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October 16, 2008
How A $25 Investment Saved A $1700 Lens
It finally happened. After shooting the Caps for three seasons now and many other sporting events I almost broke one of my most trusted pieces of equipment, my Nikon 70-200mm/2.8 VR lens. I use it for practically everything...I can't imagine life without it.
So here is my pearl of wisdom for today. Go out and buy UV filter for every lens you own, put it on and forget about it.
That is what I did until this past Monday when I was shooting the Washington Capitals. No, I did not get hit by a hockey puck. In between periods I was going up the steps to download photos from my card, as I was going up somebody was leaving their aisle seat I sort of stumbled and dropped my camera (also know as my life). Others around the incident gasped, but I tried to be stoic and professional, picking it up and just walking on.
Later as I was alone I inspected the camera to see that it had indeed fallen and landed on the lens and there was a huge crack across the glass of my lens. My heart sunk when I then remembered that I had put on a filter and perhaps it was only damaged. To my relief that was the case, a $25 glass filter had saved one of my most prized possessions.
Some will say that you don't want to add another layer of glass in front of their lens. Intellectually you are right....If I had Nikon providing me with lenses I would be more cavalier. Unfortunately, I am not at that place yet so I am willing to make this compromise.
Posted by Allen Clark at October 16, 2008 12:25 PM
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Comments
Same thing happened to me!
I was at a Maryland baseball game and I had my body resting on the seat next to me while I fiddled with some other gear (I can't recall what it was at this point). The fans in the row behind me decided to get rowdy and started beating their fists and palms on my row of seats causing them to vibrate a lot. Down went my camera.
I did the same thing you did - picked it up and moved on. When I got a chance to inspect it I was shocked to see a crack and a dent along the front of the lens. Thankfully it was just the 77mm UV filter that was cracked and dented and the 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens was safe and sound.
I'm with you - it's the vest $20 I ever spent. :)
Posted by: Christopher Blunck at October 20, 2008 12:50 PM