Blurry shots after dropped camera bag

[xplatinum]

I put my camera bag with 3 lenses and a nikon d90 on a shelf at the top of my closet and my cat climbed up there while I wasn't there and pushed the bag all the way to the ground.

There does not seem to be any physical damage to any of my gear... but for some reason my 18-105mm started to take blurry shots w/ auto focus even in bright light. on the other hand, my 50mm 1.8 is still taking crisp pictures.

Is this something usual that happens when you drop a lens ?

I haven't tried my 300mm yet... ugh.

[o0moonman0o]

possible malfunctioning lens due to the drop. The optics can be easily knocked outta alignment if u drop them from considerable height.

[MR_Candyman]

possible malfunctioning lens due to the drop. The optics can be easily knocked outta alignment if u drop them from considerable height.

ya, sounds exactly like what happened. Nikon will fix it , but it won't be free (will cost less than a new lens though)

[xplatinum]

I just tried my 50mm again and it doesnt seem to be quite as crisp as before. Could just be my mind playing tricks on me because i'm stressed.

Could that kinda of shock affect the body in the same way ?

At first I thought that if the shock would have affected either the lens or the body, the blur would have been alot more obvious than that. It's a subtle blur but a blur nonetheless.

I'll try to post some pics

[crazzy88ss]

Lesson Learned: Don't store your gear where it can fall.

[Prince Charming]

Yeah. Photo gear isn't like buddha statues, it really doesn't have to be at the highest point in your house. And just to chime in, lens elements are probably knocked out of alignment. The 50mm could be knocked out of alignment, but it could also be your mind playing tricks on you, hard to call.

[Argote]

How high is this top shelf you're talking about?

[xplatinum]

How high is this top shelf you're talking about?

I'd say about 7 feet drop and everything was in this bag (LowePro Slingshot 200)

It's a very good bag but I ain't sure it would sustain that kind of drop.

Not sure what went through my mind when I decided to put it up there.

[sanctified Veteran]

Maybe the sensor just got damaged but I doubt it. That case would mean that every lens produces the same blurry results but you say your 50mm is still sharp. Most probably is just as o0moonman0o says

[peterish]

Yea it could be the body or the lenses or both, hard to say. Maybe post some high-res pics and we'll all take a look and tell you if you're crazy or if your lens is really broken.

[MasterC]

Lesson Learned: Don't store your gear where it can fall.

Exactly. All my gear is stored in the bottom of my closet in a big plastic container with a top.

[cyrl]

I think you should post the blurry pics so everyone can get a clear idea about it.:)

Lesson Learned: Don't store your gear where it can fall.

Or place it in a place where cats can play with it! :p

[sanctified Veteran]

I think you should post the blurry pics so everyone can get a clear idea about it.:)

I see what you did there :p

[11222111]

I dropped my d40 with lens attached onto concrete from about 2 foot in May this year. No immidiate cosmetic damage but I did later find that images shot on any of the semi auto modes (A,S,P) were over exposed by about a stop and a half.

Think this is due to the fall or due to the age ofthe camera or something else (camera is 2 and a bit years old)

malc

[crazzy88ss]

Could be the shutter wearing out. And that could be from lots of use (probably over 50,000 photos) or from being dropped, or a combo of both.

[11222111]

Could be the shutter wearing out. And that could be from lots of use (probably over 50,000 photos) or from being dropped, or a combo of both.

I'm no where near the 50K yet (maybe 12500-15000) plus I let my wee boy use it too - he's 6 but been using it since I got it, sometimes takes a good image - and he has dropped it once by mistake, poor lad was well upset thinking I was goni murder him but I didn't (t'was, indeed, an accident)

Still the more problems I have with it the easier it will be to convince myself to upgrade!!

[crazzy88ss]

Still the more problems I have with it the easier it will be to convince myself to upgrade!!

lol i know that feeling :p

[xplatinum]

lol i know that feeling :p

Thanks for the replies everyone, sorry for getting back to you so late.

I took the camera and all 3 lenses to the shop and they tested all lenses with a chart to see if they were off-focus.

Both the 50mm 1.8 and the 70-300 were fine. The 18-105mm was way out of focus. The guy said the problem could be the lens being off-axis.

That lens runs for about 359$ CAD+tx. Does anyone know how much it could cost to have it repaired by Nikon ? Is it better to just try to sell the lens saying there's a problem with it and use that money to buy a new lens ?

:no:

[Argote]

Thanks for the replies everyone, sorry for getting back to you so late.

I took the camera and all 3 lenses to the shop and they tested all lenses with a chart to see if they were off-focus.

Both the 50mm 1.8 and the 70-300 were fine. The 18-105mm was way out of focus. The guy said the problem could be the lens being off-axis.

That lens runs for about 359$ CAD+tx. Does anyone know how much it could cost to have it repaired by Nikon ? Is it better to just try to sell the lens saying there's a problem with it and use that money to buy a new lens ?

:no:

Did the guy at the camera store not give you a quote on the repair costs?

I'm assuming repairing it would be less than 359 CAD.

[crazzy88ss]

They usually can't quote you a repair price until they have the damaged product at the repair factory and the technicians there look at it. That's standard practice.

[xplatinum]

They usually can't quote you a repair price until they have the damaged product at the repair factory and the technicians there look at it. That's standard practice.

I went to a local professional photography store to have it tested. He told me to get in touch with Nikon directly to have it repaired... which means I'll be one lens short for more than a month. UGH!

[xtrabit racing]

Ask a spare lens from your cat ;)

[xplatinum]

Ask a spare lens from your cat ;)

that damn cat... always knocking everything that's in its way.

Lesson learned though. From now on that bag will be as close to the ground as possible.