Yeah, I was going to say, I love my SB-400 for basically anything I take as a P&S. . .significantly better than the on board flash! I wouldn't EVER compare it to my SB900 in terms of power and flexibility, I think the intent is to use it casually. . .I used to pair it up to my D40x. . .

I have an SB-400 too, and I love it ! It's small in size, light, cheap, it gives a good lighting when bounced from the ceiling, and it does most day-to-day jobs. Of course it's far from the quality I get from my SB-600, but it's a lot better than the flash built in my cameras !

So may be this is the secret: Use your SB-400 for not-so-important pictures, and a bigger/better one for tricky photos ?

alphanikonrex said:
I ABSOLUTELY HATE MY SB-400!

Don’t be so hard on SB-400, it is very good addon for Coolpixes but not for DSLR really.
You should not have trusted KR judgment as I suspect you did at the time …

Bernard - I know what you mean. My wife sometimes gets pissed off cause I take so long to make a buying decision. But I think she's getting more used to it now.

My pre-purchase anxiety probably arose during my extended college years when my budget would take a major hit just to by a filter.

The only time I've agonized was when I got the D40. After getting it, I feel like it was completely worth it. Plus, I use rewards points on a credit card, so it's not really all too bad.

When I purchase some serious piece of equipment, I do so much research that one year has gone by when I make my mind up and the camera is half way from being obsolete !… :o)

I follow my own feelings and I can asure you that I was happy with my choice every time. No stress before or after. Instead, a lot of fun researching and reading about what I really want/need. And once I've purchased the item, I stop reading about it immediately.

Regretting the purchase of some accessories is no big deal. If one makes a mistake, the damage is limited (depending on one's income of course, but if it reaches the point that the purchase of a filter turns into a financial drama if the choice was wrong, then why buy it in the first place ?…).

i agonize slighly before, but like the author of the cnet article said, I usually delve DEEPER into MORE research after in order to justify my purchase. . .it's odd. . .

regardless of purchasing agony, my biggest issue is my wife and how she FREAKS OUT everytime I get a new toy. . .this year alone she "got" me an SB-900 and 60mm 2.8 for my birthday and Diwali, respectively, so I can't complain (although I begged, pleaded, and made a case each time). . .but I'm also in the process of FX'ing my line up, so the recent acquisition of a used 35-70 2.8 will have to go under radar (getting delivered to work), and the possible purchase of a Sigma 14mm 2.8 will have to as well. . .(it's easier to "work" a cheaper purchase into the budget than let's say the Sigma, which is $700 or so). . .

I'm with warprints, always agonize before the purchase, always happy after.

I agonize BEFORE I make a purchase. Once I buy, a get a big endorphine rush.

I only regretted buying an early Canon Powershot with EVIL, an almost completely useless piece of technology. I also had a small stomach turn when I bought my 200/4 micro recently, a lot of money for a lens due for redesign.

Buying my house was more of a relief. I'd been looking and working financing and then... done. Then I went out for a "last supper" since restaurant meals would no longer be part of the budget.

I ABSOLUTELY HATE MY SB-400!

At the time, it was selling for not much less than the SB-600. I'll never forgive myself for this! Now I'm stuck with a useless piece of crap! No Wireless, no Auto-FP sync, no nothing :^(

I certainly regret getting my Canon setup 2 years ago, I was so close to buying the just released D300, but then Canon gave this wild staff deal, I would certainly have been better of to have bought my Current Nikon gear from day one

Pete

Edit: Deleted... wrong thread.

I remember the day I closed on my first house. I went back to the office and after the initial sense of satisfaction wore off, I came the closest I've ever come to having a panic attack. "What have I done?"

I'm not sure if it was because the mortgage was 1/2 my income or because I no longer lived within walking distance of Deep Eddy... I suppose we'll never know :)

Seriously though... I had to take the rest of the day off.

An associate editor for CNET wrote this article about his and other people's insecurities when making camera gear purchases. I've never regretted any of my major purchases but I have regretted some of the smaller accessories that I rarely ever use like certain color/effect filters, bags, etc. What do you think? I don't think I can ever have too many cameras :^)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10394256-1.html

I like the one comment in the comments section by cvaldes1831, "Purchasing gadgets is kiddie play. Just wait until you buy real estate." Ha Ha so true :^(