Pretty fine for an a9

WHEN I was 18, a few of my closest friends got together and bought me my very first digital camera for my birthday. It was a little orange Canon Ixus - the very definition of cheap and cheerful. It probably wasn't very cheap to a trio of teens at that age, but it served me well into my university years. Many memories reside within its ageing body, and I never could part with it.

I've since moved on to a Canon G16. A favourite of war correspondents, its small size and rugged build makes it a handy tool in tough situations, and I can see why. Using it has helped me appreciate the difficulty they face with tough lighting conditions and dynamic situations.

If you want total control over your images, you need "M" mode. Not the James Bond spymaster, but "manual" mode. Having manual control over shutter speed, ISO, autofocus points and exposure is absolutely crucial for pro photographers, and even more so for shooting fast-moving action such as sporting events.