Time to confess to an act of gross stupidity

[Digital]

Donald, back in the film days I had a Nikon F4 drop off a tripod onto a pavement when I switched it to the vertical position. To this day I have incorporated a step that I always use when mounting a camera to a tripod. Before switching from a landscape position to a portrait position, I pick up the tripod holding onto the camera body. This method has not failed me so far.
I really feel for you.

Bruce

[RBSinTo]

Donald,
When I first read the title of this thread I naturally assumed this was a from-the-heart confession about the results of a decision to switch from Film to Digital, but to my complete astonishment it was not.
But getting back to the actual reason for your post, I had essentially the same tragic experience many years ago with my motorized Nikon F2AS, which also had an unfortunate meeting with a concrete sidewalk under the influence of Einstein's Theory of General Relativity.
A new shutter later, I began to wonder why tripod heads don't come equipped with an attached short safety strap (similar to those used by surfers and skiers) which could be clipped to the strap lugs on the camera body as an extra precaution against these sorts of equipment failures/brainfarts/whatevers.
I promptly forgot about the idea because I shoot almost exclusively street and almost never use a tripod except for holding a coffee cup or to keep my gloves from falling on the ground when its wet.
But you Tripodsters (Tripodster. I'm beginning to like the sound of it.) might consider getting short nylon straps with the appropriate clips at both ends to save yourselves some agrievation and extra unnecessary costs.
Oh. You're very welcome.
Robert

[CP140]

I sympathise. I had my Kr and 18-135 fall out of my back pack because I hadn't done up the zipper all the way. The sickening crunch sound as it hit the sidewalk.... ugh...

The annoying part was that I had no one to blame but me....

[rachel]

Oh, I can only send sympathy. That sickening feeling in the pit of your stomach when you would give anything to be able to go back 60 seconds.

Hope the camera guys and the insurance people can sort it out between them with minimum pain.....

[tao2]

Aaaah Donald,

It's a sair fecht...

Vita brevis
ars longa
occasio praeceps
experimentum periculosum
iudicium difficile.

[IzzieK]

When I saw your post yesterday I run and told my husband about it...he said "OUCH! OUCH! OUCH!" and then I told him about your trip here to the US...he immediately ask if you have insurance....I echo his feelings...this experience will teach you and us about being more careful about our gears too...hope it did not happen, but it did...

Oh btw, three big glasses of wine will not help much in the morning when you have to tackle a big headache too...

[dje]

Commiserations Donald, you must feel so annoyed. I've just said some choice swear words on your behalf, hope it helps.

Dave

[Saorsa]

DON'T DO THAT AGAIN!!!!!

Ok, feel chastized and you have my sympathy.

[rpcrowe]

I feel for you Donald. I fell crossing a street with my Camera (if memory serves it was the 40D) wearing my 70-200mm f/4l IS lens hanging around my neck. The camera package propelled by my large bulk hit the concrete road surface lens first...

My generic round lens hood split in two but, luckily my lens and camera were not harmed. I had no right to expect that outcome but was deeply indebted to whatever photo gods were riding on my shoulder...

The humorous part of this tale is that many folks have said they would not use that type of lens hood because they don't think it would protect the lens well enough

[Max von MeiselMaus]

Ye gods! I felt the pit of my stomach knot reading that. Ouch. But we have all done something similar. I had swapped to a wrist strap for the first time, took my daughters and camera out one day, stooped to tie my youngest's shoelaces, camera met concrete floor. *facepalm* It happens. Hopefully the insurance will sort it out without too much pain.

[Dave Humphries]

I have also had an experience similar to Richard's, although it was 'only' a bridge camera, it was my main camera at that time.

It didn't work afterwards

Fortunately, when I got home, removed and re-inserted the batteries, it started working again, only obvious damage being a chip on the plastic base plate and a scratch on the side.

It remained working for many years after.

I was lucky - I've taken insurance ever since.

[bnnrcn]

I'm sorry to hear about the accident Donald I hope it won't take a long time to fix your gear.

[Benjy]

Donald,under central station bridge,turn right immediately,cross road,roughly50 yards up Hope street A J JOHNSTONE,third or fourth floor,dropped camera couple of years back,been there..

[chauncey]

Been there...done that...it does suck.

[chauncey]

Been there, done that and...it does suck big time.

[Andrew1]

Donald, et al, going through your home insurance can sometimes be a pain in the butt and raise your premiums in subsequent years. Some major credit cards have the benefit of additional or extended warranties as a basic service offering on items you purchase with their card. Mine doubles the warranty period up to a year. If you bought it on a card, check out the fine print. You may find you're better off than you think.

[Donald]

Donald, et al, going through your home insurance can sometimes be a pain in the butt and raise your premiums in subsequent years. Some major credit cards have the benefit of additional or extended warranties as a basic service offering on items you purchase with their card.

Thanks for that idea, Andrew.

I got straight on to the company and checked. Unfortunately its cover is only for non-receipt of goods, not accidental damage. Oh well, worth trying.

[victor]

Sorry to read this thread. We all try our best to avoid this . It happened to me in Ely Catheral. I was lucky landed on my kit bag and foot which I raised to try and stop! Only damage was uv filter. Guess I broke the fall and not my wallet! Since then I haver never carried my camera on tripod. Always wear the neck strap or wrist strap and check all the time. Hope it's resolved quickly. I know from previous posts that this gear is very valuable to you Donald in many ways ..

[pnodrog]

Commiserations Donald, you must feel so annoyed. I've just said some choice swear words on your behalf, hope it helps.

Dave

Dave, regardless of what I assume is your amazing repertoire, expressive and loud delivery of such words I am not sure that it will be of much benefit to an understandably distraught Donald. Although I do note he was kind enough to mark it as helpful. Such kindness while enduring the terrible misery that a simple mistake has caused him must be truly admired.

Donald good luck with the outcome. Hopefully in the end the loss is mainly restricted to time without the camera and lens.

[dje]

Dave, regardless of what I assume is your amazing repertoire, expressive and loud delivery of such words I am not sure that it will be of much benefit to an understandably distraught Donald.

Well I'd had some practice after the rugby ... and then I calmed down a bit after the world cup netball final