Show & tell: gear recommendations (2026 edition)

This came up at a meetup recently and the room was split, so curious what the broader community thinks.

For context, I am working with a pretty modest budget so high-end suggestions probably will not land. Posting this here because the relevant subreddit has gotten too noisy lately. Looking for honest feedback, not validation.

Posting this here because the relevant subreddit has gotten too noisy lately.