In audio equipment I went for really good stuff long ago even though I couldn't really afford it (it's all Linn). No regrets, every record sounds great 20 years later, no need to chase for new cables, amplifiers etc. In cameras, if I had just bought the Leica, Hasselblad or whatever from the start, and new, it would've cost less than the pile of crap that I've accumulated over the years. And I'm still looking for the Linn equiv. in cameras. M9, perhaps?

Mike, Years ago I read an article of yours in Phototech Mag about the best Zuiko lenses. It was a follow up to an article about Olympus as "Photography's best kept secret". In one of these, I think it was the lens one, there was a picture of yours of a few pairs of scissors in a jar of some sort, allegedly taken with the 50/2 Macro. That picture and what you wrote about the lens convinced me I just had to have one. I looked everywhere but it took a coupple of years befoe I managed to buy one. Obsessive perhaps, but it turned out to be a very good idea. The lens really is wonderful and clearly my favorite lens ever. Thanks for the tip! Fredrik, Ystad, Sweden.

I just saw a big Picasso exhibition in Helsinki, of all places. One thing that struck me was how much pink he used! Lots and lots of ugly pink. Now, if only...