And that almost brings us up to date. There is however a new contender on the block - a body and lens combination that were never designed to be good together but every time I've used them together there seems to be a creative charge runs through me and my gear. It's a feeling so strong that it made me think about this list and put it together - who knows it may even get others thinking about kit that has made them make better pictures without trying.

The new combo on the block is... Canon EOS7D + Canon 85mm f1.8

Now there is a similarity here between the Olympus OM1 + 100mm, Nikon F3P + 105mm, Canon EOS5D MkII + 135mm and the new magic combo that cannot be ignored. The angles of view are not dissimilar and they all seem to have come into my career at a time when I am trying to do new and interesting things. It could be as simple as the fact that my very first SLR only had one lens - a 135mm f2.8 Hanimex lens with an M42 screw fit on a Zenit B and my deep psyche wants me to go back to my roots!

I'm sure that there is a good reason why but I have to tell you that as soon as I look through the viewfinder with the 7D and my 85mm lens I feel that the world is a wonderful place and that my career is on an upward track!