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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Dropped my 2 kilogram Sigma 50-500mm lens...aargh!
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01/09/2006 05:36:25 AM · #1
I just took my favourite lens, my Sigma (Bigma) 50-500mm 2kg lens in for repair after dropping it on its end! Yes, you read that right, I dropped it! It was on a shelf that I moved and I heard a klunk. I looked down with one eye closed and saw 'Bigma' on the hard floor of my study.

At first it looked like it had survived the fall, but plugging it into my D70, I got an error.

I inspected it as closely as I could and I could see this tiny circuit board loose inside. I thought it must have popped out.

Should I or shouldn't I open it up?

I couldn't help myself. I opened it up and did more damage as all of the little rings inside came out.

I took it to the repair place a little embarrased. They will let me know what it will cost to repair by Thursday...PRAY FOR ME!

Has anyone else dropped a precious lens, or am I the only clumsy one on this Forum?

Message edited by author 2006-01-09 05:37:29.
01/09/2006 05:41:10 AM · #2
Oh no ... i know of others who have dropped expensive lens...

01/09/2006 05:51:15 AM · #3
wow - sorry to hear of the drop. I have not had any really expensive lenses - the most expensive being the $589 I spent for my L lens. I did drop a less expensive lens once - had to send it in for repair as the auto focus stopped working. Luckily there is a guy in our area that fixes them in his home for a reasonable price and it only cost me $20.00
01/09/2006 07:36:32 AM · #4
Good luck, hope its all ok!


01/09/2006 07:45:49 AM · #5
OUCH! That's some badluck.. I hope they can fix it, and the price will be minimum!!
01/09/2006 08:14:26 AM · #6
While shooting a sunset in Costa Rica, I scratched the lens that comes in the D70 kit (Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED) in my haste to change lenses. I was watching the scene while making the switch and apparently scratched the inside lens on a protruding rod on the mount on the camera. I noticed the next day while shooting in bright conditions that I had what appeared to be a dark quarter moon in the same place in all my shots. Estimated repair bill was $385! I bought another lense instead.
01/09/2006 08:27:42 AM · #7
My whole camera backpack fell 3 feet off a counter, open, landing upside down on everything. My 70-200 2.8IS was attached to the camera, luckily that tank survived, but the rear lcd display on my camera got busted. Camera still works, but until I get it fixed it forces me to be meticulous with camera settings as I can't see the histogram and make adjustments from there, and always shoot raw now for the forgiveness factor. Nothing else in the bag was broken, so I guess I got lucky.
01/09/2006 08:35:51 AM · #8
I am really wondering about the cost of repair now...I guess there's a tipping point where it's just not worth it, and it's better to get a new one as yakatme did. I love this lens. I have used it handheld in place like Kenya and at local Australian Rules Football games and it is really sharp.

01/09/2006 09:50:29 AM · #9
The cost of fixing the Nikon 28-70 f/2.8 at Nikon is $469. When it's a $1400+ lens, you pay to get it fixed. Trust me, I speak from experience!

-danny
01/09/2006 10:03:21 AM · #10
A guy I know dropped his old Nikon F4 (this was 12 years ago) out of a window on 1st floor down on solid earth when trying to do "that" shot.

The amazing thing is that nothing broke....maybe things were better before =)

Message edited by author 2006-01-09 10:04:23.
01/09/2006 10:04:17 AM · #11
Sorry to hear of your lost battle with gravity. Been there, done that. I put my 70-200L in my coat pocket to switch lenses once. Bad move. Even with both caps and the hood on, the inevitable fall cost me about $200.

After that, I tried to be more careful. When my camera sling bag started slipping off my shoulder in the Catskills, I pulled the strap over my head to secure it. Unfortunately, I ALSO grabbed the camera strap at the same time, pulling it OFF my head in the process. Naturally, I was standing on asphalt. That fall shattered a $120 circular polarizer and damaged my week-old 10-22 lens on its maiden voyage. The lens seems to work OK, but the plastic piece over the front element is popped loose and the threads are stripped. I still need to send it in. :-(

I just have to buy all cheap lenses. I NEVER drop those!

Message edited by author 2006-01-09 10:06:09.
01/09/2006 10:27:04 AM · #12
Ouch. Sorry for the misfortunes.

My Cokin wide angle holder releases the circular polarizer when I put it on the lens (bad design?). I am usually very careful after several near falls.

While in a hotel room this past vacation getting ready for a morning photo hike (in bathroom so the lights did not disturb my wife sleeping in the hotel room), I set up my Cokin lens adapters on two lenses and then popped the adapter on one of them before I thought to watch for a release: SMACK--glass circular polarizer on the tile floor.

I guess now it's a graduated filter. The glass cracked right down the middle. At least that's only $65. I have written to Cokin, hoping they might do something, since I think it's a design flaw of the holder.

01/09/2006 10:44:42 AM · #13
[quote=nshapiro] Ouch. Sorry for the misfortunes.

My Cokin wide angle holder releases the circular polarizer when I put it on the lens (bad design?). I am usually very careful after several near falls.

Speaking of which, I have been wanting to look into getting a graduated neutral density filter system. I have found that Cokin seems to be the way to go but it's not completely clear to me exactly what I need. Something like a "P" system, lens holder, and then the choice of the filter(s) itself.

Could anyone help me out? Maybe my specific intended use may narrow the options: In addition to all-around uses, I specifically want to obtain more foreground detail in sunset photos.texttext

(and how do quotes for everybody else end up italicized?)

Message edited by author 2006-01-09 10:47:01.
01/09/2006 10:55:55 AM · #14
Originally posted by yakatme:


(and how do quotes for everybody else end up italicized?)

Use the quote button, top right of each post box. :D
01/09/2006 12:56:19 PM · #15
Sorry to hear about the incident.
I'm pretty anal retentive and keep my lenses in bags. My Bigma sits in the bag that came with it and it sits on the floor so it can't fall. The rest of my lenses sits inside a Tamrac bag in a cotton sock to prevent rubbing against the velcro that's on the dividers inside the bag. A little anal retentive but the lens barrels all look like new after over 1year of weekly use.
01/09/2006 01:48:28 PM · #16
I can feel your pain. I love my Bigma lens as well and I do worry about possible damage all the time, but have been lucky. I suppose it depends on what you can afford, but if I dropped and damaged mine and it needed expensive repairs I would probably do it if the cost was not any more than 75% of the original cost. After the repairs you would have a new lens freshly serviced. I would do this if it was also the newer DG version and a good copy of the lens, but if I ever had problems with it then things might be different.

I was out shooting widlife yesterday and let two of my friends try the bigma on their cameras, turns out I need to get a commision from Sigma cause I just sold two more for them LOL
01/09/2006 07:23:44 PM · #17
Thanks for your views on the Bigma Pioneer. I reckon the lens is as good as the Nikon $8000 variety big lens. I have found it to be sharp right through the range, and I have never put it on a tripod yet. It is so solid and well built.

I hand held it at twilight in Kenya at a lake in the Abaderes and with shutter speeds of 1/100 and the lens stretched out to 500mm (750mm on my Nikon D70) I got some really sharp shots which I will put in My Portfolio soon.

People at the football think I am with the newspapers when I pull this camera out of my Lowepro Bag!
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