No, you don’t need special or expensive gear. A DSLR or mirrorless camera combined with a macro lens or even a regular lens combined with an extension tube will do just fine.
In one of the bonus videos, you’ll get when subscribing to my news letter, I compare results with an expensive professional camera lens combination (Canon 5DIII +100mm macro f/2.8) with my old entry camera (Canon Rebel (400D) + extension tube and cheap 50mm f/1.8). Results for both are amazing. Skills are far more important then expensive gear.
A pocket camera or smartphone is not suitable for this kind of photography. Also with a micro four this camera this kind of images will be challenging due to it’s smaller sensor size.
Images are mostly shot handheld, so no need for a tripod.