/ can afford one.
Flower Photography Lens: Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
When I started to get into flower photography my 70-300 telephoto was my only option. While I got some great pics with it, zooming in on a plant from across the meadow was a difficult balancing act. Throw in some thick brush and it was impossible. Endless scrolling on instagram had shown me what a macro lens could do and after botanizing with a friend using one I had to grab one too.
Paired with the crop-body 80D, the 100mm allows enough reach where I don't have to be on top of the plant while still providing tack-sharp closeups and smooth blurred backgrounds. The image stabilization is nice for the occasional hand held shot but I try to always use a tripod with this lens.
Wildlife Photography Lens: Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM (new)
Paired with the crop sensor, this lens gets out to 640mm on the long end and is sharp as a tack. While it is certainly a lot bigger and heavier than the 70-300, my experience so far is telling me that these trade-offs are worth it. As I continue to use this lens I will update this section.
In the future I may try pairing this lens with a 1.4x teleconverter if I want to get all the way out to ~890mm at an aperature of f/8.
Wildlife Photography Lens: Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM (old)
My first telephoto lens. In 2021 I have upgraded to 100-400 above.
As mentioned above, the effective focal length is bumped out to 480mm on the long end by the crop-body 80D. After having carried this lens with me for 2 years, I am more than happy with its weight, price, and auto-focus. The downsides are that it does not give me enough reach and is not weather sealed. The warblers always have me wishing I could get just a little bit closer...
Tripod: Vanguard VEO 235AB
For my first tripod I went against the common advice and went cheap. I have some regrets for not springing for something higher quality, but my goal was to have something compact and light-weight for travel and this fits the bill.
I've since been using this (now discontinued) tripod for 4 years. Paired with my macro lens and a remote switch (RS-60E3) I've captured some amazing photos and have been very happy with it. The only downside has been sometimes I can't get the camera low enough to the ground even when splaying out the legs.
Camera Strap: Peak Design Slide Lite
If you're asking, "Do I really need to spend money on buying a new strap?" I would say you don't know what you're missing until you do upgrade. This strap is probably the best accessory I've got for my camera. Carrying a larger telephoto lens around you neck with the original camera strap is awkward at best. The camera wants to sit with the lens facing straight out, but the forward center of gravity forces your camera to rotate down. Add in the weight and things can start to get uncomfortable after a while. When I'm out botanizing or birding I tend to be hiking for hours at a time. The Slide strap allows me to throw my camera over my shoulder so it sits at the small of my back, with the lens naturally pointing straight down. And another hidden benefit; having your camera here protects it when you're pushing through thick brush.
Camera Bag
Ape Case ACPRO1800 - A somewhat bulky bag with plenty of pockets and rearrangeable dividers to hold all of my camera gear. When I first got it I thought it was actually going to be too much bag but I have since found all of the storage handy.
Comes with a stowable rain cover that covers everything except where the bag contacts your back. In heavy rain this area can get wet and water will eventually start to seep through into the main compartment. With this in mind, the bag has thus far adequately protected my gear.
This bag has held up to years of abuse.
Light Diffuser/ Reflector Thing: Amazon Special
My other most important accessory, although this one is only specific to photographing flowers. Often I find myself in the open with harsh overhead sunlight. The shadows and contrast quickly discourage attempts at anything more than a quick documentation pic. This pop-up diffuser can soften the light while still allowing a bright enough scene for a fast shutter speed. Add in the silver or gold reflectors and time of day becomes even less important. I'm calling this the amazon special because I bought some no-name random $20 brand that works like a charm.