Expensive Day Out

[Dwardski]

A few weeks ago I visited the UK's North Yorkshire Moors heritage steam railway, as they were holding their annual steam gala. I'd originally planned to visit on the Friday, and was going to set off at 4:30 in the morning in order to get there in time to get a parking space at one of the stations. My wife suggested that I travel up the night before, stop in a hotel, as that would remove the need for a very early start. I agreed and, having booked a - quite expensive - room, I decided to set off on the Thursday afternoon, intending to get to the railway in time to see the last of the day's trains. I arrived on time, had a bit of fun with the car park's ticket machine, and ended up paying for a whole day's parking, rather than for jus a few hours. More expense! But, the worst was yet to come...

Whilst walking along the platform, I heard a strange fabric-related noise, followed by a gut-wrenching metallic crash, and this was the result...

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[Grumps]

Ouch.

 

[SwampGrizz]

My condolences.

 

[Dean Wilson]

Ouch. I had a tumble with my RF 100-500mm, and $900 US later and a new lens hood everything was better with the camera. I only needed 3 stitched in the knee and 6 above the eye.

 

[THXGEEK]

I'm guessing that didn't just 'buff out'.

Sorry to hear that! You too, Dean.

 

[Only RF]

Been there. No fun. Hope all goes well for you.

 

[marineboy]

What was the cause? Strap/bag failure?

 

[Dwardski]

Ouch. I had a tumble with my RF 100-500mm, and $900 US later and a new lens hood everything was better with the camera. I only needed 3 stitched in the knee and 6 above the eye.

At least I didn't injure myself -apart from my pride! I haven't managed to get a quote yet - it turns out that there are precious few camera repair outfits left in the UK, and most of those are in London, miles away. Internet wisdom tells me it could cost anywhere between £900 and£1500 and, TBH, if that's the case I might look into getting a used replacement from somewhere like MPB. My concern is that there might have been damage to the auto-focus system, and I'm not convinced that the Lens will be 100% , even after repair. I'm not in a rush; I had my little-used RF 100-500 With me on the day, and it did a superb job of filling in. I've used it several times since then and, TBH, I'm surprised that I hadn't used it much up until then - it's a really versatile lens.

My only concern is that I used the 70-200 an awful lot at music concerts, and I'm going to miss it in the coming weeks. Perhaps, on reflection, I should be in a bit of a rush...

 

[Dwardski]

I'm guessing that didn't just 'buff out'.

Sorry to hear that! You too, Dean.

Believe it or not, I haven't actually tried a bit of a polish! Do you think it would work?

 

[Dwardski]

What was the cause? Strap/bag failure?

Operator error! After taking my camera out of my bag, I somehow managed not to zip it up properly and, over the course of the next 5 minutes or so, the lens managed to (almost) silently slide out of the bag and drop to the ground, doing a 180 as it went. Of course, it fell onto a concrete platform; a minute earlier, and it would have landed on a grassy mound. Oh, well...

 

[THXGEEK]

Believe it or not, I haven't actually tried a bit of a polish! Do you think it would work?

With the correct orbital polisher, a decent rubbing compound and a matter synthesizer, you just might be able to swing it...



Again, very sorry to hear that this happened. I am dreading the day this occurs to me (hopefully without imitating Dean's face-plant). Most of my stuff is insured, but still.... Ours is an expensive hobby and I feel fortunate just to be able to play.

 

[marineboy]

Operator error! After taking my camera out of my bag, I somehow managed not to zip it up properly and, over the course of the next 5 minutes or so, the lens managed to (almost) silently slide out of the bag and drop to the ground, doing a 180 as it went. Of course, it fell onto a concrete platform; a minute earlier, and it would have landed on a grassy mound. Oh, well...

Easy mistake to make. You have my sympathies. A few months back I was out walking and I got my R7 out of my backpack and put the strap round my neck so I could have both hands free to put my pack back on. Except…that I hadn’t put the strap round my neck. It fell 3 feet onto tarmac but apart from the battery compartment door springing off (easily put back) no damage done.

 

[GregO]

Noooooooooo!

 

[Dwardski]

With the correct orbital polisher, a decent rubbing compound and a matter synthesizer, you just might be able to swing it...



Again, very sorry to hear that this happened. I am dreading the day this occurs to me (hopefully without imitating Dean's face-plant). Most of my stuff is insured, but still.... Ours is an expensive hobby and I feel fortunate just to be able to play.

Well, I have the polisher and compound, but I loaned my matter synthesizer to Captain Picard, and I haven't seen him since, so I guess I'll have to raid the piggy bank.

As to insurance, I've looked into it several times but found that most companies seemed to be geared to professionals, rather than amateurs such as myself. I did talk to one company at this year's photography show at the NEC but, although they catered for amateurs, they were very expensive, so I decided not to bother. Now I wish that I had...

 

[Dwardski]

Easy mistake to make. You have my sympathies. A few months back I was out walking and I got my R7 out of my backpack and put the strap round my neck so I could have both hands free to put my pack back on. Except…that I hadn’t put the strap round my neck. It fell 3 feet onto tarmac but apart from the battery compartment door springing off (easily put back) no damage done.

You were lucky! What happened to me was exactly the sort of thing that I thought happened to other people, not to me. Ah well, we live and learn...

 

[THXGEEK]

Well, I have the polisher and compound, but I loaned my matter synthesizer to Captain Picard, and I haven't seen him since, so I guess I'll have to raid the piggy bank.

As to insurance, I've looked into it several times but found that most companies seemed to be geared to professionals, rather than amateurs such as myself. I did talk to one company at this year's photography show at the NEC but, although they catered for amateurs, they were very expensive, so I decided not to bother. Now I wish that I had...

Not sure how it works on your side of the pond, but my gear is covered thru State Farm via a 'personal articles' rider to my home insurance policy... My SF rep was a little leery... 'Are you certain you aren't a professional photographer??!?'

I asked him if I had bought a Porsche or Ferrari, would he be asking me if I were a professional race car driver?

LOL, the policy was approved shortly thereafter...

 

[Dwardski]

Not sure how it works on your side of the pond, but my gear is covered thru State Farm via a 'personal articles' rider to my home insurance policy... My SF rep was a little leery... 'Are you certain you aren't a professional photographer??!?'

I asked him if I had bought a Porsche or Ferrari, would he be asking me if I were a professional race car driver?

LOL, the policy was approved shortly thereafter...

My other half said that she thought that I might be covered on our house insurance and she was right, but the amount was well, over here we'd call it "piddling", and it wasn't worth pursuing.

Sadly, I figured that since I no longer travel the world with my gear, and, indeed, rarely venture out much with it these days, insurance wouldn't be a worthwhile investment. Funny how life's little mishaps can change your mind...

 

[SwampGrizz]

Not sure how it works on your side of the pond, but my gear is covered thru State Farm via a 'personal articles' rider to my home insurance policy... My SF rep was a little leery... 'Are you certain you aren't a professional photographer??!?'

I asked him if I had bought a Porsche or Ferrari, would he be asking me if I were a professional race car driver?

LOL, the policy was approved shortly thereafter...

You should have seen the local insurance guy when I told him I wanted to insure my land surveying instruments, equipment, computers, etc. Better than $100k of stuff, and he almost had the big one. I finally found a specialty company through my surveying society, and they were reasonable. We live on the coast in a hurricane prone area, and the local guy had visions of a storm coming in and wiping everything out. My wife told him that I would evacuate the equipment before I evacuated her, but I said I would try to find room for her in the truck.

 

[Grumps]

My other half said that she thought that I might be covered on our house insurance and she was right, but the amount was well, over here we'd call it "piddling", and it wasn't worth pursuing.

Sadly, I figured that since I no longer travel the world with my gear, and, indeed, rarely venture out much with it these days, insurance wouldn't be a worthwhile investment. Funny how life's little mishaps can change your mind...

You have to look carefully at the options offered in household contents insurance. Sometimes there's a bit where specific items can be insured under the policy outside. The value (generally) has to be declared. I do remember investigating the costs of 'specialist' insurance vs. an option under household contents - the latter being somewhat cheaper.

I have made a repair claim and stolen items claims (whilst items were outside the house) under such policies during the last twenty years or so.

Although I would admit that the recompense for the stolen items was rather lower than their 'proper' value.