JD750 Loc: SoCal

Tuomi1947 posted here about a dropped camera. I will add this story.

Sitting outside enjoying the evening Friday 2020-5-15 had a glass of wine. It was getting dark, I got up picked up the chair next to me to move it into the garage. And dropped my Nikon Z7 and 28-300mm Lens right on the concrete. 😖 🤬

#&#$# Buggered up the lens hood pretty good. But.. did not break the lens glass. Zoom and focus seem ok. No scratches on the camera or visible damage. It seems to work… Not smart to put it on the chair.

It seems like I have to drop EVERY camera I own once on concrete. I guess I’m just clumsy. Good thing Nikons are tough. (So is Olympus).

Two years ago I put my new EM5 in the back of the van on the way to work. A coworker got out and grabbed her backpack and launched the Olympus. As I watched in horror, It made a graceful arc, up then back down and BOOM onto the concrete. 🤯 The lens was not cracked and the body was not damaged. The lens hood flew off so it probably absorbed some of the impact. Stupid on my part to put it there. Never again in the back of the van.

Yes as Bob said, I have camera straps, but I managed to defeat them by carelessness. So it seems it has happened to us, in spite of all precautions and insurance for clumsy people like me might be the best thing.

Jerry..

Quixdraw Loc: x

Haven't had many drops - the one similar to yours, my big dog blasted out the door to see me, knocked my Nikon with 24-120 out of my hand and onto the concrete, lens first. Only the lens hood was broken. I have kept it displayed as a curio and reminder. I use a hood with nearly every lens.

Electric Gnome Loc: Norwich UK

I once had a D7100 with a brand new and expensive 16-80mm 2.8 on the passenger seat of my car. Seeing a nice shot across a lake I pulled into a layby but had to brake a bit sharpish, the camera with lens attached done a slow motion dive into the footwell.
Tested and all seemed well, in fact some of my best shots were take with it. 3 years later I changed to full frame and traded my old DX gear in, only to discover the VR on the lens had been broken the whole time. I expect it broke it when it hit the floor of the car.
Check out the VR is still working on your lens, hopefully it will be!

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Good point! Thank you for the tip. I will check that out.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

VR works! Thank you for the Suggestion to check it.

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

I've only ever had but one drop. The lens hood saved the lens.
I replaced the plastic 'stock' lens hood with an inexpensive metal screw on version from Amazon.
This is why I don't understand why people ever remover their lens hoods.
They weigh next to nothing and in addition to the original purpose, provide the 'crash' protection.

Tony Groenink

another "lessons learnt" is never leave your camera bag unzipped.
I did once on the dining room table - pickup by my wife and boom there goes my Nikon 70 - 300 on to tile floor Fortunately it was repairable - new focusing mechanism and lenshood.

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

Here is my sad story. A box I was carrying in from the car fell apart in my hands, dumping the contents onto the concrete floor of the parking garage. Unfortunately, i had added my D7500 to the box at the last minute, and the body actually cracked from the impact. No repair possible. With much anguish, I was forced to replace it with a D500. Sometimes you need to sacrifice...

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

A lens hood is all the protection you need. And, it helps improve the image.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That's definitely a "Good News/Bad News" situation. I'd say, "Be more careful," but I think you already figured that out.

sr71 Loc: In Col. Juan Seguin Land

Never dropped a camera b4 but went swimming with one once, last time that happened. Nikon F's are tough but saltwater is very bad....

ELNikkor

My son came back from WV with my F3, 50 mm 1.4, smashed glass and big dent on the front filter, which wouldn't unscrew. Carefully cut it off with a hack saw. Put on another UV filter, all's well!

Nantahalan Loc: Savannah originally; western NC now

After an $82 repair for my $126 first 35mm camera, I bought a Nikon FTn and always wear use a neck strap. That’s because I realized my innate clumsiness was here to stay!

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

I wonder if anyone has ever calculated the probability of dropping a camera? The more stories I hear about these moments I’d anxiety and momentary terror, the better I feel that it’ll never happen to me. But, I fear it’s just like riding a bike or motorcycle, eventually you’ll go down. Ditto for cameras. Luckily, I’ve taken a hit often enough with both types of bikes that camera odds may be in my favor?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Thanks for mentioning the strap. The other adage I follow is when the alcohol comes out, the cameras get put away.
--Bob