Buyer's remorse - Ever had it?

[KerrKid]

Last night, I bought a couple of cameras on ebay. One was a Pentax 928M. That is the subject of this thread.

I'd read good reviews about the Pentax 928 and, when I saw this one listed for $49.99 w/ free shipping, I thought it was too much money to pay, but the allure of that 28mm at the wide angle of the lens got to me.

Once I placed the order, I decided to refresh my memory about the 928 and suddenly realized to my horror that I'd bought the wrong model! Reviewers screamed not to buy the 928m. Buy the earlier model, the 928, they said. The newer 928m had a slower lens, couldn't do double exposures, didn't have a focus lock, and a number of other features the older model had. It had been neutered. Suddenly, I had that sick feeling of being a chump. I had the chance to cancel the sale, but for some reason I didn't. Well, not in time. In a panic, I began feverishly looking for any positive comments on the 928m. I couldn't find much, but what I did manage to scrounge up wasn't bad and the images that were posted were actually quite good.

This morning, I've calmed down a bit and have come to terms with the purchase. Sort of. Here's why:

1. The Pentax 928m is a good-looking camera and not a blob of black plastic like the 928. I already have the Pentax 90WR's that fit that bill and don't need another black plastic camera.
2. It's smaller than its older brother and much easier to stick into a pocket.
3. Yes, the lens is slower than the older model but no one was complaining about the quality. Everyone said it was a very good to excellent lens.
4. The features that are missing are ones that I doubt I'll ever miss.
5. The AF on the 928m is supposed to be better.

What I got is a small "bar of soap" camera with a great 28mm lens that should do everything I want it to. It's just not the model everyone raves about.

How about you folks? Ever bought something you've regretted buying?

 

[xkaes]

It sounds like you don't fall into the category, but yes, I've bought things by mistake. Not long ago someone on EBAY mislabeled a Soviet camera as a Seagull camera. It turned out that it wasn't a camera made by Seagull, and it did not even have a seagull or the name "seagull" on it. No big deal. I relisted it on EBAY -- CORRECTLY -- and got more money than I paid for it.

There are a couple of other examples, but I always just resold the items and never lost much at all.

 

[gone]

Better to just sell it, and chalk it up to a learning experience. I've learned that no matter how much web surfing is done, all best are off until the gear is in your hand. The reviews can be off on cameras ,lenses, etc, that does happen. But in your case it was a mistake that was human error. Everyone has probably done that.

 

[KerrKid]

Better to just sell it, and chalk it up to a learning experience. I've learned that no matter how much web surfing is done, all best are off until the gear is in your hand. The reviews can be off on cameras ,lenses, etc, that does happen. But in your case it was a mistake that was human error. Everyone has probably done that.

Yes, you're right. I can just resell it. I just feel kind of stupid. I didn't really need it and it was an emotional purchase. I have seen them going for twice what I paid so maybe that will be my savior. It could turn out to be a great little camera and in mint shape. Who knows?

 

[Sirius Glass]

If that is the biggest mistake of your life, you are still doing well. Just relist it on eBay, sell it and move on.

 

[pentaxuser]

Better to just sell it, and chalk it up to a learning experience. But in your case it was a mistake that was human error. .

?? It sounds as if the OP then changed his mind and gave us several good reasons why he did not have any buyer remorse. To back up his change of heart there are gushing reviews on ePhotozine and a YouTube video saying that it was the point and shoot camera that everyone should own

My only "indirect" buyer's remorse came when I realised I had entered into what in the U.K. is called a "BOGOF" i.e. "buyone, get one free" The wife was great but the mother-in-law was thrown in as well.

Luckily for any other innocents who might be caught this way I think the government has either banned this practice or will be doing so shortly

Yes, our great British industry of mother-in-law jokes will suffer but there is always a downside to any well- intentioned law

pentaxuser

 

[KerrKid]

If that is the biggest mistake of your life, you are still doing well. Just relist it on eBay, sell it and move on.

No, certainly not the biggest. Just upset with myself for letting emotion get in the way of good sense. It's more than just buying the "wrong one", it's buying the wrong one that I don't need.

Thanks for talking me off the ledge.

 

[KerrKid]

?? It sounds as if the OP then changed his mind and gave us several good reasons why he did not have any buyer remorse. To back up his change of heart there are gushing reviews on ePhotozine and a YouTube video saying that it was the point and shoot camera that everyone should own

My only "indirect" buyer's remorse came when I realised I had entered into what in the U.K. is called a "BOGOF" i.e. "buyone, get one free" The wife was great but the mother-in-law was thrown in as well.

Luckily for any other innocents who might be caught this way I think the government has either banned this practice or will be doing so shortly

Yes, our great British industry of mother-in-law jokes will suffer but there is always a downside to any well- intentioned law

pentaxuser

I'm just trying to justify my purchase by thinking of the positives. Not the first time I've ever done that.

I haven't seen the ePhotozine and Youtube reviews, but are you sure the reviews are about the "M" model or the plain 928? The plain 928 is what seems to get the raves while the "M" model gets treated like the ugly stepchild.

Bwahahaha. Mother-in-law. Thank goodness my MIL likes me.

What hasn't the British government banned?

 

[Sirius Glass]

No, certainly not the biggest. Just upset with myself for letting emotion get in the way of good sense. It's more than just buying the "wrong one", it's buying the wrong one that I don't need.

Thanks for talking me off the ledge.

Hop in the car with your camera equipment, drive through the red rock areas of southern Utah and northern Arizona, and visit me in Los Angeles. We will have some drinks, go out and shoot some film, develop some film and tour the area. Then take a five hour drive up to Yosemite, exit out through Tuolumne Meadows to Mono Lake, drive north to Tahoe and then go home. You will feel much better then.

 

[Paul Howell]

When my Sigma film bodies SA7 and 9 developed the yellowing of death I decided on replacing with Minolta, largely due low cost lens, then added Sony A mount bodies. I wound with a full line up of bodies, all the pro level 9000, 800si, 9xi and 9. Although I've been happy I wish that I had gone for Canon. Reason is that all full frame (almost all) EOS lens will work on any full frame EOS film or film camera, with adaptor most mirrorless bodies. Minolta started with gear driven lens, then very late added micro motors, only a few of the last models film bodies will work with SSM lens. My 9 was not sent to the factory for modification to work with SSM lens, so I can not se any of Sony lens on my Minolta bodies. I can live with it, but if I could back in time and whisper in my ear "buy Canon."

 

[Patrick Robert James]

When my Sigma film bodies SA7 and 9 developed the yellowing of death I decided on replacing with Minolta, largely due low cost lens, then added Sony A mount bodies. I wound with a full line up of bodies, all the pro level 9000, 800si, 9xi and 9. Although I've been happy I wish that I had gone for Canon. Reason is that all full frame (almost all) EOS lens will work on any full frame EOS film or film camera, with adaptor most mirrorless bodies. Minolta started with gear driven lens, then very late added micro motors, only a few of the last models film bodies will work with SSM lens. My 9 was not sent to the factory for modification to work with SSM lens, so I can not se any of Sony lens on my Minolta bodies. I can live with it, but if I could back in time and whisper in my ear "buy Canon."

I think that is the grass on the other side of the fence. I have Canon, been using it for over a quarter century. I also bought a 9xi a few years ago because, why not? Got it for peanuts. Frankly I think the old Minolta glass is nicer than Canon, or maybe it is just the grass on the other side of the fence? I did notice that Minolta glass makes the images look an awful lot like Leica. Makes sense. I think the only conclusion you can draw from my experience is you need both. It is a shame though that the lens compatibility thing happened. And it is a shame again that Sony for all intents and purposes abandoned the SLR.

 

[Paul Howell]

Leica and Minolta shared a lot of information, Minolta made a version of the CL, and made R bodies for Leica until the R8 (?) the early 70 to 210 F 4 and 35 to 70 3.5 to 4.5 started out as Leica designs. But L glass, don't think any Minolta G lens is better than L glass. The 9Xi, other than the function cards which are hard to find, is a good shooter crazy top shutter speed of 1/12000 of a second, just a half stop faster than 1/8000, but when shooting Tmax 3200 comes in handy.

 

[pentaxuser]

I'm just trying to justify my purchase by thinking of the positives. Not the first time I've ever done that.

I haven't seen the ePhotozine and Youtube reviews, but are you sure the reviews are about the "M" model or the plain 928? The plain 928 is what seems to get the raves while the "M" model gets treated like the ugly stepchild.

Bwahahaha. Mother-in-law. Thank goodness my MIL likes me.

What hasn't the British government banned?

Yes, not the first time everyone has done that. You buy something that is not what you thought it was but on closer examination it has its merits. Nothing strange in that.

Sometimes the differences in reviews can be exaggerated either for effect or out of lack of looking for the pluses as well as the minuses. Usually the best presentations on YouTube have dull as dishwater titles and are presented by straight, factual, commonsense presenters who are to some, dull as dishwater themselves

I like dull as dishwater myself which may explain my roots, no doubt conditioned by centuries of governments who ban everything. On the few occasions I have been arrested for smiling, I have, so far, always been able to get away with it by claiming flatulence

I take it your last question was rhetorical and thus requires no answer other than the previous paragraph

pentaxuser

 

[KerrKid]

Hop in the car with your camera equipment, drive through the red rock areas of southern Utah and northern Arizona, and visit me in Los Angeles. We will have some drinks, go out and shoot some film, develop some film and tour the area. Then take a five hour drive up to Yosemite, exit out through Tuolumne Meadows to Mono Lake, drive north to Tahoe and then go home. You will feel much better then.

Oh my, that sounds great! Wish I could!

 

[KerrKid]

When my Sigma film bodies SA7 and 9 developed the yellowing of death I decided on replacing with Minolta, largely due low cost lens, then added Sony A mount bodies. I wound with a full line up of bodies, all the pro level 9000, 800si, 9xi and 9. Although I've been happy I wish that I had gone for Canon. Reason is that all full frame (almost all) EOS lens will work on any full frame EOS film or film camera, with adaptor most mirrorless bodies. Minolta started with gear driven lens, then very late added micro motors, only a few of the last models film bodies will work with SSM lens. My 9 was not sent to the factory for modification to work with SSM lens, so I can not se any of Sony lens on my Minolta bodies. I can live with it, but if I could back in time and whisper in my ear "buy Canon."

Interesting. I didn't know that. I heard something about one or more of the Sony's being able to use other lenses. It certainly is something to consider. Fortunately, I'm at the beginning of collecting cameras so it wouldn't be terrible costly for me at this point to change horses.

 

[KerrKid]

Yes, not the first time everyone has done that. You buy something that is not what you thought it was but on closer examination it has its merits. Nothing strange in that.

Sometimes the differences in reviews can be exaggerated either for effect or out of lack of looking for the pluses as well as the minuses. Usually the best presentations on YouTube have dull as dishwater titles and are presented by straight, factual, commonsense presenters who are to some, dull as dishwater themselves

True. And I think it's prudent to look at reviews and wonder if you really need the features they're going on about. It's like my Pentax KM. Well, the K1000 is all the rage and, while it doesn't have a couple features that the KM does, it is still a great camera.

I like dull as dishwater myself which may explain my roots, no doubt conditioned by centuries of governments who ban everything. On the few occasions I have been arrested for smiling, I have, so far, always been able to get away with it by claiming flatulence

I take it your last question was rhetorical and thus requires no answer other than the previous paragraph

Yes rhetorical, but the list would be fairly short. You only get away with the flatulence alibi because flatulence is taxed.

pentaxuser

 

[flavio81]

Most regrets i had with the Nikon F3.

I've bought a Nikon F3 camera three times in my life -- three times I bought a F3, to then find out i don't like it and thus sell it, to later buying a F3 again because it looks so cool and it's so desirable by everybody.

I have never been completely happy with that camera. Nowadays a F2SB and a Nikon FE are everything I need for using my Nikkors.

 

[Moose22]

I got an Oleson bright screen for my ETRSi. People seem to rave about these, and it is a touch brighter which is nice, but it's really badly made. When you look though the rangefinder the edges are rough enough that there's a black line around them, making it harder to get precise focus.

Also, the whole dymo tape to make it fit thing is cheesy. If it's a $40-50 item maybe, but these are a hundred bucks a pop, I'd expect it to fit. I'm still not sure it's the right height, to the point I'm planning on a roll of focus testing to figure it out.

Maybe I should have gotten the non rangefinder version. The mosaic works better than the stock screen. But I still wonder if I should have just sent it back and lived with the stock screen.

 

[KerrKid]

Most regrets i had with the Nikon F3.

I've bought a Nikon F3 camera three times in my life -- three times I bought a F3, to then find out i don't like it and thus sell it, to later buying a F3 again because it looks so cool and it's so desirable by everybody.

I have never been completely happy with that camera. Nowadays a F2SB and a Nikon FE are everything I need for using my Nikkors.

I could see that happening. I'm tempted to buy two of every camera I have as a "backup" when I don't use what I have. I now just bought another Pentax Zoom 90WR and I haven't even run a roll through the one I have.

I'd like to think I'm not impressionable, but that's clearly not the case, or I wouldn't care what the reviews say.

 

[KerrKid]

I got an Oleson bright screen for my ETRSi. People seem to rave about these, and it is a touch brighter which is nice, but it's really badly made. When you look though the rangefinder the edges are rough enough that there's a black line around them, making it harder to get precise focus.

Also, the whole dymo tape to make it fit thing is cheesy. If it's a $40-50 item maybe, but these are a hundred bucks a pop, I'd expect it to fit. I'm still not sure it's the right height, to the point I'm planning on a roll of focus testing to figure it out.

Maybe I should have gotten the non rangefinder version. The mosaic works better than the stock screen. But I still wonder if I should have just sent it back and lived with the stock screen.

You definitely need to get another one as a backup.

 

[xkaes]

Then there are the times when I bought something and thought "Why did I make that STUPID purchase?!?!?" Only to find out later that it was a really neat gizmo, and I could put it to good use!!!

And I'm not just talking about photo gear!!!

 

[KerrKid]

Then there are the times when I bought something and thought "Why did I make that STUPID purchase?!?!?" Only to find out later that it was a really neat gizmo, and I could put it to good use!!!

And I'm not just talking about photo gear!!!

I did that with our Victorian living room set. I gave the seller $500 downpayment to hold the furniture until we could get a truck to pick it. On the way home, I was verbally kicking myself for being such a sucker since the furniture was made by Kimball in the 1970's and wasn't antique. When I got home I did some research on it and discovered that it was worth many times what I paid for it. Instant genius!

 

[xkaes]

Proving that while pianos can fall on your head, so can pots of gold!

 

[__Brian]

$50 for a P&S with a 28mm lens on the wide-side of the zoom is good, these used to sell for a lot more. The Tip I left the waitress for Easter lunch was more.

 

[KerrKid]

Proving that while pianos can fall on your head, so can pots of gold!

You know what the funny part is? The next day, the seller had seller's remorse and I almost didn't get to buy the furniture!