This is the reason we can’t have nice things

Posted by Jay Lee | Filed under General, Houston, Photography, Sony Alpha 100

Pulling in to the parking garage at work I noticed the sun rise being reflected in the buildings near Uptown Park.
Right there on the very level where i usually park all I had to do was pull in to my space, turn off the engine, open my camera bag, step out of the car, point and shoot.

And that is exactly what I did, but the universe added one more step.

As I raised the camera to my eye to frame up the shot I felt a tug and watched helplessly as my Tamron AF 28-75mm f2.8 XR Di lens fell to the unyielding and unforgiving concrete floor with a sickening “thud” followed by depressing clattering as the lens came to rest on the ground.

I reached down and picked up the lens and, sure enough, the front glass was badly cracked.

Before the shock could wear off I put the smashed lens in the car and reached in the bag and pulled out my Tamron 18–200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR DI-II LD lens and quickly snapped several shots before the effect was gone.

Sunrise Reflected

Click for full size. Those viewing via baldheretic.com will note the nifty new magnifier plugin!

I got my picture but I was feeling like I might throw up. That lens set me 400+ bills and I can’t justify the expense of replacing it. It’s a great lens, but limited in flexibility. It’s a lens of indulgence, and now it appears that it is gone.

After putting the camera away I headed up the elevator and got to my desk. I was taking care of various work related tasks and flipping around Google to see if I could find any information on lens repairs at the same time.

Once I got my work caught up and I had a chance to calm down a bit an idea entered my brain. An idea that gave me a glimmer of hope and possible redemption.

When I buy my lenses I like to purchase a UV filter as an added insurance against scratching the actual lens. Was it possible that the shards of broken glass might just be the UV filter and NOT my precious lens? Do I dare hope?

Back to the parking garage!

I gathered up my fractured lens-child and carried it into the light and inspected the front glass. Sure enough, it was just the UV filter that had broken. The rest of the lens looked to be intact! There was hope!

After returning to my desk I set out to remove the broken UV filter only to find it would not budge. I carefully removed the glass and checked for scratches and there seemed to be none. I connected the lens to the camera and shot a few pics. The auto-focus seems to work just fine and, other than the UV filter ring with a slight dent in it, the lens looks and acts perfectly!

I can live with the stuck filter ring. I’m just glad to still have the lens.

Permalink | January 29th, 2007

10 Responses to “This is the reason we can’t have nice things”

Michael Says:
January 29th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
I was sad and now I’m happy (er). Also, the Giraffe photo over there is really cool.

Did you buy the lens in the last 90/360 days on a credit card that has some sort of breakage protection (e.g. Amex)?
groovehouse Says:
January 30th, 2007 at 12:39 am
you lucky devil!
David Beebe Says:
January 30th, 2007 at 10:07 am
OH, what a good ending! If you put a little heat on that filter it should come off (small butane torch).
Before I got to the good part about the lens being intactt, I was totally thinking about all the things I have bought (particularly when I was making some money at Satellite) that were kind of like “luxury” items- extra music gear, extra cameras, lenses, car stereos, etc. Without fail, nearly all that stuff either got stolen, wrecked, or borrowed. What little didn’t now resides in various boxes (like the DAT recorder) in limbo aftter being used a few times (actually got my money out of the DAT for studio work). To me it’s weird that the “bonus” stuff is truly sort of the extra stuff.
I’m glad that lens made it; especially siince you’e carrying it around and actualy using it! It’s life it not over.
Carl Says:
January 30th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Wow. But take it as a cosmic hint and have the camera shop remove the filter ring. It’s worth the $20 or so to have it done carefully and well enough that the lens will take other filters again.
Conn Says:
January 30th, 2007 at 10:09 am
A sadder but wiser lens it be.
satyr Says:
January 30th, 2007 at 10:31 am
That Tamron is built like a tank. I know I don’t use mine as often as I should but it’s not a lens I’d leave out of my bag either. I’m glad yours survived the fall.
cybertoad Says:
January 31st, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Glad to know the lens was OK! I had the same experience except on a more affordable lens - I was a high school senior and had my Dad’s cherished Nikon at school. In the parking lot I dropped and shattered what I thought was the zooms lens. After much crying and anxiety, I showed my Mom who figured out it wasjust the UV filter I had shattered. She helped me replace it and I don’t think my Dad ever found out. Whew.
The Bald Heretic » I’m learnding Says:
March 9th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
[...] struck me is that he was shooting with a 2.8 70mm lens and I happen to have a 28-75mm 2.8 lens. Remember the miracle lens? It’s a Tamron AF 28-75mm f2.8 XR Di and right there on the lens it says “Macro” [...]
The Bald Heretic » Wayne “The Train” Hancock Says:
June 2nd, 2007 at 10:55 pm
[...] This is the “miracle lens” you might recall from this post. [...]
Glass | The Bald Heretic Says:
July 6th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
[...] Readers of this blog may remember the story of my Tamron AF 28-75mm f2.8 XR Di lens that I often refer to as my “miracle lens” after the horrible accident. [...]