I fell into a river (Slide rock in arizona) with my camera...
All you abusers post your Nikon Drop test experience here.
(108 posts) (64 voices)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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Wow! What a harrowing read this thread is! Sorry for everyone's mishaps. That baby carriage story was horrifying!
Anyway, here's mine . . .
The Open-Bag Syndrome:
In 2005, I was on a press tour in French Polynesia (shooting television), and I took my trusty D70 along with me to take travel snapshots. At the time, I was still using a LowePro backpack to hold my gear (I've since switched to ThinkTank belt pouches). I was ready to move to another location when I picked up my backpack off the ground with its main flap still completely unzipped. I tossed the backpack over my shoulder and out came my brand new AF Nikkor 20mm f/2.8D lens, flying through the air in a large, slow-motion arc above my head . . . only to land on a cement sidewalk. Upon inspecting the damage, I found its metal Nikon lens shade severely dented. Now the damned thing wouldn't auto-focus.
The lens' focus ring only binds at one point, and not too badly, but I stopped using it shortly after, thinking it may damage my focus motor. I was loathe to buy another $459 Nikkor 20mm, so I looked for something new. After a long, arduous Ebay search, I finally found a mint-condition, AF Nikkor 18mm f/2.8 at a good price. I thought, cool! It's noticeably wider than a 20mm, and it's one of Nikon's metal-barreled, "pro" lenses, with that cool-looking crinkle finish. It's a beautiful lens, but it's not as sharp as my old AF 20mm Nikkor, and much bulkier. As soon as I get an FX-body Nikon, I think I'm going to have to pony up for another 20mm Nikkor.
The Falling-Off-the-Couch Syndrome:
I left my D90 cradled on the couch recently "for just a second." The weight of the lens shifted the body off the couch, and the body crashed to the hard porcelain tile floor about 30 inches below. The body survived without a scratch.
The Open-Water Syndrome:
A couple months ago, I went to try out my brand new AF Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR zoom at some tide pools, just south of Los Angeles. I had the lens holstered in a ThinkTank lens pouch, hanging from a pistol belt on my right hip (I had discarded the rain cover thinking it was too "bulky"). Sure enough, a wave caught me, and drenched the pouch and my new lens. A quick dousing of Rosco lens fluid and a thorough cleaning of the rear element and mount seemed to have averted any salt water damage, although I still fear that some moisture may have seeped into the lens through the aperture ring. This is the one time that a 'G' lens would've actually been a benefit! Thankfully, the lens still works.
The Cheap-Plastic-Lens Syndrome:
After dropping my AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm VR lens on a sidewalk from the height of only about a foot a few weeks ago, I tested it, and it still worked just fine. I then threw the lens into a soft lens pouch. The next time I took it out--no AF! It's very intermittent. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. And, oddly, no amount of jiggling of any particular part on the lens seems to either create or eliminate the fault condition. The electronic contacts look fine. The front element's barrel can be easily moved with your finger so that it looks "crooked," but still appears to shoot fine. Don't know if it did this before or not. The problem would appear to be electrical, since it either works or it doesn't, and there's no mechanical noise emitted when the AF is functioning properly. Wonder what's "broken?"
Posted 2 years ago # -
mmmh what horrible stories...
I'm scared just by remembering :-(
My new D700 with my beloved 70-200VR fell on hard concrete floor.
It was the wedding day of a friend and I wanted to get some nice close-up portrait pictures so I didn't take my usual 24-70 that day.
When I saw that my friend's parents had hired pro photog (equipped with Canon 5DmkII, 1dmkIII and 24 f1.4, 35 f1.4, 50 f1.2, 85 f1.2, 70-200, etc.) I was a bit pissed off because I had spent few nights without sleeping and was just tired... I would have left my stuff at home, really!
Busy drinking champagne, I grasped the D700 by the tripod mount of the 70-200, and didn't realised the screw was not tight enough.
So when the 70-200 with the D700 all fell onto the hard concrete floor, it was like ... time stopped. I saw everything in a timelapse movement, people seemed to speak slowly like in Max Payne when using Bullet time... After the distinct BANG sound, everyone stopped talking, laughing, etc. There was a cold layer of silence all around me.I saw a hand taking the camera (my own hand, but it was like a nightmare, so I saw the whole scene from a third person perspective), and attaching the tripod mount again, doing as if nothing happened.
It was only when my friend's mother came talking, embarrassed, if my camera was broken, that I began checking like mad if everything worked... The metallic bottom of my new D700 was scraped by the raw concrete floor, and ditto for the edge of my 70-200VR (I had left the hood at home because I hate the impressive look of it when trying to take some candids).
It was a miracle though, that everything still works perfectly (even if the end barrel of the 70-200 isn't a perfect circle anymore - it looks a bit crushed on the bottom, and that the focus ring isn't as smooth as before).
This is proofing the excellent building quality of these tools but I can't help feeling very sad because the physical integrity isn't perfect anymore (I know... so stupid to have love feeling for tools, but I'm learning to heal that :D)I now understand that some people scratch, scuff and damage their tools on day one, to get rid of these "material" attachment to a perfection. The tools must live, after all...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Dropped my D5000 with my 18-200 lens on it tonight. I was taking it off my tripod and stupidly decided to not hold onto it. It fell about 3-4 feet into snow and rocks. I think the snow caught it for the most part, but there are some small chips on the body of the lens. I have it under a fan right now to dry over night. It seems to be functioning, but the lens seems a little loose/wiggly now. I will have to run some more shots and stuff once I am sure it is dry.
On a good note I might have taken a decent picture before I was dumb and dropped it.
Posted 2 years ago # -
So far I haven't dropped much- my 70-300VR rolled off a picnic table once (to my great dismay), but so far I have not had any problems with it- the VR works great and it's still sharp.
Not a drop but I once fell on my lens. I was shooting some waves on a big lake in winter. Of course all of the waves were so big because there was so much wind, so a big gust caught me off guard just at the moment I stepped on some ice and crash! My 11-16 became horribly decentered, but it took me 5 months to realize it (it started out very sharp and I almost always stop down to get DoF anyway) My D90 seems ok...
And many years back when I used the 10-20/4-5.6 on a D70, my lens and camera fell 3 feet onto concrete when my camera bag fell open. The filter I had on it was toast, but everything is ok. I checked the sharpness and the centering of the lens, and it is as sharp as my 11-16 after repair when stopped down- no mean feat.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I haven't dropped anything, but my poor 18-200 seems to be my sacrificial lens. Years ago it was on the D70s in a regular backpack (non-photo) with me at the beach. I set down next to a large log to protect it from the kids playing. Next thing I know the kids decide to roll a huge log over the log that is protecting my backpack right onto the backpack. I didn't even think of the camera at that point. About a week later I went out to shoot some pictures while my son was doing something and noticed that the lens was not straight. Found out it broke a couple of the plastic retainers internally. Had that fixed and things went well for a couple of years.
Then, just over a year ago, got back from a trip with the family and found it would focus and the focus ring will turn, but it won't move the internal focusing parts. Zoom is really stiff as well. So it has been sitting while I decide if it worth even fixing again or if it just needs to be my sacrifice to the lens gods.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Purchased a 2.8 24-70 from that superstore in NYC (this OK Niko?). UPS arrived and I sprung up from the couch in my eager anticipation. Opened the package, unzipped the pouch, and watched my brand new lens hit the hardwood floor in a horrid THUD.
Result:
Lens,....like new. And it was
Hardwood floor,...huge dent,...reminds me daily to SLOW DOWN.Posted 2 years ago # -
I took some pictures today while I was out for work. If all my pictures suck I am blaming it on the camera being dropped last night ;)
...It actually seems to be going like a champ. Luckily I had it at like 23-26 mm zoom when I dropped it. Might have been much worse if it was longer.
Posted 2 years ago # -
LoveTheBerry said:
Purchased a 2.8 24-70 from that superstore in NYC (this OK Niko?). UPS arrived and I sprung up from the couch in my eager anticipation. Opened the package, unzipped the pouch, and watched my brand new lens hit the hardwood floor in a horrid THUD.Result:
Lens,....like new. And it was
Hardwood floor,...huge dent,...reminds me daily to SLOW DOWN. And how do you slow down opening something like that?The best part of the story is that the dent is in the floor and not the lens.
Posted 2 years ago # -
jonnyapple said:
The best part of the story is that the dent is in the floor and not the lens.Not so sure about that. Replacing hardwood floors is likely more expensive than the lens. I have insurance on my gear, so would not have been as upset about it breaking as damaging hardwood floors.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Every one of these stories makes me sad on the inside. Mainly because I know it could happen to me. I think i was happier before hearing all the horror stories. Im going to shoot from the inside of a pillow from now on.
Posted 2 years ago # -
And someone was picking on me for purchasing the "Body Armor" for my camera.
If it prevents one "ding",...worth the $45 I paid for it.Posted 2 years ago # -
I'll join in the "wall of shame"... A few months back, I was sitting in my car and was changing lenses from my 55-200mm to a 18-55mm and dropped the 18-55 from about 3 feet onto a hard road surface.
I watched as it rolled out into the road. I reached down and picked it up before anything got to run it (or me) over...
What had happened was that one of the buckles on an undersized bag wasn't done up and the flap was open....
As you can imagine, while a not too expensive lens, it's not too expensive a bit of plastic and glass, the knowledge that I had broken it, would have really ticked me off.
Anyway, it is still working a treat. Only the UV filter on the end was a little bit dented, but a firm push and it is back to being as round as it should be.
The moral of the story is; WATCH OUT AND TAKE CARE!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Here's my easy ride into the Wall of Shame...
I got my D7000 around November 15th. It was perfect timing as I was doing a solo road trip from NJ to TX making stops along the way. I didn't have a lense so my friend lent me his 18-105. Right before I left, I picked up a 50 1.8 as well. I was learning to use my first DSLR and getting an idea of focal lengths I would be into.
I stop over in Memphis and couldn't wait to start shooting on Beale Street. I knew there would be much to shoot. I park my car in a lot and decide to pull my D7000 out right in front of B.B. Kings. Eager to shoot right away, I unzip my Lowepro and out comes the D7000 with the 18-105 attached crashing to the ground. I don't know how I could have let this happen. I have between 30-40k of musical equipment and never dropped a thing.
The camera looked ok. The 18-105 came off and I knew that was bad news. The plastic mounting bracket snapped off. Oops. I was pissed that I broke my friend's lense and also that I lost my zoom lense. I still managed to make it work by holding it on. I figured, I have a 50 1.8, so I'll have something. Turns out, that would not sync up with the D7000. So, for the rest of the trip, I'm uncomfortably taking photos with the 18-105 by holding it on. This doesn't do anything for sharpness, but I did my best. Thanks VR.
So, when I return, I take it to my shop to find out that I bent the aperture pin. It can't be bent back in place. It would have to be replaced and for around 4-500 bucks. This means, I can only use G lenses. So...essentially, I have the first "Gelded" D7000.
If this doesn't earn me a top spot on the Wall, I don't know what will.
Lesson: ONLY OPEN YOUR CAMERA BAG WHILE IT IS SITTING ON A SOLID SURFACE AND NOT WHILE WALKING.Posted 2 years ago # -
Do you mean the AI-S ring broke off, Bass? I don't think the 50 1.8 needs that (I could be wrong, but my evidence is that it works fine on the cameras without an AI-S metering ring).
Not to offend with a possibly stupid question, but do you have the 50 1.8 set to its smallest aperture (f/22)? If you don't you'll get a blinking error message when you mount it. My sister called me once and was depressed because she had somehow broken both her 50 1.8 and her 85 1.8. If I didn't love her like I do, I would have just told her to send me the "junk" lenses. Instead I told her what I just told you and they were fixed like magic. ;-)
Posted 2 years ago # -
I managed to drop my D40x with one of the lenses from my camera bag onto a concrete step of my house. On the first two attemempts the camera told me to switch it off and try again, and after that it worked fine. The lens seemed to be ok also. I forgot to zip up my camera bag before putting it on.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm almost afraid to post to this thread for fear of jinxing myself. I've never dropped any Nikon equipment. But this is a bit like motorcycling ... there are two kinds of motorcyclists, those who HAVE crashed and those who WILL crash.
My worst incident with a camera was having my SRT-101 and lens go flying off my bike as I was going down the George Washington Parkway in D.C. No camera case, just camera and lens. Other than a small dent in the pentaprism cover, no problems. Kept using that camera another 10 years or so until it was stolen.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Jonny, I'm not exactly sure what it is called, but it is a metal tab if you look inside front right of camera. From what I understand, it is there for aperture in D lenses.
No question is stupid or would make me feel dumber than dropping my D7K. ;-) Yes, we tried that to no luck. So, unless I really want to use a D lense which I don't really think will stop me from doing anything, I'll stick to G glass.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Here is my experience.
Last year during September, with all my family we went for a 4-day jeep tour in the remote area of the South West of Bolivia. (The Lipez and the Salar of Uyuni). During the first day, at lunch time while walking between the rocks, I felt down and knocked my D70s on one of the rocks, that opened the back of the camera by 30deg, showing all the electronics in it. I closed the back, tried to do a test shoot, the camera actually took the photo, but the back LCD was dead.. Then (my big mistake) I pressed the reset button because I though that it was a software problem that the LCD is dead.. but the first thing the camera asks after RESET is to set the time of the day :(...
On the upper LCD I saw that the image count advanced, therefore I deduced that the camera is taking the photo.. so I continued the tour taking photos without knowing that I'm taking (Like the old Film Days)..
Here is a snapshot from me and my broken camera 4 days after, you can see the partially open back:
Back at home in Tarija, Bolivia, using an clean environment I opened the other two screws that supported the back of the camera (The first two ones were present but the plastic that supported the back was broken by the hit).. and discovered that the flat cable that connects the LCD was not in place.. Therefore, fixing that and glue-ing the broken plastic, I got my camera back into a almost normal operation. All photos were OK, just with a shifted date back to 2004. (I used a tool called exiftool (by Phil Harvey) to fix the date on the EXIF fields)
The camera works almost perfectly, only I have a minor problem with the 18-70 Kit lens: It does not like to do autofocus if zoom is set to 18 and you are trying to focus a subject located far away.
Due to this accident, I got my D7K two months ago and use the D70s for my Mountain Bike rides.. (and IR photography)
Posted 2 years ago # -
rbid said:
Here is my experience.Last year during September, with all my family we went for a 4-day jeep tour in the remote area of the South West of Bolivia. (The Lipez and the Salar of Uyuni). During the first day, at lunch time while walking between the rocks, I felt down and knocked my D70s on one of the rocks, that opened the back of the camera by 30deg, showing all the electronics in it. I closed the back, tried to do a test shoot, the camera actually took the photo, but the back LCD was dead.. Then (my big mistake) I pressed the reset button because I though that it was a software problem that the LCD is dead.. but the first thing the camera asks after RESET is to set the time of the day :(...
On the upper LCD I saw that the image count advanced, therefore I deduced that the camera is taking the photo.. so I continued the tour taking photos without knowing that I'm taking (Like the old Film Days)..
Here is a snapshot from me and my broken camera 4 days after, you can see the partially open back:
Back at home in Tarija, Bolivia, using an clean environment I opened the other two screws that supported the back of the camera (The first two ones were present but the plastic that supported the back was broken by the hit).. and discovered that the flat cable that connects the LCD was not in place.. Therefore, fixing that and glue-ing the broken plastic, I got my camera back into a almost normal operation. All photos were OK, just with a shifted date back to 2004. (I used a tool called exiftool (by Phil Harvey) to fix the date on the EXIF fields)
The camera works almost perfectly, only I have a minor problem with the 18-70 Kit lens: It does not like to do autofocus if zoom is set to 18 and you are trying to focus a subject located far away.
Due to this accident, I got my D7K two months ago and use the D70s for my Mountain Bike rides.. (and IR photography)
First: had to check if that was realy you, however, a little photo shop work to replace the hair, and with the sunglasses, okay we will accept it as you, even though the hippie looking picture with the silky long golden coloured hair is a little better looking. lol
It is good to know that Nikons are able to survive the knocks and falls.
Last week a friend of mine had his D90 with 18-105vr fall off a table on to a concrete floor. The lens will not autofocus anymore. The camera works well with other lenses and I tried his lens on the D7000 and it seems that the a/f is toast.
I am thinking that, maybe, just maybe, lenses with metal mounts may be better built and able to take abuse better than plastic mount lens.
Posted 2 years ago # -
So Rbid, you were still able to get images out of the D70 right? That's pretty awesome.
casperwb said:
First: had to check if that was realy you, however, a little photo shop work to replace the hair, and with the sunglasses, okay we will accept it as you, even though the hippie looking picture with the silky long golden coloured hair is a little better looking. lolIt is good to know that Nikons are able to survive the knocks and falls.
Last week a friend of mine had his D90 with 18-105vr fall off a table on to a concrete floor. The lens will not autofocus anymore. The camera works well with other lenses and I tried his lens on the D7000 and it seems that the a/f is toast.
I am thinking that, maybe, just maybe, lenses with metal mounts may be better built and able to take abuse better than plastic mount lens.
I'm not sure. The plastic may allow some "play", which might allow the lens to flex a little more before snapping.
I obviously have no data to back it though.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I had a drop experience a few weeks ago. I had a BR strap attached to a 70-200 f2.8, and went to switch lenses, but wasn't thinking straight as you'll see in a moment. When I detached the lens I let go of the D700 and it took a mount first dive to the ground, which thankfully was soft grass. No harm done to the camera, but I had to wipe some dirt and grime off the mount.
Posted 2 years ago # -
NSXType-R said:
So Rbid, you were still able to get images out of the D70 right? That's pretty awesome.Yes, The camera works, only the 18-70 kit lens will not autofocus is set a zoom below 20mm. Now, I take this camera when I don't want to risk the brand new D7K. (Mountain Biking, etc)
Posted 2 years ago # -
D3 and 70-200 f/2.8 VR went off a table and onto the floor. Everything seemed to work fine. Every year I send gear to Nikon for check focus and clean. Both the camera and lens needed the lens mount replaced. So even if you think everything's OK, I'd send it in to be checked.
Posted 2 years ago # -
My cameras get treated well, most of the time, but there's no telling what might happen when I'm out.
My Rolleiflex has smacked off the corners of tables and walls when making quick turns with it off my shoulder, it's fine.
My Nikkormat FT2 has fallen onto concrete numberous times, aside from a tiny crack in the mirror, which is invisible in the viewfinder, it works perfectly.
My Pentax 6x7 has fallen and slammed into a lot of stuff. I think it causes more damage than it receives.
My F4 has been used as a weapon as part of a dodgy situation I had in Vyborg, Russia. I was being followed down a back alley by a suspicious looking fellow, who was yelling at me in Russian, apparently paying no mind to my shouts of "NYET" and "ÄLÄ NYT". I had my 85/1.4 Ai-S on the camera, with the large metal screw-in hood. So when I was faced with no exit, and him looking like he was about to take a knife or something out of his pocket, I took the camera by the vertical grip and slammed the hood into the guy's nose. He doubled-over and I took off running back to the central square. The 85 is no worse for wear, and the F4 is still in consant use. The hood has a unnoticeable flat spot on the base, which I think is more from the camera being set down on the ground, than anything else.
My Hasselblad has been smacked around a bit, but it shoots like new. It's a 500C from 1962, which I had overhauled in December of 2010.
The only camera I've ever had break on me was my Yashica Electro35 GS, which sufferes from an internal electronics issue common to that model of camera.
Posted 2 years ago #
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