Well I just like to say thank you to everyone's responses I was only expecting a few. I really appreciate what everyone has had to say and will take it all onboard over the next few days and try to implement most of what has been suggested to try.
I suspect, you would have probably felt the need to upgrade the D7200 sooner than you will feel the need to upgrade the EM1.3 +12-40. So, longer term, the Oly might not be as expensive as it feels at the moment.. The Oly choice should be good for a long time,
The Oly 12-40 is an excellent pro-grade lens and the EM1.3 even with a smaller sensor, still has capabilities beyond the D7200: if you want/need to make use of them. Although I am a died in the wool Nikon user (for 50 years), I've owned both the EM1.3 and the 12 -40 and this a fantastic combination, not only capable of high quality results, but also light, small and fun to use.
Unless, you have "overspent: because you can't afford it, rather than just spent more than you intended, the only way to guarantee buyers remorse is if you don't get out and enjoy using it..
In that regard, can I suggest you work out some projects around subjects that interest you, and you want to photograph, rather than relying on the excitement of a new camera to get you out there. Maybe also look at some of the smarter tricks that the Oly has, that the D7200 doesn't, e.g. procapture, to help justify buying the Oly over the D7200.
There is definitely a lot to the E-M1.3 which I think is partially why I've felt I've gone in over my head a bit. But like you say I would probably find the limits of the D7200 long before I do with the Olympus. I think I would of missed a fold out screen as had this on my last camera, thought it was a gimmick but ended up using it so much.
I'll definitely have a think of some suitable ideas for a project or two.
I second that advice.
Pick a subject, get out and capture it. If you can, find similar subjects that others have recorded and compare what you've done with their approach. DON'T just look at what you think they've done better - look at what you've done that you prefer to their results.
Remember, digital cameras get cheaper the more images you record with them!
Thank you for the response. Maybe a project is what I need. There is a local photographer where I am who regularly posts on his Facebook page all of which is within a reasonable walk from where I live.
Photography is perfect when combining with your other current interests, e.g: hiking, walking, city breaks, sports, science, animals, cars/motosport, history, local issues etc... imo this is where photography becomes most interesting and sustainable. When photography becomes just about photography, that's how you get into a situation where all that matters is the camera, lenses, bags, etc.. and you're forever testing various 'setups'
I do like a good walk or cycle and there's plenty to see where I live. I definitely don't want to be out just to take photos.
I generally have some remorse; it's because I pay a significant price for incremental improvements that I don't actually need ≥ 95% of the time. And often, those incremental improvements also come with some kind of tradeoff...
I do feel I've taken a big step up from what I previously had. The E-M1.3 is definitely a capable camera.
I recently bought a mint but used Canon 300mm f2.8 IS ii for a lot of money plus drop-in filters and polarisers and soft case for transporting it around. Once or twice I have 'kinda though to myself 'what have I done!' . . . but every time I have used it I have been chuffed with the results. Great fun walking a long way back to get the subject in frame and now I am getting people come up to me asking if I had a good photograph of their car I could give them!!! Wouldn't be without it now. Like you I don't go out much really but when I do I always have a good time! Great fun, and I can always re-sell it and my other stuff if I have to, after all it is cheaper than renting anything. I also just bought a 15mm 'diagonal' fisheye lens . . . gotta get super close with this one. People think I am mad being alllll the way over there one moment then nose to glass the next!
I don't think I have used it enough yet to decide if it's for me. Too busy worrying about what I've brought and spent.
I do have a copy (official one printed by a UK company on behalf of Olympus) of the Full E-M1 mk3 User manual that I am happy to send you.
@Lindsey I hope it is OK to ask if he is interested
@ian-83 in the thread about this to then go PM as appropriate?
I am not sure about the P& P costs but if you make a donation of your choice to the TP running funds I will cover the postage i.e. free to you for the price of a donation to TP (
@lindsay please advise can that be to the 'coffee fund' or other via TP route?)
@ian-83 please PM as appropriate
PS I would anticipate putting it in a Jiffy envelope and that would make it over the 1 inch thick i.e. "Large Letter" or "Small Parcel" so possibly around the £5 mark to send it 2nd Class Post
Thank you for the kind offer. Is this the same as the one the camera comes with or a more in-depth one?
I sold my old D7200, lenses and 3 compact cameras to WEX to fund the purchase of my Sony A6700 18-135 lens kit as I needed to reduce my kit weight. I didn’t need to lay out any cash but my regret lies in losing some old favourite cameras. I’ll get over it and life is easier now I don’t have a multitude of options, I have fewer batteries to charge and plenty of spare straps and cases.
I've had a few Nikon's in the past so always feel a bit nostalgic about them but I wonder if that's all my lusting a D7200 was about. I know the weight would get to me after a while.
I could have written this post myself.
Every time I buy camera equipment I instantly regret it.
Sorry I can't be more positive but that's how I feel every time.
I am a hobbyist so I cannot justify the purchase of new toys, but I do it anyway.
The feeling does pass after a few weeks in my case.
Good luck
I definitely feel used is a better deal for the hobbyist if you don't want the latest equipment.
In your shoes, I think it would be more about did I buy the 'right' item rather than the actual expenditure.
But you never know, the EM1-3 might suit you better than the original D7200 you had in mind
A few years ago I was happily using the Voigtlander 40/1.2 on Sony - I decided I wanted a 35mm'ish AF lens with a big aperture..... Sony 35/1.8? Batis 40mm? Sigma had an f/2? The tiny f/2.8 lenses.... My other half just told me to buy the 35GM because I'd regret whatever else I bought and would always have that 'I should have' niggle playing over & over..... So I did. No remorse whatsoever, that lens is on the A7Riii virtually every time I go out......
I'm not really well off money wise, but I know it's best to get what you really want & need and get 100% use out of it.
I've just spent £150 on a 35mm film lens.... No remorse, I've been looking for one for years & they just don't come up for sale.
There's definitely pros and cons for each I was looking at. I think I possibly would of ended up feeling the same regardless of which way I went.
I will just say that paying over the odds will commonly achieve this result. The salesman did very well, and that is that.
Never said I paid over the odds just more than I had set out to. Two different things. The salesman only produced an E-M1.3 as I asked to see how one handled and that's all they had in stock. Your answer seems to be the only negative one here.
in most instances, it's easier to buy than to sell
I have boxes full of stuff, but I have been "at it" since the early 1960's
I'm slowly accumulating camera related stuff. Should really get some of it in the sales section.
Only when I've had a few glasses of red before purchasing and wake up in the morning and say: "You bought what?" And then: "How much?!!!"
On the other hand, occasionally I'll procrastinate about a lens or camera and my sensible side gets the better of me. I'll then wait until Saturday evening, have a couple of drinks, and that allows the not so sensible (but a lot more fun) side of me to emerge victorious.
Only brought one thing while a few drinks in. Luckily it was something I actually needed and was a bargain price. I just browse mostly.
My remorse (as Lee alluded to) is more "did I get the right thing?" which is made worse when I discover I didn't.
A long time ago I bought a Canon 70-200 f/2.8 L lens. Hardly ever used the thing, and used to get remorse every time I looked at it on the shelf. Same for the Fuji equivalent when I switched to Fuji. Too big, too heavy, and I didn't really need it for the photography I do - all of which is hindsight information.
I'm looking for a small, pocketable 35mm camera at the moment. I've had about a dozen (fortunately not too expensive) cameras, and none of them have worked for me. Now that the Rollei 35AF has been announced I'm going to give that a go with a healthy amount of "pre-purchase remorse" that it might not be the one I'm looking for.
Ideally, you would buy exactly the right gear for what you want to do, but if you don't know what that is, you've got to accept that you might buy something you don't need along the way. I see it as all part of the learning curve. If it's not money you need elsewhere, it'll be ok. You can always sell it on in search of the right one. Maybe it'll make a loss, but you (hopefully) learned something from the experience.
It's hard to know what's right I find just handling something in the store or reading reviews as everyone's wants and needs are so different. I definitely have enough saved to cover the purchase and not struggle to pay the bills.
I've bought the wrong thing quite a few times. Also some stuff I didn't think I'd like but end up finding brilliant. Key is not to worry too much and just look after kit and sell what you don't like. If you buy used you lose less money in mistakes than buying new.
I definitely look after my stuff and tend to keep all the boxes. Other half thinks I am mad for that one.
I think this is something I have to get over.
My parents had nothing when they married and although things improved I was always brought up to save and only buy what was needed when I could afford it and to look after what I had and make it last. Later when on decent money I decided to buy myself something every month but once I'd bought a watch, various hifi and cameras what was left? I couldn't think so I stopped but I've always bought cars.
These days I'm getting older and me and Mrs WW have no one to leave anything too so we really should spend whatever we want whenever we want.
So, my advice is that if you can afford something... why not indulge yourself...and try not to feel guilty.
I had the same upbringing. If you want something save for it so your not living life paying off credit cards etc. it definitely makes some purchases feel more like your earned them and there a reward for hard work.
If you look at it another way. Just about every modern camera is over specced anyway. So we're all paying more than we need too for functions we will never use.
This is true. There's so much tech packed in them these days I doubt most of us use more than 10% of it.
I stopped chasing bells and whistles several years ago and am still in remission from my GAS. In the past, I have regretted a couple of purchases but have managed to get over the disappointments once the items had been sold on/traded in.
If I was in the OP's shoes, I'd get on with using the new/fresh kit and see if I enjoyed it before making any decision over its future.
It's the first new to me camera in about 7 years so I've done well i think. Spent the last few years though looking at stuff. Hard not to when there's so much out there on social media etc to tempt you in.
