DesRose Loc: Phoenix, Arizona

A couple of nights ago I was photographing the moon between 2 palm trees around 7PM at night in front of my neighbor's house one door over. In order to get the view I wanted, I had to keep tripod on the paved street and pointed up over the house. I was being careful locking my Nikon D800 camera (on Hejnar L bracket) onto my Kirk ballhead since it was kind of dark. I took a series of horizontal shots...then moved to vertical shots...and then decided to go back to some horizontal shots for a finish. As I went to tilt my camera a bit more skywards apparently I had not tightened the ballhead enough because camera suddenly fell off the tripod hurtling towards the pavement. Immediately I saw my life flash through my eyes, then my camera's life, then me on my knees begging my spouse for a Nikon D850 to replace it for Christmas even if I wouldn't receive it until Christmas 2018, and then CRASH. Camera hit the ground and bounced forward, rolled a bit and then came to a stop. I held my breath expecting the worst but hoping for the best. Picking up the camera I could see all lights working. Good start! I quickly looked at the camera body and couldn't see any damage. I looked at the lens (28-300mm Nikon Zoom) and the lens hood was cracked but lens and UV filter looked fine! I went to take some photos and everything worked!!!! I then wondered if the lens mount was bent so I removed lens (inside the house) and placed it back on with no problems. HOLY COW...no problems!!!! Looking more closely I could see some finish came off the back the back left side of the L bracket and that's it. I then surmised that the camera hit the ground with the heavy/body side...STRIKING THE L BRACKET. This cushioned the blow to the camera body. It then bounced forward hitting and breaking the lens hood which broke the fall causing no damage to the lens. WHEW!!!! I then went to use the camera in the morning thinking I was only temporarily lucky and everything still fine. I guess no Nikon D850 will be on order in the near future (nor will I have to be on my knees in front of my wife), but I am blessed that the Nikon angels were looking over me.

airwolf Loc: Woolrich, PA

Great story, happy ending.

Since the camera is destroyed, why don't you send it to me for further investigation.
Investigation, I estimate 6 to 7 years.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

Take a deep breath :) I have had similar things happen to me. I had a new camera/lens combo and put it on a tripod. And it must have been too front heavy for the tripod and just went kerplunk face forward to the payment. Same end result as yours- cracked hood. And then I was carrying two cameras and I leaned forward forgetting that one of them was just over my shoulder and not across my chest and it fell to the ground- same amount of damage. I had leather body cases on all the cameras and think that minimized the damage as well as hoods in place. It is scary considering the price of new equipment. And it makes you feel very stupid too. I think water damage is the worse- often no happy endings there.

drivered Loc: Capital District, NY

Your lucky stars were shining that night for sure :o)

Bill_de Loc: US

Cool!!!
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GalaxyCat Loc: Boston, MA

Surely we both can convince our respective spouses that we deserve a D850! But have you seen the new FujiFilm Medium format? I'm going to wait until Spring and see how the camera companies are doing then. Maybe medium format will have even lower prices then... ??? I'm holding my breath and reading as much as I can...

BebuLamar

I think you should try to stay in one place!

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Happy ending. I’m always gun shy when the camera is on a tripod instead of hanging around my neck (with a sturdy strap). Also a cautionary tale about why you should always keep a hood on your lenses. You should say a thank you prayer to the patron saint of photography (who is that anyway?)

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Airwolf, you are a charlatan! I will complete a complete inspection of the camera in four years or less. If I am unable to do so, I will send you the entire wholesale value of the camera at that time.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

It's so important to always wear the camera strap - even when the camera is on a tripod. Especially when the camera is on a tripod, as most serious camera impact accidents occur while the camera is attached to a tripod.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

How true! Just tripped over a tripod in my shop yesterday. Luckily, it only had a strobe on it which was unhurt when it fell, but if it had been a camera...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes! A miracle! What kind of camera and L bracket?

Maybe this is a warning not to use tripods. About forty years ago, a tripod leg loosened, sending my Miranda Sensorex to the floor.

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

Thank you for the reminder to always double check thst our camera attachment to our tripods are secure.

I just received a new tripod and head set as as gift, but I haven't had time to really use it yet out in the field. I need to order a couple more base plates to have them pre-mounted to my equipment.

Whenever I first set up my tripod, I always have the camera strap around my neck until it's secured to the tripod. But once it's securely attached to the tripod, I usually trust that it's firmly in place. When it comes time to change locations, unless I'm only shifting a few feet, the camera comes off of the tripod for the move.

This is a warning for us to not be complacent and trusting of our equipnent.

I need to get into the habit of using my lens hoods 100% of the time, because I'm often lax about their use. That could become a very expensive mistake on my part. My current walk around lens was a $1,999.00 gift. And my next wish list lens is currently priced at $999.00.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

If you want a D850 that badly why don't you try again? You could be "lucky" this time.

markmmmm

Happy for you. My story. I had a relatively new Nikon D7100 with a brand new Nikon 300mm F4 (great lens). I was out shooting eagles. I knew a nest where 2 small rivers met. Being summer, I started wading in the larger of the two rivers to get closer to the nest. All of a sudden, my legs up to beyond mid thigh are trapped in some kind of river silt. I could not move. I yelled HELP. I was in the middle of nowhere and stuck. As I lost balance, The lens hit the water. not the camera. I figured out I needed to swim to get free. In a last ditch effort to save something/anything, I was able to maneuver enough to toss the camera about 10-12 feet to the shore. With moving to Swim position, I was able to free my legs and get out. Once out, I darted to the camera on shore. The lens had water in it. I disconnected the camera. The D7100 turned out to be fine. The lens was a total loss. However, when I got home, I realized I purchased the lens with my American Express Card. If I remembered correctly, they had some type of warranty program for new items recently purchased. I called AMEX. It was true. I received the full purchase price for the lens. I also quit wading in unknown rivers. True Story.