A Dark, Dark Day. Forget the Silver Lining. Lens Trashed.

[Belmondo]

I went out this morning and shot some train pictures---what else is new? I had my two favorite lenses with me. The 100-400L and the 24-70L, and I was switching back and forth between them as the situation required. The last shot was with the 24-70.

Because I usually have that lens on the camera when I'm driving around looking for photo opportunities, I left the 100-400 in the back seat and---and-----AND I FORGOT ABOUT IT!.

Sometime later, I was parked in a parking lot, and opened the back door to retrieve something I needed, and the 100-400, which had apparently fallen off the seat onto the floor, rolled out the door and landed with a terrible sound on the paved parking lot.

Instant Nausea

I picked up the lens, looked it over as closely as watery eyes and shakey hands would allow, and observed a scuff in the white paint on the tripod ring and a few small abbrasions on the lens hood which I had mounted backwards on the lens for storage.

I decided to take a test shot to see if the innards had completely rearranged themselves. I mounted the lens on the 10D and snapped a picture of the nearest thing I could see which was this car on the other side of the parking lot. Thank goodness for IS, because at this point I was nearly trembling.

I then drove home (totally disregarding all applicable speed ordinances), and downloaded the picture.

Maybe---just maybe, it's going to be okay. This picture looks pretty good, but I won't know for sure till I go out and try to repeat some of the normal shots I'ved used this lens for in the past.

Depending on the results, I might be posting an address where to send floweres. In the meantime, just keep your fingers crossed for me.

(BTW, I drive a pickup truck. The floor is considerably higher than a normal passenger sedan. I actually think the springiness of the lens hood cushioned the fall sufficiently to prevent serious damage)

[SoCal69]

Yikes! I know I cringed as I read your post. I have had similar disasters with things falling out, but never with anything as costly as an L lens! The picture looks pretty good and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Once you settle down, let us know the results.

[PacAce]

Holy falling L lenses, Thos!!!! What were you thinking, throwing an L lens into the back seat without a case! It's a good thing you didn't have a heart attack right then and there when the lens rolled out of your truck.

I tell ya, a guys buys two 10D bodies and what does he do when he goes out with two L lenses? He take just the one body! What's the other body for? Paper weight?

Well, anyway, I'm glad your lens is OK (or seem to be). But the next time, remember, two lenses = two bodies!

[CyberDyneSystems]

Shudders....

The upside is .. these lense were designed to handle the abuse of a pack of chimpanzees (or photographers I hear they call us sometimes )


And it is a good thing to,. the 12" drop your lens took is nothing compared to some of the dings these things get in the feild,. I am sure.. let alone what the UPS FottBall team puts them through in transit..

Glad to see it still works

[defordphoto]

*YEEEEOUCH*

I shuddered as I read this!!! Initial shot looks good Tom. Put it through the tests to make sure it's healthy.

[Belmondo]

Clearly (no pun intended) autofocus has not been affected. What remains to be seen is how it performs at various focal lengths, and whether or not the IS was messed up in any way. Fortunately, none of the glass was damaged (possibly relocated, but not damaged), so I guess the worst that could come out of this is a trip to the Canon Service Center.

It sure is an unsettling feeling to hear that 'clunk' and then look down to see your lens laying on the ground. I'm going to have bad dreams for a month. Fortunately, because it rolled straight out of the car, it looks like it stayed parallel to the ground so that when it hit, it landed on the tripod ring and the lens shade and not the lens proper.

All in all, it could have been MUCH worse. I'm reminded of the poor guy who dumped his 10D in the ocean. That has to have been a lot worse.

Good hearing from you again, Jim. I saw that you've been busy, so welcome back.

Tom

[ilya]

Thom,

I'm trying to figure out what you mean by a silver lining. In my mind, the silver lining would be if you conked the lens, and that would give you an excuse to upgrade to say ... 400 2.8/L (the best way to get to 400) ... or 600 4/L (for far away trains or trains that like to surf) ... or ... what don't you have? Hate to try to shop for Xmas presents for you.

[Belmondo]

Originally Posted by ilya

Thom,

I'm trying to figure out what you mean by a silver lining. In my mind, the silver lining would be if you conked the lens, and that would give you an excuse to upgrade to say ... 400 2.8/L (the best way to get to 400) ... or 600 4/L (for far away trains or trains that like to surf) ... or ... what don't you have? Hate to try to shop for Xmas presents for you.

Ilya:

Until I learn not to drop my lenses, I think I'm going to go back to using a 28-135 IS for a while. I sold my first one, but know where I can pick up a good used one. I think maybe I'm just not ready for 'prime time' yet.

One possible answer is to put smaller wheels and tires on the truck so my lenses won't have so far to drop.

I also think I'm going to stop handling sharp things.



Thos.

[ilya]

I got it ~ now you can go back to handling sharp lenses

[Belmondo]

Thanks, Ilya.
The ground clearance leaves a little to be desired, but the lenses would certainly be safe.

[CyberDyneSystems]

ROFLMAO

[ilya]

Hmm. I meant the golf cart.

Actually, I'm just posting to get 500 posts, I think something magical happens, maybe I turn into a good photographer, or the L-Fairy leaves me something under the tripod.

Hope your lens is all intact Thos.

Cheers
Ilya

[CyberDyneSystems]

You will find a slightly scratched 100-400 IS under your pillow in themorning ...

[ilya]

Originally Posted by CyberDyneSystems

You will find a slightly scratched 100-400 IS under your pillow in themorning ...

:P :P


Well, it looks like I got that nifty shingle above my avatar. Let me check my foto skills ............. nope, same ole' 8)

[IanD]

Originally Posted by belmondo

Thanks, Ilya.
The ground clearance leaves a little to be desired, but the lenses would certainly be safe.

Thos,
When is was a little gaffer up here in the cold of Canadian winters, I used to drop and loose my mittens a lot. My mother used to tie them to my jacket with an "idiot string" so that:
A) I did not loose them
B) They would not fall in the snow and get all wet.
Now I figure that a 32" teather made of braided carbon filament looped around the lens and the other end attatched to a in truck carbiner system should work.
Failing that, a converted childs car seat suitably modified to hold L glass should suffice.
One could always place a air mattress by the truck door before opening it incase there was a lens (or cat) that fell out.
Seriously, I feel for you. A falling lens makes a "L"ell of a sound when striking tarmac.