This is a list of gear I currently use for when i'm out under the stars, capturing landscape and wildlife as well as Aircraft. I dont usually leave without the majority of these.
NIKON Z6ii
My Nikon z6ii is my everday camera. I use it for all aspects of photography.
It has a 24mp sensor which is a great balance between having plenty of detail in your shot, whilst limiting the noise. 24mp is also a great resolution for Astro.
In essence, this is a fantastic all-rounder camera which does everything I need it to do.
Nikon 20mm F/1.8s
My absolute go-to for Astro Photography. 20mm provides enough width for wide field astrophotography with the added bonus of fast 1.8 aperture bringing in more than enough light to capture nice detail in the Milky Way. It has wonderful low light performance.
I also use this lens for landscape photography, it works perfectly during both sunrise and sunset.
Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6
My lens used for Lunar, Aircraft, birdspotting and animals in general. This lens produces nice sharp detail with moving objects and reaches far enough I can get great results from taking photos of the Moon. The only downside is that this lens is heavy, you feel every bit of the 1.6kg hanging from the camera when using.
Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6
The lens I do use nearly enough. It has a wide enough angle for Astro and Landscape and plenty of reach for wildlife photography. I use this lens if I dont have my 400mm lens with me.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manfrotto 290 xtra Tripod
This is my tripod I use each time I head out into the field. It has a nice max height of 1.7m which helps me. This is the aluminum version, which, whilst not a light as the carbon fibre variants, is still light enough to carry with all my other equipment with me.
Manfrotto 496 Ball Head
The Ball head that came with my Tripod. Nice and sturdy, I still use this when I have a Star Tracker running. Nice and quick to lock the ball in place, also has the friction adjustment knob if you want more of a quick movement.
Manfrotto 3-Way Geared Head
This is my replacement to the ball head. I have nothing bad to say about it. The head can be adjusted with pin point accuracy using the twist handles, or full, quick rotation with the lever handles. This head is perfect for Panoramas, with the degrees indicator on both the side and base. The beauty about this head is the multiple spirit bubbles to get the perfect level.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Star Tracker
I've had this for about a year now, and after much trial and error, I'm starting to get used to setting this up. This is my Star Tracker I use for Milky Way and Moon photography. I still take shots of each without the tracker, but this just makes it much, much easier when set up.
Even though there was slight star trailing, I've managed a 3min exposure of the Milky Way, which is impossible without one of these. The maximum exposure I can attain without the star tracker is 25seconds before Stars start to trail.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lowepro Adventura BP300 iii
My backpack which hold all my gear when heading out on the field. It is an 18litre pack which can hold a Camera and roughly 3 lenses. I'll be looking to upgrade this bag in the near future as I've outgrown this bag. In saying that, I highly recommend this bag for a minimalistic photographer. It does have room for all your accessories as well as a 13" Laptop.
LEDLENSER P6R core Torch
I grabbed this torch off advice from my dad, this is the best torch I have ever had. It is extremely bright and has alot of range. The head of the torch is adjustable with a twist, for either a beam which can reach approx 240m or flood light mode which is perfect for light painting a subject in the field. The torch has many settings ie: brightness, strobe, boost, blink. It is also rechargable with plenty of battery life. Highly recommended.
Astro Night Headlamp
I havent had this headlamp for very long, it replaces an old energiser battery operated headlamp. This was designed for Astro in mind. 3 adjustable red light settings, which is an absolute must when shooting the night sky, as well as your usual white light in adjustable brightness. This headlamp is rechargable via USB cable, so no need to worry about spare batteries if you have a couple of powerbanks available.
SVBONY SV172 Dew Heater
An absolute must. I make sure this is packed when heading out in the cooler months. This is made to help prevent my lens from fogging up in the colder conditions. Works as advertised. Without it, the night gets harder.