What the heck? - An alert for your equipment
Fri, July 17, 2009 This post came out of the blue. Last week or this week (I can't remember anything anymore) I was reading a post on the ILovePhotography forum that made rush over to my camera bag.
The post was labeled "How I ruined my 70-200 camera lens". A photographer shared that her 70-200 lens went out of optical alignment . How she even came to notice there was something the matter was that her photos were "soft" and she knew she was nailing focus.
She brought the camera to a repair shop and they advised her that the mount that attaches the lens of the camera was bent, which was the result of the soft pictures because it was throwing off the optical alignment.
The repair person for Nikon explained to her that a lens can get bent if there is not support under the lens, so if you rest your camera on a table the mount can bend. It puts stress on the lens mount, which resulted in a cost of $400 repair bill.
I had NO idea this could happen since I always rest my camera down with the lens to the table or lying flat in my camera bag. Well, as you can see in the photo pictured in this post, that is lens hood for my 70-300. DENTED. I am lucky. I am lucky I found that post because my focus is still tact sharp and my mount has not shifted. Which is why I am sharing another photographers story with you all, because it helped me in how I am storing my own equipment.
It also is making me go out and find a camera bag (because my bag now is awful- another purchase I made without doing my research) that is has enough padding to protect my equipment. I am going to make sure that I find a bag that allows me to keep a lens on for convenience but gives me the ability to pad under the lens to prevent this from happening.
Having said that I will not put my 70-300 or my heavier lenses on the camera to be stored or rested lying lens out anymore. If I am shooting with those lenses I will store the camera body lens up to help avoid this unnecessary cost.
I hope this helps, because it definatley helped me want to protect my equipement. When I find a bag that I love and has all the bells and whistles I require, I will share with you all. Or if you already own a great bag (I prefer a sling or backpack for a Mom on the go convenience) please share. I am on the hunt for a new shiny bag!!! :)
Happy Shooting all!
OH!! and keep an eye out for a new giveaway for a reflector next week!!
