"Dmitry, my little camera is getting old. I want a new one, and you know, I want it to be a step up from what I currently have. I'm willing to spend $XXX. Which camera should I buy?"

I get asked this question all the time. Nobody asks "well, I have $XXX to spare, and I want a step up in my pictures. What should I buy?". The funny part is that the answer to the latter question would almost never be "a new camera".

Look, interesting photographs are not the ones taken with an interesting camera. A $1500 trip to South America is more likely to yield you interesting photographs then a trip to your backyard with a $1500 camera. And it might be more fun too.

Keep this in mind and happy shopping!