Oh no! DON'T BE A STOOGE like me.

Went out taking some pictures at sunset tonight and when I got back into my vehicle, I placed my camera in my new Lowepro bag, albiet, ever so carelessly. I then went to a meeting and then went home. As I got out of my vehicle, I grabbed my bag and pulled it out behind me as I got out. I knew the bag wasn't zipped shut, but I forgot that I didn't secure the camera in the bag and thought it would be ok.

Well, the camera, with my 11-22mm fell to the concrete with a thud. I carried in in the house into the light, and well, it wasn't good.

Just last week I bought a $70 UV filter for the lens, which was on the camera when it fell. As you can see in the pics, it shattered and bent where it hit the ground. I tried to unscrew it from the lens, but it seems to be stuck. The lens still zooms, but there is some noise as it turns that tells me the lens must have suffered damage as well. The only question is to what extent.

I am thinking the $70 filter saved greater damage to the $600 and some dollar lens and was worth every penny I paid for it. I'm also thinking I should just leave the damaged filter on the lens and take it to the store where I bought the filter and have them remove it and buy a new one.

What are your thoughts about the lens? Should I have it check? If so, where do I send it?

Don't be a stooge like me. Always secure your camera in your bag and zip it shut before you pick it up. I will for now on!



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No REAL advice here Mort. Just empathy.
I'm still using my 11~22 without a filter. Perhaps you've taught me a lesson.
Good luck.

--
Regards,
(afka Wile E. Coyote)
Bill
PSAA
Equipment in profile.
Eschew obfuscation.
The frumious Bandersnatch

Man. Don't you just feel like kicking yourself when that stuff happens?

I'd take/ship the pair of them to a decent repair facility. I'd let them do the tricky tasks like taking the filter off. You also want to ensure that the lens mount (camera and body) is still in good shape, and that any other little bits and pieces are still where they need to be and doing what they need to do.

Filters are good for distributing the force around the perimeter of the lens, but they are also sorta like 5 MPH bumpers...They aren't good 15 MPH bumpers.

Does your insurance cover it?

Good luck. There, but for the grace...

Just that photo makes me cringe....OUCH!!! So sorry... :-(

If the store where you bought the filter also does camera repairs I would definitely have them at least look at it. They should be able to point you in the right direction, though be prepared for a costly repair/replacement under the worst of circumstances. I wish you the best though!

You should post a picture taken through that filter. I'm told that if you hold a shoestring in front of a lens you won't even see it. Do you see the cracks when you take a picture?

My sympathies though...

Take it to an Oly repair shop in my opinion.

I let go of my tripod one evening last year before it was stable - it tipped over, crashing down the side of a hill with my E1, 11-22mm lens, $120 MRC polarizer and FL50 flash ....

the polarizer was smashed to bits, the lens made noises and was harder to zoom than before, and the FL 50 hot shoe connection was broken off.... the E1 was fine, although quite dirty....

I sent FL 50 and 11-22mm in for repair - Oly fixed the FL 50 and charged a repair fee for lens - but instead gave me a brand new one with new warranty.... took 5 days total, including shipping...

an expensive lesson!

--
doreen

ad, "Have you ever seen a grown man cry". I'm feeling your pain and hope for a speedy recovery. Come to think of it, a bottle of Crown Royal might come in handy about now



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' Its not about having what you want. But rather, wanting what you have ' ( After you have it

I think filters have also saved my dropped 35mm cameras several times. Yet to drop the DSLR yet. As they say, better than a poke in the lens with a sharp stick.

When you get the repair bill! Sorry to hear and see this happen. After seeing this I might just go and pickup some UV filters for my new 14-54 and 40-150. If something happens to the 14-45 ohh well.

On a side note how long you been using the E-500? Are those wear marks on the front just under the IR sensor? I haven't had any of the finish wear of either of mine yet.

This one of the reasons I always have protective filters on my lenses and alway use the lens hood that came with the lens.
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Mr. D

Yeah I always have the hoods on however I've been putting off getting some UV filters for them. Think I'll order a few this week.

dmpbyrdwatcher said:

I sent FL 50 and 11-22mm in for repair - Oly fixed the FL 50 and
charged a repair fee for lens - but instead gave me a brand new one
with new warranty.... took 5 days total, including shipping...

Click to expand...

I'm not sure what you mean here?

Does that mean they charged you a repair fee for fix your lens, but rather than fixing it, then just swapped the damaged lens with a new one, and gave you a warranty to boot? How much did they charge you? Where did you send your stuff for repair? Olympus repair center is listed as Hauppauge, NY.

Adrenolin said:

On a side note how long you been using the E-500? Are those wear
marks on the front just under the IR sensor? I haven't had any of
the finish wear of either of mine yet.

Click to expand...

I saw those wear marks myself after I posted the photos. I always hold the camera in my hand and don't use the strap around my neck. I've always been concerned about dropping the camera from my hand that way and would like to get a velcro type wrist strap that has about 6-9 inches of safety rope that can snap onto the camera for safety. Do any of you know where I might get something like that? I don't want just one of those stupid P&S straps, but one that can be secured to my wrist.

Adrenolin said:

On a side note how long you been using the E-500?

Click to expand...

Since July 7th.

now this doesn´t sound too good.

i´m not using filters. but i´m using a strap, a lens hood and when i´m not shooting a cap. should be enough.
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e-1 14-54

And use that as your safety leash? Use the neck strap dog clip to attatch it? Me, I just wrap the neck strap round my wrist. It locks the camera into my hand, so I could use it as a club should I feel the need!

My son upended my LowePro at Donington 6 weeks back.
Thankfully, not very far, and onto a grass covered bank...

Everything inside was 'nested', and asleep. Nothing seems to have been damaged at all.
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1. ######
2. ####_O Tim Yorath
3. #### />
4. #### @ UK.
5. ### \

http://catmangler.smugmug.com/

I didn't read all the other replys but when I did something similar to my 50-200 it was a $400 repair bill from Oly because the glass from the filter nicked the front element and it had to be replaced...

I hope things work out better for you.

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Mort3770 said:

Does that mean they charged you a repair fee for fix your lens, but
rather than fixing it, then just swapped the damaged lens with a
new one, and gave you a warranty to boot?

Click to expand...

yes.....at the time, a new lens cost $900 - they charged $262 and gave me new lens with new warranty.....the FL50 repair was $140....I sent my stuff to repair center in CA (I'm in CA).

like I said - it was an expensive lesson....

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doreen

I hope that you had an insurance.

I usually prefer to keep my camera in my hand with strap wrapped around my neck. If I need to use my both hands to hold something then I prefer to hang my camera on my shoulder. I avoid hanging my camera around my neck as the LCD may get some scratches. Been using this baby for more than 8 months and no single scratch on the LCD yet.
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My online gallery: http://www.muamshai.com/photos

That's rotten luck. Is the camera still OK with another lens on?
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/dochog7/