I started to get seriously into digital photography at the start of the 2000s. My first digital camera (should there be a ™ after that?) was a little Fuji compact thing. It didn’t cost much, but was fun to play with. Eventually, I persuaded Best Beloved that I should move up to something a bit more serious.

The obvious upgrade path was to a digital SLR. The obvious problem there was the technology wasn’t quite hitting its stride, and the other obvious problem was such things were still eye-wateringly expensive. I had read a review or two, and felt the best move up from a compact was to a Minolta Dimage 7. Out on the town one Saturday, with Best Beloved in tow, I suggested we have a look in the better of the town’s camera shops — remember them? — and if they had a Dimage 7 in stock I would like to have a play with it. Well, there was a promotion on, and the discounted price was too good to miss.

We walked out of the shop with a Dimage 7.