Do you take ages mulling over a purchase?

Rob.Marsh

Rob.Marsh

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Rob
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I know I do. I have been looking at a macro lens for months now, and pretty much have decided I want the Tamron 90mm.

The trouble is, I seem to take ages doing the "shall I/shan't I". I think its because this will be the most I have ever spent on a lens and my first bit of new fast glass.

I just wondered if people are as cautious and take as long deciding as I do?

Rob
 
No, I just buy whatever takes my fancy, I'm loaded I am.

Seriously, I take my time considering all the options,pros & cons,etc. Then once I've reach a decision, I then take time to come up with a cunning plan to justify the purchase to the Wife.
 
Ye i am like that, i look at something that i really want, but then start the shall i /shan't i game too, in the end i get my girlfriend to persuade me, she usually just says "if you want to buy it then go for it" not really helpful but gives me that push to just click the "checkout button"


Cheers.
 
It takes me AGES to make up my mind! I first decided to get a DSLR in the run up to Christmas '07.....by the time I'd decided on the 400D, the 450D came out and prompted another few months of deliberating, and I finally got it just before Christmas 2008!

It's the same with lenses and accessories, even if I've weighed up all the options, it takes me ages to finally decide on something. But I'm a student, so I'm allowed to be stingy! :D

Chris
 
Glad its not just me then!

I know that in the end I will end up buying it, I seem to torture myself in the lead up though!
 
Usually takes me longer to decide what to have for breakfast. And then I wonder why I have no money to buy breakfast....
 
i take ages finding the best price
 
Making up my mind if I wan't something or not is quick.

Finding the cash and waiting for a reasonable price to appear takes much much longer
 
Ha! I've put off getting a digital SLR for several years - as every time I'm about to I think I'm just going to be throwing good money away on something I'll really not use that much.

But I still hanker after a full frame sensor body and a Sigma 12-24..... but that's going to be at least £1300 worth of kit second-hand. :(
 
I was chatting to Marcel at the October Blackpool meet about Apple Mac as I was thinking of getting one, well I'm still on a Windows XP and still think of that Mac so yes I think long and hard, even more to in the current economic times.

Your going to enjoy that Macro lens in the end :)
 
For me it usually goes along the lines of instantly knowing what I want and then taking a number of weeks convincing Mrs.Rob that its what I need :)
 
I usually make decisions, especially buying decisions fairly quickly. But I'm having problems at the mo in deciding whether to commit to a new car.
 
I take an age to decide to be honest, but when the decision is made I then take more time to find a more expensive option to float past the wife, only then can I come in with the actual lens I'm after at the 'bargain' price. Works for me :D
 
I take so long deciding the prices go up ;-(
wish I wanted that D90 months ago
 
I have spent 11 months weighing up the best lens options for me. My partner is botswanan, so I get to go on safari every year when we visit his family, so I need a half decent lens for that. I also want something I can use in the Uk for every day stuff. I also want to make sure I get the right lenses first time.

My heart says 70-200 F4 L IS for everyday stuff and a 300 F4 L with 1.4x for safari and birds etc. But my head says £2k on lenses is silly money. So I have looked at every other option - the big sigmas, a sigma 70-200 and 2x, even a canon 100-400 (not so cheap option), but I still kept coming back to these lenses.

I got a tamron 70-200 f2.8 a few weeks ago - fits the bill with IQ, size / weight and it cost less then the canon 70-200 F4 L non IS!

I am about 98% decided on the 300 F4 L, but 2% still says try the 2x tc first even though I know it will not compare! £1000 is still a lot of money on a lens - but i have another 12 months to deliberate on this before I actually need a longer lens. :D But I know I will drop the cash on this lens - the question is when! :bonk:
 
I'm the same, takes me forever to decide. Then I have to do loads and loads of research and then I have to search round everywhere for the cheapest price.
Drives me mad sometimes. :D
 
I did my dissertation at uni on this very subject - do you want a 30,000 word discourse on the ins and outs of the consumer buying process :nuts:
 
Dal said:
Yes please :gag:
Click to expand...

Okay, here we go.............


:lol:

Seriously though, the one point that did come across was that,in general, people take much longer researching (relatively) low value purchases, such as televisions, than they do over more major ones such as cars. The reasoning is that we are exposed to more advertising and general information about cars on a day to day basis, than we are with televisions or white goods.

Of course there will always be exceptions to the rule and I think this discussion might prove that camera gear is just such an area. The majority of cameras and lenses would still fall into the "low value" category, however,most of us here will be reading the reviews and posts on sites like TP if not daily, then regularly before making any purchase decision, which would in theory make the purchase decision quicker and easier, more in line with the car-buying process......
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Seriously though, the one point that did come across was that,in general, people take much longer researching (relatively) low value purchases, such as televisions, than they do over more major ones such as cars. The reasoning is that we are exposed to more advertising and general information about cars on a day to day basis, than we are with televisions or white goods.

Of course there will always be exceptions to the rule and I think this discussion might prove that camera gear is just such an area. The majority of cameras and lenses would still fall into the "low value" category, however,most of us here will be reading the reviews and posts on sites like TP if not daily, then regularly before making any purchase decision, which would in theory make the purchase decision quicker and easier, more in line with the car-buying process......
Click to expand...
Book for you to read - The Paradox of Choice. ;)
 
I don't have the money to be able to do that.
However not having money has given me the time to decide what lenses I actually will use and need, rather than ones i want.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
I did my dissertation at uni on this very subject - do you want a 30,000 word discourse on the ins and outs of the consumer buying process :nuts:
Click to expand...

Flash In The Pan said:
Okay, here we go.............


:lol:

Seriously though, the one point that did come across was that,in general, people take much longer researching (relatively) low value purchases, such as televisions, than they do over more major ones such as cars. The reasoning is that we are exposed to more advertising and general information about cars on a day to day basis, than we are with televisions or white goods.

Of course there will always be exceptions to the rule and I think this discussion might prove that camera gear is just such an area. The majority of cameras and lenses would still fall into the "low value" category, however,most of us here will be reading the reviews and posts on sites like TP if not daily, then regularly before making any purchase decision, which would in theory make the purchase decision quicker and easier, more in line with the car-buying process......
Click to expand...

some interesting stuff there Flash, not sure I'd want to be the one writing a paper on it though!!


dod said:
No. I very rarely buy anything I don't need. Nifty's excluded :$
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Does that mean the stuff you do "need" you just go out and get straight off?

You could argue as I want to shoot macro and don't have a macro lens I "need" it :lol:
 
For things I need I make my mind up very quickly - for things I want the time expands :thumbs:
Then there's price research and stealth delivery research :naughty:
 
I have farted about for so long now mulling over getting a D700,that I may as well wait for the D800........:lol:
 
I do lots of research online and wait for the best price possible, but sometimes I decide I need some retail therapy and just splash out like I did with the 50D. Better to be £800 down than depressed IMO.
 
Voyager said:
Book for you to read - The Paradox of Choice. ;)
Click to expand...

I've never seen that book before -think I might buy a copy :thumbs:

Rob.Marsh said:
some interesting stuff there Flash, not sure I'd want to be the one writing a paper on it though!!
Click to expand...

I actually enjoy that sort of thing :cuckoo:


fracster said:
I have farted about for so long now mulling over getting a D700,that I may as well wait for the D800........:lol:
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Jessops had one in the dying days of the clearance sale, boxed and complete with 24-120 VR...for a grand. I missed it by minutes :bang:
 
Rob.Marsh said:
Does that mean the stuff you do "need" you just go out and get straight off?

You could argue as I want to shoot macro and don't have a macro lens I "need" it :lol:
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I wish it did :( Once I realise I need something it's then just a case of putting a plan in place to get it. It might not happen overnight but the decision's been made, the rest is just getting the money side sorted. :)
 
For me depends on what you mean as "ages mulling over". I sort of have a mental list of what I want/would like, based on things read, things I don't have, etc... and it does take me ages to work this out sometimes. My tripod was a prime example, and now a backpack which I am still undecided upon.

When it comes to actually buying, then if I see what I want/need at a good price and I have the money then I buy it without too much hesitation.
 
I am the worlds worst at making my mind up so I am so pleased to find I am not alone! ;)
 
im really bad i think about what i want for a while but then as soon i i decide i want something i need it there and then , cant wait for delivery have to go pick it up
 
I actually enjoy researching the best options available for what I need and eventually coming to a decision.

Once that's sorted the next stage is finding that particular item at the best price I can get. And once you've decided on the ideal bit of kit then the only variable is price, and I've absolutely no loyalty at all regarding potential suppliers. Whoever supplies it cheapest (with the same warranty etc) get the order.
 
I'm a complete skinflint when it comes to purchases for me - I blame my mother, it's entirely her influence. I have never splashed out or bought anything on a credit card, I always save up and then spend a good 12 months deliberating before buying myself a significant purchase. Significant is pretty much anything over £100.

I got my annual bonus in this months pay packet. I worked hard for it, I completely deserve it, but I'd still feel bad about splashing out on something which I want (like my first DSLR) rather than need.

I will end up putting it towards our summer holiday which I can justify as a) it's already booked therefor needs paying for and b) it's not just for me but OH as well.
 
I find that internet shopping encourages dithering. You've got nothing much to go on, apart form a tiny pic, a few words and the spec, so you spend ages comparing the data.

I did exactly that for my new camera bag, and decided on a Billingham. But when I went to buy, I knew immediately it wasn't right, saw a Crumpler that looked perfect, and bought it without hesitation. It was a good choice (cheaper too :) ).
 
2blue4u said:
I usually make decisions, especially buying decisions fairly quickly. But I'm having problems at the mo in deciding whether to commit to a new car.
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If its a good deal, do it. Prices have already started rising. March was the first month for a while that prices in Glass's guide have gone up. ;)
Some dealers are now struggling for stock. Especially 4 x 4 dealers. Tried to find one for someone last week and they are going for about 3 grand above book.


Back to thread. I usually know what I want and buy quickly after looking for a good deal. But I try to support my local dealer most of the time and its usually done rapid! :D


Kev.
 
I find there is normally a set price for most cameras/lens etc and as long as my local Park Cameras are close to it I buy it there. Normally decide quickly, bought my D90 over the D60 on the spur of the moment and have built up a full compliment of lens quickly to avoid the recent price increases. Bought my D60 on a whim because it was a cheap sell out item at my local Dixons.

Am spending ages over Studio flash however, really want the Lencarta as it seems to be the best at a reasonable price but I keep looking at the cheaper outfits available, as in reality I doubt it will get much use - my wife/kids dont like their photo taken, and I cant see any other real use. I'll probably stick with 2 hotshoe flashes off camera.
 
When I recently got an additional tax credits payment (they messed up my working tax credits for over a year!) I decided to use it for something I wanted rather than needed - selfish I know. Had a P&S for many years but had wanted a DSLR for a long time so a little research on the internet and I bit the bullet and got myself a Canon 450d. Bought second hand so left enough for extra lenses.

Found this brill forum and researched lenses before buying three extra lenses to replace the two kit lenses. Still want one more but that will have to wait coz the funds have run out.

I do tend to impulse buy (when I've got the cash!) but on this occasion did check out my options before investing - even missed two lenses by dithering - but I did want to get it right.
 
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