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Well, it happened...I dropped my Evolt!!!

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Ben Herrmann

Ben Herrmann

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I never ever dropped a camera before - never!. But today was a different day and sure as heck, I thought I had my Evolt connected securely to my monopod (I was at work) and it came off suddenly - dropped on the concrete floor with what seemed like a bang that could be heart around the world. My heart stopped. Luckily I had my Heliopan Skylight filter on the 14-54 Lens because that is all that smashed. Everything seems to be okay other than a knick here or there.

But the camera held up extremely well - so far. Only time will tell.

Geeezzzz

 
Ben:

I think we all feel your pain!

I'd give it a complete check over, especially for focusing and all dials and button functions.

Good luck.

Barry
 
Ben,

I did the same thing with my E1. It was not even 5 minutes old yet. I pulled it out of the box, attached the lens, took a few sample shots, and set it on the kitchen table.

I placed it on a folder, which had the slippery plastic face, apparently that was on top of something else, and when I turned around it was too late.

I had no filter on the lens, and it hit the ground with a big thud. I laughed first, and then I picked it up, and keep right on shooting with no ill effects at all.
Ben Herrmann said:
I never ever dropped a camera before - never!. But today was a
different day and sure as heck, I thought I had my Evolt connected
securely to my monopod (I was at work) and it came off suddenly -
dropped on the concrete floor with what seemed like a bang that
could be heart around the world. My heart stopped. Luckily I had
my Heliopan Skylight filter on the 14-54 Lens because that is all
that smashed. Everything seems to be okay other than a knick here
or there.

But the camera held up extremely well - so far. Only time will tell.

Geeezzzz

Click to expand...
--
'I see the whole world through a tight lens'
Nikon D70+SB800(18-70mm Dx/ 28-200mm / 50mm f1.8)
Olympus E1+Vertical Grip+FL50(11-22mm Zuiko 14-54mm Zuiko / 55-200mm
Sigma)
 
I've never dropped a camera! Hah, just kidding, my OM-1 fell off a tripod with a brand new $375 Zuiko 35-105 zoom on it that I purchased off eBay NIB a couple years back. I had the lens maybe a week. Killed it, irrepairable. I was sick for a month.

Let us know how everything turns out.
Ben Herrmann said:
I never ever dropped a camera before - never!. But today was a
different day and sure as heck, I thought I had my Evolt connected
securely to my monopod (I was at work) and it came off suddenly -
dropped on the concrete floor with what seemed like a bang that
could be heart around the world. My heart stopped. Luckily I had
my Heliopan Skylight filter on the 14-54 Lens because that is all
that smashed. Everything seems to be okay other than a knick here
or there.

But the camera held up extremely well - so far. Only time will tell.

Geeezzzz

Click to expand...
--

 
Ben Herrmann said:
I never ever dropped a camera before - never!. But today was a
different day and sure as heck, I thought I had my Evolt connected
securely to my monopod (I was at work) and it came off suddenly -
dropped on the concrete floor with what seemed like a bang that
could be heart around the world. My heart stopped. Luckily I had
my Heliopan Skylight filter on the 14-54 Lens because that is all
that smashed. Everything seems to be okay other than a knick here
or there.
Click to expand...
Damn floors! They're always there when you least expect them!
A good reminder for all of us to keep filters on the lens at all times!

Hopefully your E is still going strong.

Good luck from Amsterdam

Bram

--------------------------------------------------------------------
My Travel Galleries (asia, middle east, latin america)
http://www.pbase.com/brambos
 
filters. If I didn't have that Heliopan filter on the 14-54, I would have had to trash that lens. This E300 is stronger and better built than I had originally assumed. It continues to impress...

 
Would the lens shade have absorbed the blow as well as the filter---just wondering. All my lenses have shades on all the time even in the Zing neoprne pouch and while in the bags. I never use filters, I love the organic look of bare lenses. That isn't so, but habit is habit. I have learned if falling to fall on my ribs and protect the camera. I kid you not. And in lens changing, I look at it like a surgical procedure.

Once a Konica Hexar bounced out of a bag as I stepped off a bus. Some crud under the LCD now but it still works. And under the camera sits a Really Right Stuff plate which does sometimes absorb blows from the bottom.
Now, go forth, sin no more, Ben, ---semper fi, Aloha, Gerry
Ben Herrmann said:
Click to expand...
 
Keep us informed as to how the camera is - I Guess Nicks can be expected, one of the advantages to polycarb (even when over Steel like in the E300) is that it doesn't dent or shatter and paint doesn't scrape off. AND the panels can be replaced (saw someone totally re-panel a tatty D60 and it looked like new again!)

--
Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist

 
I use Manfrotto tripods and monopods and I always use the quick release plates. Well, as I was walking up the hill and then up some steps to a concrete patio area under a covered picnic shelter. I was talking to someone while at the same time connecting the Evolt via the quick release plate on to the monopod. Well, when I clicked it in, I didn't bother to check to see if it was seated properly (so I assumed), and the camer was on the monopod - around 6 feet off of the ground. I know better than this as I am neurotic about stuff like this. Anyway, I took one more step and all of the sudden the camera "click" off (it was snapped in a locked properly) and it hit the ground with a thunk - throwing the lens hood off, but smashing the filter. I was shell shocked to say the least. The camera had the quick release plate on it, so it absorbed the majority of the impact - the filter took the rest - although it shattered big time. Just a very tiny weenie little scratch (if you want to call it that) on the actual lens. Now remember, I just put on the sturdier, more expensive 14-54 so it managed to hold up. Don't know how the 14-45 would have fared.

Moral of the story - make sure your camera is seated on a monopod or tripod...properly, especially if you are using quick release plates.

But I took this shot (a very dreary, cloudy, darkish and windy day at the lake today) right after I dropped "m'lady." Taken at around 3:00 PM - not a good day for picture taking at all, but we survived. Oh yes, I am ordering a replacement lens cap - because it got dinged up bad.



And this picture shows the concrete decking where the camera dropped. Don't mind the darkness - it was just a dark, dreary and windy day.



 
Turn it on. Is there a blue light flashing?

Is there?

On the other hand, who needs an SSWF when you can drop it on concrete? You must have the cleanest sensor of us all. Plus, you know your camera has VGIP installed and working (Violent Gravity Impact Plugin) ;-)

But seriously, I hope your cam's still OK. 'Cause if it is, you will love it even more! The few times I've had accidents with products that survived brutalities, it immensely boosted my respect and fondness for them... Almost an I'm-not-worthy feeling: I let you down, but you stayed at my side... ;-)
Ben Herrmann said:
I never ever dropped a camera before - never!. But today was a
different day and sure as heck, I thought I had my Evolt connected
securely to my monopod (I was at work) and it came off suddenly -
dropped on the concrete floor with what seemed like a bang that
could be heart around the world. My heart stopped. Luckily I had
my Heliopan Skylight filter on the 14-54 Lens because that is all
that smashed. Everything seems to be okay other than a knick here
or there.

But the camera held up extremely well - so far. Only time will tell.

Geeezzzz

Click to expand...
 
At least this answers my curiosity about build quality and structural solidity.

 
... show us a pic of that poor hood?

Do you have a second camera (wink, wink, nudge, nudge ;-)?
Ben Herrmann said:
I use Manfrotto tripods and monopods and I always use the quick
release plates. Well, as I was walking up the hill and then up
some steps to a concrete patio area under a covered picnic shelter.
I was talking to someone while at the same time connecting the
Evolt via the quick release plate on to the monopod. Well, when I
clicked it in, I didn't bother to check to see if it was seated
properly (so I assumed), and the camer was on the monopod - around
6 feet off of the ground. I know better than this as I am neurotic
about stuff like this. Anyway, I took one more step and all of the
sudden the camera "click" off (it was snapped in a locked properly)
and it hit the ground with a thunk - throwing the lens hood off,
but smashing the filter. I was shell shocked to say the least.
The camera had the quick release plate on it, so it absorbed the
majority of the impact - the filter took the rest - although it
shattered big time. Just a very tiny weenie little scratch (if you
want to call it that) on the actual lens. Now remember, I just put
on the sturdier, more expensive 14-54 so it managed to hold up.
Don't know how the 14-45 would have fared.

Moral of the story - make sure your camera is seated on a monopod
or tripod...properly, especially if you are using quick release
plates.

But I took this shot (a very dreary, cloudy, darkish and windy day
at the lake today) right after I dropped "m'lady." Taken at around
3:00 PM - not a good day for picture taking at all, but we
survived. Oh yes, I am ordering a replacement lens cap - because
it got dinged up bad.



And this picture shows the concrete decking where the camera
dropped. Don't mind the darkness - it was just a dark, dreary and
windy day.



Click to expand...
 
my nikon n90 + 24mm lens on tripod..the whole combo flew off the rocks on a windy day...needless to say , the lens was smashed but the body was saved...
i guess the lens will always plunge head down 1st due to the weight
so morale of story:
always keep the cam attended on tripod
mount the hood/filter on the lens for protection
last but not least , buy a rugged body ;-))
hope ur e300 is saved.
cheers,
 
I dropped my C-2500L several times, nine out of ten times causing it to flop open the battery compartment and have the NiMH's spill out all over the ground.

The camera never suffered one bit.

Once, I thought I ruined it, with the lens refusing to focus. Then discovered the viewfinder's diopter adjustment had been shoved to one side from the fall. Whew!
 
I just got a RRS clamp for my monopod rig. The release is a bit too soft and I was thinking about sending it back when I read your post.
I do clip the camera to the pod as a precaution.

I'd probably have heart failure if I droped my E-1 with the 50-200 in the marsh !
--
Draydur
(Mike Lowery) - SF bay area, CA, USA
http://www.pbase.com/draydur
Pbase supporter, DP review supporter
--All things considered, the final image is all that matters.
 
sounds like u have the bogen type w quicksnap ...these are dangerous types for they may not snap in place 2 well or give a false impression of snapping tight...the arca types are better since they require a screwing movement to tighten the plate and they don't unscrew by themselves...i've had a few mishaps when i used the bogen type plate...since i acquired the arca type, there were no more mishaps.
cheers,
 
Ben,

Thanks for the tip on checking the plate. I just purchased the new pistol grip head for my Manfrotto and it of course has a plate.

It sounds as though the E-300 survived and it's good to hear that it is fairly robust at that!!!
Ben Herrmann said:
I use Manfrotto tripods and monopods and I always use the quick
release plates. Well, as I was walking up the hill and then up
some steps to a concrete patio area under a covered picnic shelter.
I was talking to someone while at the same time connecting the
Evolt via the quick release plate on to the monopod. Well, when I
clicked it in, I didn't bother to check to see if it was seated
properly (so I assumed), and the camer was on the monopod - around
6 feet off of the ground. I know better than this as I am neurotic
about stuff like this. Anyway, I took one more step and all of the
sudden the camera "click" off (it was snapped in a locked properly)
and it hit the ground with a thunk - throwing the lens hood off,
but smashing the filter. I was shell shocked to say the least.
The camera had the quick release plate on it, so it absorbed the
majority of the impact - the filter took the rest - although it
shattered big time. Just a very tiny weenie little scratch (if you
want to call it that) on the actual lens. Now remember, I just put
on the sturdier, more expensive 14-54 so it managed to hold up.
Don't know how the 14-45 would have fared.

Moral of the story - make sure your camera is seated on a monopod
or tripod...properly, especially if you are using quick release
plates.

But I took this shot (a very dreary, cloudy, darkish and windy day
at the lake today) right after I dropped "m'lady." Taken at around
3:00 PM - not a good day for picture taking at all, but we
survived. Oh yes, I am ordering a replacement lens cap - because
it got dinged up bad.



And this picture shows the concrete decking where the camera
dropped. Don't mind the darkness - it was just a dark, dreary and
windy day.



Click to expand...
--
Kevin Barrett
Lowell, MI
http://www.kbfoto.com
 
Ben,

Events like that do get the heart racing! Glad to hear that the damage was limited to the filter. Quite a testimony to the build quality of the camera.

Mark Devine
 
and their all Manfrotto - to include the heads. So I figured, I'd make it easy by outfitting all of them with the QR plates - which is convenient to say the least. But you do have to watch what you're doing - which for the first time, I did not do. Wow, call me stupid once - and that's all it takes for me to do right.

 
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