Found lens, what would you do?

[j_m_k]

So I was at the local harbor with my daughter feeding the ducks and gulls when I found a nice L lens (actual lens withheld incase someone wants to claim it) in its pouch sitting next to a bench. There was an older couple sitting on the bench and said they had been there for about 3 hours and hadn't seen anyone or the lens sitting there. I went ahead and picked it up and left a note with my name and number to call if it was yours. I also stopped by the local PD as the station was less then 100yds away. They said there was nothing they can do other then take down my name and number in the event someone came looking for it.

What would you have done? Just left it there for someone else to find? Grabbed it and left the note? Or do you have another idea?

[Eagle]

You did good. Wait and see if you here anything.

[Perry Ge]

You did the right thing. Hopefully the owner will find the note or contact the PD to claim it from you, and if not...well...you got a free L :p.

[sancho1983]

Done what you did.

Hopefully no-one claims it and you get it :)

[Trixster!]

It's mine and I can prove it because it's got a nice little red ring around it. Can I have it back please? ;)

[j_m_k]

It's mine and I can prove it because it's got a nice little red ring around it. Can I have it back please? ;)

Haha. Ummm if you are currently half way around the world from where your location is then sure!

[zelseman]

good job man, you did the right thing.
its mine btw. lol

[darosk]

Sounds like the right thing to have done, what you did.

[ct1co2]

You did everything you possibly could have IMO. There are many in this world that would have just picked it up and walked off. Kudos for doing the right thing.

[darosk]

Yeah, I personally would have pocketed it. Conscience woulda gnawed at me for a while, but I would've gotten over it.

Congrats on doing the right thing.

[j_m_k]

Well I think the wife would have questioned me coming home with a new lens and the fact that my other two "Big White Lenses" were sitting on the counter.

[Rogan]

agreed
id have looked around for watchers then ran home 8-)

[Perry Ge]

Well I think the wife would have questioned me coming home with a new lens and the fact that my other two "Big White Lenses" were sitting on the counter.

Ah so it was a big white....:eek:

[j_m_k]

Ah so it was a big white....:eek:

Never said it was and never said it wasn't until then. There are alot of choices though in the big white line. It is a frequent location for photogs around here with all the birds and such.

[Desertbell]

I think you did everything you could. Maybe post on Craigslist and just mentioned that you found a lens- don't say what brand or type or where you found it, and maybe the owner will find you that way.

You're good people.

[cdifoto]

It's definitely mine. I can identify it by the fact that it has a Canon mount.

[Pete]

Leaving a note and informing the police was the best thing to do. Also it might be an idea to go back in a few days and leave another note pinned to the bench if the old note has gone.

[DDCSD]

Good on you.

I don't know how big of a community you live in, but in my small town we only have one radio station and they have a free daily lost and found announcement. Some of the larger talk radio stations do that as well. Like Desertbell said, don't mention brand or anything else.

[j_m_k]

Good on you.

I don't know how big of a community you live in, but in my small town we only have one radio station and they have a free daily lost and found announcement. Some of the larger talk radio stations do that as well. Like Desertbell said, don't mention brand or anything else.

Not a bad idea but the nearest radio station is about 30 mins away from here and not really a local station. I am going to call the local newspaper and put something in the classifieds or something.

[Alex_Venom]

I'd do the exactly same you did. You're allowing to give it back if the owner appears. If you leave it there, someone not so honest could find it and just grab and never try to find the original owner.

It happened to me once. I found an whole camera in the Botanic Garden here in Brazil. I could find the owner a few minutes later. He left the camera with his 5 years old daughter and she left the camera between the bushes and went playing with the ducks. He was desperate when I found him :D

[mr.jon]

SOOOOOO, if noone is going to ask this i will. What lens was it?

[j_m_k]

It is one of THESE (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=154)

[Perry Ge]

o_O

[Pete]

It is one of THESE (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=154)

Ouch, big loss.

I expect the police will be in touch with you soon when the owner reports it.

[bacchanal]

It is one of THESE (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=154)

No way... :shock:

[Psychic1]

IF you contacted Canon HQ in Lake Success, NY they could check the serial number and see if/who registered the lens.

Just a though, since you might be being watched.

BOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[j_m_k]

Ouch, big loss.

I expect the police will be in touch with you soon when the owner reports it.

Yeah I don't plan on having it too long, even though I wish I could just keep it. It is the first Canon item I have seen in the area, most people use Nikons. Even if I do find the owner I will hopefully find someone else in the area that I can chat with about gear.

[cdifoto]

Call Canon and have them run the serial number.

[Inspeqtor]

Call Canon and have them run the serial number.


I was going to say the same thing. Don't know for sure if Canon would tell you the name of the owner (IF registered) but perhaps they could call the owner (IF registered)

[j_m_k]

I hadn't thought about calling Canon about the serial number. Is the serial number the number near the mount on the bottom of the lens? I actually was going to write all mine down to send to the insurance company later this week.

[_aravena]

Holy crap! I would love to think I'd do the same, but I might have left the police out if I wouldn't have been so close like you. :(

That'd be hard to give back. Are you at least going to do some around the house shots and tests. I wouldn't take it out, but I would play with it around the house just to see. Wait, you have two of those lenses that page! Or is one the new addition! j/k :lol:

[j_m_k]

I only have one on that page. I have tried it out on the porch already just shooting towards the feeder. It is AMAZING!

[_aravena]

Oh right...that was the prime page. My bad. :lol:

That's cool. I love that I've had the chance to borrow a 600L and have pic by it and possibly a 500L as well.

[bacchanal]

Man, I hope nothing bad happened to the owner. It's crazy to think that a person could go off and leave a big white just sitting there. I thought I lost a 430exII the other day and I was freakin' out for like 2 days until I found it.

[Davd901]

You did the right thing; now turn your phone off for a couple days

[cdifoto]

I was going to y the same thing. Don't know for sure if Canon would tell you the name of the owner (IF registered) but perhaps they could call the owner (IF registered)

I hadn't thought about calling Canon about the serial number. Is the serial number the number near the mount on the bottom of the lens? I actually was going to write all mine down to send to the insurance company later this week.
I don't think that the buyer has to be proactive in registering the lens. Assuming the owner bought it new from a reputable dealer, the dealer probably passes the sales information back to Canon.

I don't know this for sure but I'm basing it on the fact that when I order from B&H, my receipts have the serial numbers printed below the lens name.

[alduin]

I don't know this for sure but I'm basing it on the fact that when I order from B&H, my receipts have the serial numbers printed below the lens name.

I don't have any proof to the contrary, but I suspect that's more for verifying that the lens being sent in for return/repair is the one purchased on that reciept.

[Big O]

wow .... impressive that someone can walk away and not notice they were missing something that equals the price of a car.

[cdifoto]

I don't have any proof to the contrary, but I suspect that's more for verifying that the lens being sent in for return/repair is the one purchased on that reciept.
You may be right.

[nuffi]

Even if Alduin is right, there is a paper trail somewhere that can be followed that way.

[Odie23]

It's crazy to think that a person could go off and leave a big white just sitting there.


The White House press corps is constantly leaving crap on the jets they charter. So far I've found a laptop, cell phones, a blackberry, a couple of lenses (one L lens) some mike boom looking stuff and various cables. Normally the personally owned stuff like cell phones are claimed right away. If it belongs to the company and is insured, normally it's never claimed.

Odie

[400dabuser]

Done the same thing, I have even gone to the Police station for a tenner, even they have said they don't normally do something of such small denominations

[DennisW1]

So I was at the local harbor with my daughter feeding the ducks and gulls when I found a nice L lens (actual lens withheld incase someone wants to claim it) in its pouch sitting next to a bench. There was an older couple sitting on the bench and said they had been there for about 3 hours and hadn't seen anyone or the lens sitting there. I went ahead and picked it up and left a note with my name and number to call if it was yours. I also stopped by the local PD as the station was less then 100yds away. They said there was nothing they can do other then take down my name and number in the event someone came looking for it.

What would you have done? Just left it there for someone else to find? Grabbed it and left the note? Or do you have another idea?


I think you've covered it pretty well.

I would make sure that if anyone does call they can prove ownership of the lens. Reciept, serial number at least.

Heck, I think I misplaced an L lens, where do you live again.?? :lol:

[j_m_k]

I think you've covered it pretty well.

I would make sure that if anyone does call they can prove ownership of the lens. Reciept, serial number at least.

Heck, I think I misplaced an L lens, where do you live again.?? :lol:

Actually I'm not too far away from you if you are in Chicago...about 45 mins east in Indiana

[sagara0510]

There was an older couple sitting on the bench and said they had been there for about 3 hours

3 hours on a bench? holy....

anyway, you did the right thing. i'd like to think i'd have done the same, but rarely would i have any writing material with me so i probably would have taken it directly to the PD and handed it in there if they'd accept it. good job!

[DennisW1]

Actually I'm not too far away from you if you are in Chicago...about 45 mins east in Indiana


Damn....that WAS my lens.!!! :p

NW Indiana here also, and I just did a quick inventory (whew!)

[j_m_k]

3 hours on a bench?

I have seen them sitting there before feeding the birds. There are hundreds of gulls, geese, and ducks normally there.

[sagara0510]

^ *sigh*

i wish i had 3 hours to spare and sit on a bench to feed birds...

[j_m_k]

Lens owner is on his way to my apartment now to pick it up! Apparently he handed it to his wife to put in the car and of course she just sat it down instead. They aren't from around here, just visiting family I think he said. They were shopping at the local outlet mall then went to dinner and back to wherever they are staying when he found it missing. He said he started tracing all of his steps and finally found the note. He was freaking out when I talked to him on the phone, had pretty much written the lens off. Now that the lens has been claimed it was a 500mm f/4. Now I'm drooling over one of those and I just got my 400 5.6 on Friday! Guess its time to start saving my pennies.

[turbo212003]

Lens owner is on his way to my apartment now to pick it up! Apparently he handed it to his wife to put in the car and of course she just sat it down instead. They aren't from around here, just visiting family I think he said. They were shopping at the local outlet mall then went to dinner and back to wherever they are staying when he found it missing. He said he started tracing all of his steps and finally found the note. He was freaking out when I talked to him on the phone, had pretty much written the lens off. Now that the lens has been claimed it was a 500mm f/4. Now I'm drooling over one of those and I just got my 400 5.6 on Friday! Guess its time to start saving my pennies.


Awesome. Glad he got his lens back!

Kudos for being honest about it!

[sagara0510]

ahh the wife... she'll never live this one down!

[bacchanal]

Lens owner is on his way to my apartment now to pick it up! Apparently he handed it to his wife to put in the car and of course she just sat it down instead. They aren't from around here, just visiting family I think he said. They were shopping at the local outlet mall then went to dinner and back to wherever they are staying when he found it missing. He said he started tracing all of his steps and finally found the note. He was freaking out when I talked to him on the phone, had pretty much written the lens off. Now that the lens has been claimed it was a 500mm f/4. Now I'm drooling over one of those and I just got my 400 5.6 on Friday! Guess its time to start saving my pennies.

Wow...just wow. I hope he takes you out to dinner or something.

[FlyingPhotog]

Karma Meter ---> Pegged

Ya Done Good...

[Mosca]

I have to say.... You are an awesome person. In a world that sometimes seems as if it is held together by self interest, you are proof that it is held together by honor and trust.

[Ook]

Well done!

[Borbor]

ahh the wife... she'll never live this one down!

she probably knows what sleeping on a kerb feels like :lol:

[nivla80]

You're a good man.

Honesty rocks, and karma's a b*tch. If only all are as honest as you.

[sagara0510]

well if it was my wife, first thing come monday morning we'd be off to the camera shop to buy you know what ;)

but kudos to you jmk for doing the right thing. :)

[saturnin]

congrats... not many ppl would do that.. especialy with one of those

[DDCSD]

Great ending. I can imagine how relieved he was.

[Nick Pro]

How do you "forget" a 500?

[hmcart]

wow, cant imagine what the owner was going through! Good for you for doing the right thing!

[buurin]

I don't know if I missed this part but how do you know it was his lens?

B

PS Good for you on doing the right thing!

[sagara0510]

i'm sure the OP wouldn't have described what kind of lense it was on the note he left on the bench. The dude must have had to describe it fully over the phone when he called up.

[Eagle i]

good to know there are people out there that will do the right thing...but I also have one question...did you mount it on your camera and snap some pics with it :D

[Gabe63]

You did more than most would ever do. Thank you
If you don't hear anything have fun with it.

[Eagle i]

You did more than most would ever do. Thank you
If you don't hear anything have fun with it.he was able to return it to its rightful owner

[Morlow]

WOW I hope the guy rewards you very well because it would be really hard for me to return a $6k lens like that. You deserve something special for that.

[j_m_k]

I don't know if I missed this part but how do you know it was his lens?

B

PS Good for you on doing the right thing!

All I had on the note was that it was a camera lens. Nothning about Canon or anything. There was also a scratch down the bottom of the lens that I didn't even see until he explained it on the phone.

[scot079]

Jeez, wife would owe me a 800 5.6 for punitive damages:-)

[cdifoto]

Jeez, wife would owe me a 800 5.6 for punitive damages:-)
If you've got kids, she'd say you're already even.

;)

[DDCSD]

So where's Belmondo's thread about forgetting his 500mmL by the pier and some nice guy actually returning it? :)

[kansascityshuffle]

Yikes. Takes a real man to try that hard to return a 5K piece of equipment. I can only hope I would have done the same... Good job!

[nicksan]

Wow, what a story and huge props to you OP.
It's refreshing to see honesty like this.

Lot's of people would have given a half-hearted effort with ulterior motives of bagging the lens, but you did the right thing every step of the way.

Very, very cool! :-)

[Nanboh]

You're a good person, OP. Unless the owner is a real turkey, he'll remember you for the rest of his life as a fantastic person--I know I remember a stranger like that from 25 years ago that did me a very good turn and I often think kindly of him and hope he knows how much I still appreciate it. Good Karma on you!

[Licepic]

Awesome job. I would be scared to take it with me after opening it thinking it's some sort of setup. :p Note to all photographer, never ever let the wife carry/touch your equipment, unless they treat equipment like a Hermes purse (don't ask how I know purses...). :cry:

[Inspeqtor]

j_m_k,

Did the owner of the lens reward you in anyway? I would think he should have done something more than just say Thank You.

[neilwood32]

J_M_K, you are one of the rarest of finds these days - an honest man.

You did the right thing all the way through when it would have been possible (and very tempting) to just keep it yourself and never let on.

As someone before has said, what goes round comes round. You did the right thing and will be paid back some time in the future.

I do hope the owner has the decency to take you out for a meal or buy you something as a thank you for your honesty.

[j_m_k]

j_m_k,

Did the owner of the lens reward you in anyway? I would think he should have done something more than just say Thank You.

I just got a gift card to adorama in my email about 10 minutes ago.

As far as what goes around comes around, I have experienced it before. Back in 2001 at a big paintball tournement, I left all my gear somewhere(about 3k worth) and someone could have easily walked away with it by they started asking around and got it back to me. I know how I felt then so I knew how the owner was feelng this time.

[FlyingPhotog]

This just in:

Diogenes has set down his lamp...

[neilwood32]

I just got a gift card to adorama in my email about 10 minutes ago.

As far as what goes around comes around, I have experienced it before. Back in 2001 at a big paintball tournement, I left all my gear somewhere(about 3k worth) and someone could have easily walked away with it by they started asking around and got it back to me. I know how I felt then so I knew how the owner was feelng this time.

It is true about Karma.

And im glad to see you got a nice thank you from the owner (not that that was your reason for doing the good deed)

[SQMazda6]

J_M_K Where are you located at? I think i want to move to that part ! because i know no one out here would do that.. That lens would be Gone in about 1 min !

Congrats on finding the person and Sorry for the loss of a great lens that was not yours .

Your a great person for returning it.

[imahawki]

You have some massive karma in your pocket. Hopefully something good happens to you.

[J-B]

j_m_k.... you are awesome :)

[CronoDL]

That's a great thing you did. Very noble of you! Now go buy something cool with the gift card.

[bioman35]

Good job!

[Tigerkn]

Good guy isn't just in the movie :)