Broke a $1500 lens.

[blacktape]

So my friend was using my 70-200 2.8 L IS USM. The most expensive lens in my lineup. Somehow he accidentally dropped the lens and now two lenses around the back lens group developed a full-diameter length crack!

Weird thing is he continued to take pictures, and pictures come out just fine! This is from a 1.3X sensor of the Mark 2.

Anyway today I tested it on my camera and the lens won't work. It causes my camera to jam when the shutter is locked. "Err 01". Aperture display goes to 00. Every single time.

He was gonna repair the lens and pay for it. I wonder if I should ask for a brand new replacement instead. After all, this is quite a hi-tech gear. I'm not sure I want to use something that's been cracked before. Not to mention if I try to sell it.

What do you think?
Be a nice friend and settle with the repair? or
Be reasonable and ask for a new one?

[neil_r]

I have very occasionally loaned equipment to friends, I have only done it with friends I know to be fully competent and respectful with their own kit. On every occasion where I have done this, it has always been on a “You break it, you replace it” basis and I ensure that they fully understand this.

I am sure that your friend would not regard it as unreasonable for you to ask him to replace the lens.

My two pence

N

[c0ntr0lz]

what was the agreement before the hand off?

[tommykjensen]

If someone borrows equipment that expensive I would expect them to pay for the damage they cause.

Now if You can settle for a repair or You should get a new one really depends on how old the lens was. If it was brand new, say less than 6-12 months they I would want a new one. If it was older I might settle for a repair.

[jgbeam]

I'd want a new lens. Determine the current value of your lens, i.e., purchase price less depreciation. Ask your friend to reimburse you that amount so you can buy a new lens. You will obviously have to put some of your own cash into the deal. Give him the old lens, which seems to work fine on his camera.

Jim

[ron chappel]

I say get the repair.
If canon themselves do it,it *will* be as good as new.They'll do it perfectly :)

[Chris1le]

I agree with Ron. Depending on the price of repair of course. I've always had good luck with remanufactured products. They usually are more thoroughly tested before being released.

[kiwimichael]

I also agree with Ron and Chris1le. Canon have repaired two lenses for me and both of them have come back in perfect condition. If you send it in for repair'you should be able to stipulate the conditions of repair (i.e as good as new). Also above a certain repair price Canon will call to discuss the situation with you. If you decide not to carry out the repair I think that there will be a fee for the investigation.
I'm also wondering if your friend has insurance which would cover the replacement cost?

Good luck.
Michael

[Mills]

After he buys you the new one, give him the one he broke. He can then have the one that is "less then perfect".


If the tables were turned, I would not have even hesitated and replaced the broken lens with a new one.

[Belmondo]

I don't believe in punitive damages. Making someone buy you a brand-new lens is inappropriate and unnecessary. Canon will repair the old one and make it as good as new, possibly even better than when it was dropped---I don't know how old or in what condition yours was. You have the right to be restored to your original postion. Nothing more.

The operative word here is 'friend.' If you feel your friend needs to be punished for what was apparently an accident, you'll be on pretty shakey ground legally, so if you ask for a new lens and he agrees, he's being a better friend than you are.

At least when my 100-400L was dropped, I had the pleasure of doing it myself. :oops: :oops: :oops:

[defordphoto]

It's all been said. Settle for the repair and move on, both with your life and your friendship.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I'd say repair.. but certianly give him the option of trading the busted one for a new one. (ie he buys you a new lens.. he keeps the busted one)

But repair will be fine.

[Persian-Rice]

Has your friend offered anything? If I borke my friend'a lens I would offer to replace it. Hell I would buy a new one and give it to him, before even telling him I broke it.

I would say that he should have it repaired at the least.................. mistakes are made............what can ya do.

I agree witht he other guy, if he buys you a new one, give him the broken one, maybe he can have it repaired and he can keep it.........

Cheers.

[Ballen Photo]

I just read this along with all the responses thus far, and after weighing what people have said about Canon repair, I find it more reasonable to just have him repair it. What if in the future this scenario is reversed, and you become beholding to your friend? How would you hope He/She would react? I'm betting that right now your friend is feeling really bad.
Talk to your friend and work it out.
In my estimation, a true friend is far more valuable than any material possesion, and how you handle this now will make a difference. :wink:
......Bruce

[Ogrt48]

Just let him repair it. It's the same thing any judge in the usa will do. They won't charge him the new retail value. They'll either depreciate the value of it GREATLY and give him the lens as if he bought it, you won't be happy with the amount you get this way or they can make him repair it. Either way if you're really his friend you'd let him just pair for the repairs as long as it works fine afterwards there is no real harm done.

[Cadenza]

I think there are a few more considerations
before making such a decision. You ought
to consider also the level of your friendship,
his ability to pay/replace/repair the equipment,
your ability to pay/repair/replace the equipment,
and also the circumstances.

If you're well off financially, and your friend is
not, you should show a higher degree of
leniency. If he's an old friend, you've shared
lots of stories and have put many years into
the friendship, you should also be more
lenient. Acidents happen, and a good friend is
always more valuable than a stupid lens.

May be he can do something in return for you
that has nothing to do with the lens. If he's a
considerate person, maybe he could suggest
something also. Good luck.

[AzzKicker]

I dont think I would make a good friend replace it. Especially if I knew his financial situations etc. If he hasnt offered to replace it, then he's obviously not rich or has the cash to drop 1,000+ on a lens. Second, it could hurt a friendship. And third like someone else said, if teh situation were reverse I would really feel the love if my friend just let me repair it instead of replace it.

[Penguin_101_1]

I dont think I would make a good friend replace it. Especially if I knew his financial situations etc. If he hasnt offered to replace it, then he's obviously not rich or has the cash to drop 1,000+ on a lens. Second, it could hurt a friendship. And third like someone else said, if teh situation were reverse I would really feel the love if my friend just let me repair it instead of replace it.

I agree with this.

[unners]

i would drop the friend from a similar height :)

[BearSummer]

Hi BlackTape,

I think it all depends on how you lent him the lens. If you opened your bag and said "help yourself" then you are taking responsibility for assessing how "safe" your kit is with your friend. If however you opened your bag and said "you break it you replace it" then thats different. I notice that you have been very silent on this matter so I guess its the first rather than the second. The only other thing is the "age" of the lens. If the lens would have been sold as "mint", has been carefully used and has no signs of use (ie you are totally anal about your gear and clean it after every use) then it should be replaced. If however you use it as a tool and its seen some ware and tear then getting it repaired is probably the more honourable thing to do.

Bottom line is that the only person that I lend gear to is my wife "except for one exceptional case where I leant my best lens to a complete stranger. He was shooting Haleys comet and had left his long lens at home, lent him my 300 2.8 on the understanding that if he broke it he replaced it and I wanted a photograph." In general its just not worth the grief, agro and worry to keep looking over your shoulder to see what they are doing with your baby.

Best Regards

BearSummer

[blacktape]

Well, I agree that Canon service might be able to bring back the lens to perfect condition... but I kinda doubt the Canon guys here in my country. :) Seriously.

What I thought he could do is get it repaired and sell it to help cover up the cost of the 70-200. Today I had a photo session and he lent me a 70-200 f4, and 100-400 but those two can't replace what the 70-200 2.8 IS does.

I actually won't mind getting it replaced if I can have the guarantee that local Canon service can bring the lens back to perfect condition.

Of course he does own a 1D Mark II and 100-400 lens among other good stuff. Yet still, $1500 is quite an amount to ask for. He was considering to sell his 10D so he can buy me a new lens.

[Big_B]

Don't either of you have your lenses insured? If you do, surely that would be a simpler (and cheaper) solution then him selling one of his cameras to buy a replacement.

[Bruce Hamilton]

i would drop the friend from a similar height :)

Preferrably on his head. :lol:

[cmM]

As it was mentioned before, it depends on your agreement.
I have a friend who lent me his 70-200 f/2.8L IS, and before I even touched it, I told him I am taking full responsibility for it. If I had spent 1500 on a lens, I would be confused too about what to do. But if your friend is into photography as well then I am sure he understands, and I'm sure you two can work things out.