Mr Perceptive
Perceptive Member
OK this is post full of
There is a reason that I've not posted any pictures in the last 2 weeks, despite spending a week in Scotland (to which between my wife and I we managed to take 9 cameras!)
On the penultimate day, we went to the Hermitage at Dunkeld, I had packed in the car, the GFX50S, GA645, Bronica SQ-A and X-H1 (with 50-140mm lens) - At the Car Park I took out just the GFX, lenses and tripod and we walked to the Hermitage itself, it was a lovely morning, sun shining and my wife commented on happy I seemed.
Arrived at the Hermitage, set the camera up on the tripod at he viewing platform, took a couple of shots, repositioned camera on ball head, took a couple more shots, then I decided to adjust one of the rear legs of the tripod to take a tree branch out of the field of view, the next moment I looked up and saw the GFX falling from the tripod head, over the railings (which it was behind, but quite a bit higher than), and then watched it plumment into the rocks below, before disappearing into the river in lego format - I was mortified (understatement) and nearly beside myself, my wife thought that I was going to lob the tripod after the camera (Manfrotto 055 +Xpro Ball Head with QR head) - I managed to compose myself, packed up my remaining kit and sat on a bench 50 yards away, while my wife scoured the rocks below (from the Hermitage) for signs of the camera.
I'm Insured - including Accidental All Risks
I rang the Insurance Broker, explained what had happened, and they said take some photos of the scene (as Accidental and Total Loss scenarios are quite rare, usually there is a camera that might be repaired). I did that including walking back to the car and returning with the X-H1 and 50-140 and scouring the rocks again with the benefit of telephoto. I found part of the GF30mm lens, sheared off at the aperture ring.
There was no way of any form of recovery, those rocks are danagerous, the water fast flowing, and plenty of warning signs and barriers!
Subsequently checking the tripod head, I realised that the QR mechanism can't have fully engaged with the plate on the camera, and while it was alright initially, gravity probably had a big part to play in the camera's demise.
A few lessons, I've taken away:-
1) Always (double and triple check) make sure the tripod plate is fully engaged, I've sinced purchased a new (non-Manfrotto) head, the Manfrotto one is for the bin!
2) Put a neck strap on and around camera when working at height!
3) Backup nightly images on the memory cards, Yes the previous days images were backed up but onto the second card in the camera!!!
I submitted an insurance claim on Monday, and amazingly by 6pm Thursday, the funds to purchase a replacement camera were in my bank account - Thank you to "Glover and Howe" (brokers) and Covea (The Insurance Company) for such a fast service - and hopefully now I can stop re-living in my mind the falling camera - its been like a car crash on repeat in my brain.
So I now have to decide how to spend the money, another 50S or a 50S II or something else
and the broken GF30mm lens, if you closely at the image you can see a mobile phone (not mine in the foam as well!)
Oh and yes it rather ruined the holiday!
There is a reason that I've not posted any pictures in the last 2 weeks, despite spending a week in Scotland (to which between my wife and I we managed to take 9 cameras!)
On the penultimate day, we went to the Hermitage at Dunkeld, I had packed in the car, the GFX50S, GA645, Bronica SQ-A and X-H1 (with 50-140mm lens) - At the Car Park I took out just the GFX, lenses and tripod and we walked to the Hermitage itself, it was a lovely morning, sun shining and my wife commented on happy I seemed.
Arrived at the Hermitage, set the camera up on the tripod at he viewing platform, took a couple of shots, repositioned camera on ball head, took a couple more shots, then I decided to adjust one of the rear legs of the tripod to take a tree branch out of the field of view, the next moment I looked up and saw the GFX falling from the tripod head, over the railings (which it was behind, but quite a bit higher than), and then watched it plumment into the rocks below, before disappearing into the river in lego format - I was mortified (understatement) and nearly beside myself, my wife thought that I was going to lob the tripod after the camera (Manfrotto 055 +Xpro Ball Head with QR head) - I managed to compose myself, packed up my remaining kit and sat on a bench 50 yards away, while my wife scoured the rocks below (from the Hermitage) for signs of the camera.
I'm Insured - including Accidental All Risks
I rang the Insurance Broker, explained what had happened, and they said take some photos of the scene (as Accidental and Total Loss scenarios are quite rare, usually there is a camera that might be repaired). I did that including walking back to the car and returning with the X-H1 and 50-140 and scouring the rocks again with the benefit of telephoto. I found part of the GF30mm lens, sheared off at the aperture ring.
There was no way of any form of recovery, those rocks are danagerous, the water fast flowing, and plenty of warning signs and barriers!
Subsequently checking the tripod head, I realised that the QR mechanism can't have fully engaged with the plate on the camera, and while it was alright initially, gravity probably had a big part to play in the camera's demise.
A few lessons, I've taken away:-
1) Always (double and triple check) make sure the tripod plate is fully engaged, I've sinced purchased a new (non-Manfrotto) head, the Manfrotto one is for the bin!
2) Put a neck strap on and around camera when working at height!
3) Backup nightly images on the memory cards, Yes the previous days images were backed up but onto the second card in the camera!!!
I submitted an insurance claim on Monday, and amazingly by 6pm Thursday, the funds to purchase a replacement camera were in my bank account - Thank you to "Glover and Howe" (brokers) and Covea (The Insurance Company) for such a fast service - and hopefully now I can stop re-living in my mind the falling camera - its been like a car crash on repeat in my brain.
So I now have to decide how to spend the money, another 50S or a 50S II or something else
and the broken GF30mm lens, if you closely at the image you can see a mobile phone (not mine in the foam as well!)
Oh and yes it rather ruined the holiday!