I just realized I've broken 5 lenses! How about you?

So was just commenting on another post and had a very sad realization... I've broken 5 lenses. Holy cow. Granted, this is spread out over many years but still. That's a lot! Here is a quick breakdown:


1. Left my camera on my tripod, legs all the way down and on carpet. Boyfriend at the time knocked it over whilst vacuuming. So... I'll only take half credit for this one. He bought me a replacement.

2. Assisting a wedding photographer. I'm Canon, she's Nikon. The lenses go on in opposite directions. We were rushing to get another shot and I butterfingered because I wasn't used to the other lenses and dropped her lens. Luckily it was the cheapest of her lenses and she said she had insurance but I felt really bad.

3. Working on some product photography (shiny giant stuff that required careful angling with limited space and lighting) and had the tripod legs balanced a bit weird for some reason I can't remember. I somehow knocked it over when I went to take a break and busted the lens.

4/5. Was going to a Buddhist temple stay in Korea. Hung my padded camera backpack up on a bathroom hook. It fell off. Thought nothing had happened and didn't realize it until I went to photograph the temple on arrival that one was out of alignment (my favorite one) and the other was actually fine but the filter had shattered and the remaining ring was stuck on...

That one, I was about to cry and a little chihuahua in booties and a frilly neck kerchief pranced by and I remembered not to take things so seriously. Non-attachment eh? Turns out they were super cheap and easy to fix and it was no big deal.


So... am I alone in this? Feeling like a total dufus right now! Haha.

Never letting you use my gear.


I've destroyed an old tamron lense. I use it as pencil holder now.

Stay away from my gear too... 40 + years and only damage was one dented filter ring...

Aww Scotty and Screamin Scott! Why you gotta be like that? I'll take care of your stuff, no worries. Especially L lenses. Just pass them over nice and slow.

NikaTraveler wrote: Aww Scotty and Screamin Scott! Why you gotta be like that? I'll take care of your stuff, no worries. Especially L lenses. Just pass them over nice and slow.

You can have every L lens I own.

Considering that I shoot Nikon, I don't think you will be seeing any L glass ! LOL

NikaTraveler wrote: Aww Scotty and Screamin Scott! Why you gotta be like that? I'll take care of your stuff, no worries. Especially L lenses. Just pass them over nice and slow.

NikaTraveler wrote: Aww Scotty and Screamin Scott! Why you gotta be like that? I'll take care of your stuff, no worries. Especially L lenses. Just pass them over nice and slow.

I had a good chuckle here

I haven't broken any lens , my camera doesn't want u near them.

Wow sorry about your luck w/lenses, I noticed that two of the incidents involved tripods....here's a tripod recommendation for you.

It the Bogen 3046 studio tripod. It weighs 10 lbs. without the tripod head and matched up with a 3047 head it'll tip the scales at 13 lbs......no more damaged lenses, just broken toes! lol.

www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%20491582.html

Years of nothing then the last 2 months I dropped and damaged two.

24-70 dropped and distorted the rear coupling. Out of warranty so I pulled it apart and fixed it myself (don't try it, you have to know what you're doing). Now it works fine.

Tonight my 85 1.8G (2nd newest lens) fell out of my dry cabinet because I hade a freakin' neck strap on the camera I was pulling out and it must have caught the lens and pulled it out. I don't like neck straps even more now

Latter is under warranty. It'll be fine only the aperture isn't opening. It's pretty easy to fix, the aperture spring gets knocked out easily and the Nikon tech will fix it in no time. I'm not fixing that myself, in warranty Nikon can do it for me.

McBeth Photography wrote: Wow sorry about your luck w/lenses, I noticed that two of the incidents involved tripods....here's a tripod recommendation for you.

It the Bogen 3046 studio tripod. It weighs 10 lbs. without the tripod head and matched up with a 3047 head it'll tip the scales at 13 lbs......no more damaged lenses, just broken toes! lol.

www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%20491582.html

I'll pass. Not really practical for a nomad... or... well who IS it practical for? Someone shooting in a hurricane?

And 2 lenses were damaged from a bathroom hook. I actually begrudgingly put my bag on the ground or really really double check it before letting it hang for paranoia now.

Stealthy Ninja wrote: Years of nothing then the last 2 months I dropped and damaged two.

24-70 dropped and distorted the rear coupling. Out of warranty so I pulled it apart and fixed it myself (don't try it, you have to know what you're doing). Now it works fine.

Tonight my 85 1.8G (2nd newest lens) fell out of my dry cabinet because I hade a freakin' neck strap on the camera I was pulling out and it must have caught the lens and pulled it out. I don't like neck straps even more now

Latter is under warranty. It'll be fine only the aperture isn't opening. It's pretty easy to fix, the aperture spring gets knocked out easily and the Nikon tech will fix it in no time. I'm not fixing that myself, in warranty Nikon can do it for me.

Oh! That very night! Looks like I gave you the curse of the lenses.

Does this mean I'm free? Maybe I'll never break one again the rest of my life.

NikaTraveler wrote:

McBeth Photography wrote: Wow sorry about your luck w/lenses, I noticed that two of the incidents involved tripods....here's a tripod recommendation for you.

It the Bogen 3046 studio tripod. It weighs 10 lbs. without the tripod head and matched up with a 3047 head it'll tip the scales at 13 lbs......no more damaged lenses, just broken toes! lol.

www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%20491582.html

I'll pass. Not really practical for a nomad... or... well who IS it practical for? Someone shooting in a hurricane?

And 2 lenses were damaged from a bathroom hook. I actually begrudgingly put my bag on the ground or really really double check it before letting it hang for paranoia now.

lol. Well, maybe not a hurricane...but I can freeze the ocean crashing into a rock wall at Boiler Bay, OR in 30-50 mph wind! Very useful for loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnngggggg shutter speeds too, which reminds me I need to put that thing to use now that I'm out of night school!

NikaTraveler wrote:

Stealthy Ninja wrote: Years of nothing then the last 2 months I dropped and damaged two.

24-70 dropped and distorted the rear coupling. Out of warranty so I pulled it apart and fixed it myself (don't try it, you have to know what you're doing). Now it works fine.

Tonight my 85 1.8G (2nd newest lens) fell out of my dry cabinet because I hade a freakin' neck strap on the camera I was pulling out and it must have caught the lens and pulled it out. I don't like neck straps even more now

Latter is under warranty. It'll be fine only the aperture isn't opening. It's pretty easy to fix, the aperture spring gets knocked out easily and the Nikon tech will fix it in no time. I'm not fixing that myself, in warranty Nikon can do it for me.

Oh! That very night! Looks like I gave you the curse of the lenses.

Does this mean I'm free? Maybe I'll never break one again the rest of my life.

Sorry I did it BEFORE I saw your thread. You still have the cheese lens-breaking touch I'm afraid.

I have several "L" lenses .... But you're not getting near them!

My only lens fatality involved both a camera body and a lens. While shooting in a small stream (great morning "God beams" and fog) I got a cramp in my thigh, as I stood to relieve the pain (I was crouched low to the water ....and was in the water) The camera, lens and tripod all suddenly fell over into the creek! Canon 7D and Canon 70-200 f/2.8 II ended up under water.

Ever seen a grown man cry and vomit at the same time? Both ended up DOA. Thankfully a lucid wise moment involving the purchase of full new replacement value insurance and the subsequent check received made things "all better".