For the longest time, I thought I needed the latest and greatest to be competitive. When digital photography was emerging, that was more true. Every generation of cameras would be leaps ahead of the previous model because technology was improving at a higher rate. I compare it to smartphones. Now, each iteration is a smaller incremental improvement over the previous model. I'm content to keep the camera bodies I have, waiting until the gap of improvement is more signficiant.
DJI Mavic Pro: An easy and inexpensive way to get a new perspective. Small enough to fit in my pack, but large enough to withstand some windy conditions. I took it backpacking and on my trip to Iceland last year. It’s easy to get flying and shooting, but there are a lot of legal limitations to be aware of.
Sony a7R II: My main video and travel camera. Can’t really ask for more with its 4K video with an in-body image stabilization, backlit sensor, and s-log. I went with this model because I wanted it to do double duty: stills and video. It has more resolution than the a7 II and a7s II at 42 megapixels and it’s no slouch in high ISO conditions. For travel, it’s smaller, lighter, and less obtrusive than DSLRs. It’s been surprisingly robust enough to weather the different climates I’ve taken it to. If it had better ergonomics and battery life, I’d probably fully make the switch to Sony. Then again, I have almost every Nikon lens you could ever want.
Sony RX100 IV: My go-to hiking and travel camera. It fits in a small case or a jacket pocket. Packs an equivalent 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 lens with plenty of resolution at 20 megapixels! A pop-up electronic viewfinder that works wonders in bright daylight. Oh, and 4K video, 240 fps slow-mo, and s-log as well?! Be prepared to buy extra batteries for it, they don’t last long if you’re shooting video on it. It’s user-friendly, so I’m comfortable handing it to people to get BTS (behind the scenes) content while I’m at shoots.
Nikon D810: My main stills camera. On the used market it’s the best bang for your buck, I got mine for $1500. I’d love to have the newest Nikon D850, but at 3 times the price, I couldn’t overlook the D810. It has great dynamic range, autofocus, 36 megapixels, and great ergonomics.