Some of you probably read that I started to do SYC because I need a camera for our three week trip to Scotland in August. I've been reading tons of reviews recently, visited forums and gear blogs and looked at cameras in the store. And I still couldn't decide what I wanted within my limited budget. I first thought to buy a high end compact camera and had my eye on the Olympus XZ-2. Then I hesitated because it's still a compact camera after all. So I went and looked at the mirrorless systems. Thought about getting an Olympus or Panasonic. Looking at the cameras in store was sobering - I found them very fiddly, not intuitive and for the most parts an ergonomic disaster. Or they were way out of price range. I also realised that the very good lenses that are always mentioned on the internet are all priced at least 400€, often higher. Right. Looked at the EOS M, which gets now sold for practically nothing with the 18-55mm. Even more of a disaster to hold and not really an option for other reasons either. So what to do?

Then I came upon this article by chance, with all the googling I did. Basically he's telling all about how he put gear over photography and lost a lot of money because he was addicted to buying gear. Instead of using the gear he had and practice how to take good photographs he spend his time looking for gear that was even better than what he had, because surely he could take much better pictures then. Of course I've never done what he did, but I suddenly felt like I could see the light again. So my lens needs replacing - why don't I just do that? Because my DSLR is too old? Because it's called a dinosaur on the web? At this point I was almost getting miffed that someone would label my baby useless...

Getting my camera out and just taking it in hand I had all what I was looking for with the other cameras. Nice handling and not too heavy, perfect for my hands. Easy to use, no useless features crowding the important functions. Why do I need a tilting screen, a touchscreen, the option to add an electronic viewfinder or a live modus if I have an optical viewfinder? Why do I need the newest and best video feature if I only ever want to take pictures with my camera anyway? Why do I need Wi-Fi if I never want to put pictures instantly online? Why do I need a super high resolution if I never print out pictures in a big format anyway?

As you can probably guess I've decided to buy a new lens for my old trusty camera. Looking back at the typical pictures I take I should be fine with a standard zoom lens to start with. I've thought of getting the Sigma 17-50mm lens, which is now down to an unbelievable 350€. That is only 80€ more than what the Olympus XZ-2 would have been. No comparison to mirrorless cameras in that price segment either. And then add something relatively inexpensive like the Canon 55-250mm lens, maybe even bought secondhand. And then go out and practice taking better pictures.

So, thanks if you've staid with me so far. As a bonus you get to see one of the very first pictures I ever took with my camera below, a few minutes after I opened my present in 2007. This is a fearlessly pouncing tiger, just in case it wasn't obvious immediately.