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March, 2024

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Have any of you ever broken camera gear?

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Downtofilm
Posts: 6896 - Karma: 20,399
Hey guys, I was just curious if any of you filmers or photographers have ever broken any camera gear how much did it cost to replace? how did you break it? what did you break?
etc.

I broke my lcd on my fx-1000 because my camera bag was not padded enough. I fell on my side and since the lcd on the fx-1000 is in a weird place it smashed.
that was 400$ down the drain :(

Lets hear some of your stories.
Mar 24 2011 1:31PM
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Jeff_Lo
Posts: 5809 - Karma: 263
I've never broken them, but I treat everything I own like a baby.
Feb 3 2012 3:45AM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,385
the top LCD screen on my D300 is cracked, dropped a battery on it.

The pop up flash is also now held down by tape.

The bracket that holds the power cord on to my b1600 broke last April at the TSP moonlight shoot, got blown over in the wind. The strobe itself doesn't always fire at 100% anymore, and sometimes only fires at 100%. When I first picked it up after it fell, it smelled like burnt electronics and it only fizzled a litttle bit of arcing electricity in the flash tubes... it shocks me sometimes too. Scary.

two lightstands have been wrecked shooting on snow

one of my speedlights doesn't work anymore

My battery pack decides when it does and doesn't want to work.


dropped an 18-70 f3.5-5.6 (nice, cheap lens actaully) and it doesnt zoom anymore, stuck at about 30mm.



I have bad luck with photo gear....
Feb 3 2012 1:22PM
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dispatchQ_main
Posts: 2619 - Karma: 629
No camera stuff that I care about has ever broken.

Im on my like 8th xbox tho and break an ipod every year.... / Cool story bro
Feb 3 2012 1:25PM
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Merrill
Posts: 253 - Karma: 71
Same exact exact thing happened to me too. I had put the filter on the night before.
Feb 3 2012 4:42PM
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S.C
Posts: 3068 - Karma: 2,281
I baby all my gear, but have gotten some filters stuck and have had to break them to remove them

also broken a few knobs here and there, and broke an old DV camcorder back in the day
Feb 3 2012 4:59PM
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*Fujative*
Posts: 8554 - Karma: 183
Broken 3 "$20" tripods then I bought a really nice Velbon.

2007 - I had a Sigma 100mm-300mm Macro, until one day I was shooting a Wedding. I had both zippers in the top middle of my bag, and one wasn't fully zipped. As I was walking into the Chapel, SMASH! Opps. The lens fell out of my backpack, shattered. Then I started zipping my backpacking all the way to one side.

2010 - My buddy was unloading his car and took my Canon backpack out of it, basically dropped it straight on the ground. I heard I loud noise and turned around. "Dude wtf?! Thats may camera bag!!" Opened up my bag and the UV filter on my Canon 28-135mm was cracked. Luckily the lens was ok, however the thread was dented. I eventually got the filter off however I could no longer put a filter on the lens.

2010 - I had a Canon 50mm f/1.8, cheapest lens in the world. I wouldn't recommend anyone to ever buy one. I was at the Detroit Auto show on a media badge shooting details of cars. I took through my car and everything is blurry, wtf. The entire front part of my lens popped out of the enclosure. I was able to pop it back in place however it never worked the same.
Feb 3 2012 5:18PM
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Mkvackay
Posts: 1903 - Karma: 5,460
Had a sigma10-20mm fall out, UV filter shattered and the lens body cracked up the side

Had to get a new bottom plate for my glidecam, looked like a U
Feb 3 2012 5:44PM
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cwillygood
Posts: 6831 - Karma: 1,829
Broke my gopro...kinda lame .....ma
Feb 3 2012 6:27PM
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Brock.
Posts: 5698 - Karma: 1,327
A bunch of shit happened filming this, I think nature was trying to reclaim my camera gear...



Tripped and smashed t2i + 10-22 off of some rocks hiking (it was fine). Forgot to close pelican case and 50 almost tumbled down a hill into a lake. A bear was very close to knocking over my camera while doing time lapses. I was lucky.




Feb 3 2012 10:41PM
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.jesus.
Posts: 2288 - Karma: 22
haha same shit happened to me with that lens i got a free replacement for it though.
Feb 6 2012 11:27AM
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DG.3
Posts: 794 - Karma: 288
curious, what store was this? (not like im gonna go and ask for the same deal, just wondering)
Feb 6 2012 9:50PM
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rareison
Posts: 10263 - Karma: 218
Well this one time my GoPro fell off my helmet in the lodge
Feb 6 2012 11:34PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7604 - Karma: 20,092
I've broken multiple digital point and shoots and left my Nikon Fe 35 mm body, 55 mm Macro lens and Tokina 70-200mm zoom lens on a bus in Glasgow Scotland while excessively tired and running 2 hours late to meet someone. Still have not replaced any of that stuff because I deserve t for being such an idiot

Feb 7 2012 12:25AM
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gordie.
Posts: 2014 - Karma: 84
I haven't broken any of my own stuff, except something on my HVX which is more of a design/engineering flaw than something being broken by me. Many HVX's have the same problem.

In other news, I was on a set the other weekend and someone didn't put away the filters correctly which led to me inadvertently letting a 4x4 85 drop onto the carpet of the location. And best of all, the DoP and 1st AC were right there watching me... They knew it wasn't me that did it but maintaining them was still my responsibility. When I told the DoP it was the 85 though he was just like "whatever, nobody uses it anyways". It was perfectly clear still but that's still the worst camera related mistake I've had happen to me.
Feb 7 2012 12:38PM
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Jeff_Lo
Posts: 5809 - Karma: 263
Man can't believe how many of you have had stuff broken by accidents.

I've had gear malfunction but I've never broken my own gear.  I guess I live by different rules.  Whenever I'm moving even if I have to shoot quick I take the camera off the tripod.  I always have the lens cap in my pocket.  And double check everything before I move around.  Even if I buy something thats $10 I treat it like it's a baby.  Yes it gets used and you can't see some things coming, but I feel like anything in life if you take necessary steps to protect your gear or anything you own it will last you much longer. 

Instead of buying more lenses buy some insurance.  Although I've never had to use it, it is nice to know if something goes wrong it's covered.
Feb 7 2012 12:46PM
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Jeff_Lo
Posts: 5809 - Karma: 263
While your funny and probably right in some cases, most people in here worked there ass off for there gear.
Feb 7 2012 12:48PM
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Mkvackay
Posts: 1903 - Karma: 5,460
yep.

had my 7D for a year and a half and the shutter unit malfunctioned. insurance saved me, although i was without a camera for three weeks
Feb 7 2012 12:53PM
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screamin_seamen
Posts: 619 - Karma: 551
Last summer during a 40 show date tour:

1 broken 7D ( Had to rent one from borrowlenses the night of for 4 weeks)

2 lost lenses (50mm, and kit)

1 lost battery

2 broken CF card (16gb)

Had a fun time on tour though hahaha
Feb 7 2012 1:14PM
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erikK
Posts: 3245 - Karma: 2,325
last weekend i was in the lodge and as i was pulling off my facemask, it pulled my d7000's neckstrap up with it and before i noticed it dropped straight to the floor. it had an 11-16 on it and luckily the lens hood took a lot of the impact. both lens and camera are fine surprisingly but i was freaked out. well built equipment!
Mar 2 2012 11:20AM
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SSteezle
Posts: 9221 - Karma: 9,939
this thread scared me enough to get insurance on everything i own
Mar 2 2012 11:28AM
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DavidRoss
Posts: 152 - Karma: 9
im looking at a broken pair in my room right now... such shit

Mar 2 2012 5:43PM
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JStrathern
Posts: 8747 - Karma: 1,536
Fuck fuck fuck fuck just dropped my 50mm 1.4 and it no longer is able to focus in AF or MF. I think I'm going to try to send it in under warranty for fun because I don't know what the fuck else to do. Ahhhhhhhh
Mar 5 2012 7:13PM
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squibble
Posts: 4569 - Karma: 104
that sucks

if i ever take a camera skiing it will be an xsi with a 50mm 1.8
Mar 6 2012 2:14AM
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BA.berger
Posts: 300 - Karma: 300
Haha, I have just the same problem..
Fix it yourself look like hell... I have to pay 300$ to get it fixed by some pro's.
Mar 6 2012 9:21AM
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
^ its like a 300 dollar lens
Mar 6 2012 10:45AM
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BA.berger
Posts: 300 - Karma: 300
I know, but in Norway it cost like 500$.....
Mar 6 2012 10:49AM
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tBatt
Posts: 9632 - Karma: 580
chipped the lens on my HV30.

My camera fell off of my desk onto the concrete floor, just sheared the shoe off of my ST-E2 transmitter. I need to give Canon a call and see if they can replace just the shoe. I'm not too crazy about spending $225 to replace a small piece of plastic when it technically still works. The lens still works, but the zoom puts out some resistance around 28mm (28-70 f/2.8). I think I dented the threads, the filter was a pain in the ass of get off and even more of a pain to put back on.
Body is fine.
Mar 6 2012 3:45PM
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