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Lack of GFX Images - A short story!

Mr Perceptive

Perceptive Member
OK this is post full of :eek:

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) :mad: 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 :)


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and the broken GF30mm lens, if you closely at the image you can see a mobile phone (not mine in the foam as well!)


DAHVvhRh.jpg


Oh and yes it rather ruined the holiday!
 
Crumbs that’s not a nice thing to happen on holiday or at any other time.

The quick release did live up to its name, I have always looked at them suspiciously they seem to be designed to catch you out.

It’s a shame you can’t recover the camera the photos should be recoverable.


Pete
 
Crumbs that’s not a nice thing to happen on holiday or at any other time.
The quick release did live up to its name, I have always looked at them suspiciously they seem to be designed to catch you out.
It’s a shame you can’t recover the camera the photos should be recoverable.
Pete

Yes you don't expect to go out and not return with the camera!

And the images may be recoverable, but I wouldn't know where to start looking for the camera! Maybe someone will find them in teh future and we will be re-united!!
 
Local Mountain rescue? Or do they just do people?

Pete

Having been rescued in the past (broken ankle) then I don't think I'd trouble Mountain Rescue for a camera memory card, if though they wanted to practise then that might be a different matter, but in reality its a fewc images, I'll just remember the 'keepers' in my head, they are already edited in there, saves a bit of time!
 
Eeek! Good to hear the insurance have sorted you out, and the lack of pictures just gives you an excuse to return to the area.

We pass the Hermitage a fair bit on our way up and down to our place in the Cairngorms and I've been meaning to stop there and take pictures. I'll make very sure my camera is secure now though!
 
An image of the letter or email from the insurers might sit well in the "Reasons to be Cheerful" thread!

Is the camera gear on the home insurance or a separate policy? Never really thought about what I'd do in this situation, touch wood.
 
An image of the letter or email from the insurers might sit well in the "Reasons to be Cheerful" thread!

Is the camera gear on the home insurance or a separate policy? Never really thought about what I'd do in this situation, touch wood.

Seperate Policy for photography gear with Glover and Howe.
 
Interesting. My home insurance covers photo gear in theory, but I doubt they would be as quick or sympathetic as a specialist.

I'm not sure that a household policy would cover accidental (all risk) type damage on such high value equipment without special dispensations on the policy. I went to Scotland with probably 5 figures worth of gear in the car, it was insured in the car, from theft in the car (but not between 12 midnight and 6am unless I was with it) and general all risks cover. And they certainly paid up quickly.
 
Ouch! Glad it worked out with insurance.

In theory my contents insurance covers stuff like this but until you put in a claim there is no way of knowing if there is some fine print on page 99 of the contract that lets them weasel out of it.
 
I'm not sure that a household policy would cover accidental (all risk) type damage on such high value equipment without special dispensations on the policy. I went to Scotland with probably 5 figures worth of gear in the car, it was insured in the car, from theft in the car (but not between 12 midnight and 6am unless I was with it) and general all risks cover. And they certainly paid up quickly.
Hiscox definitely cover that. I have taken 5 figure worth to South Africa several times and checked before leaving. They don't even need serial nos for kit up to £20K. I nearly had to claim for that amount too but the SAA pilot found my (it's on the next plane mate') camera bags hidden carefully away in the pet hold.
 
Hiscox definitely cover that. I have taken 5 figure worth to South Africa several times and checked before leaving. They don't even need serial nos for kit up to £20K. I nearly had to claim for that amount too but the SAA pilot found my (it's on the next plane mate') camera bags hidden carefully away in the pet hold.

Im sure they do, I needed a semi professional cover as I run workshops and 1-2-1 so I have it separate from my house insurance - just pleased they dealt with the claim so promptly
 
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I have visited the Hermitage and appreciate the distance the camera fell and the difficulty in retrieving it. Wise decision not attempt anything. I once managed to drop the viewfinder from my Canon F1n at Randolph's Leap near where I live. It did not fall so far and was undamaged apart from a scratch.
 
Ouch!

Sorry to hear this David - bet you were glad you'd taken out insurance. (I'm with Aaduki but thankfully, haven't had call to use them yet). Also, a wise decision not to go after the camera, as tempting as it may have been at the time. Kit is replaceable, you are not!

In terms of the top plate - I never liked the Manfrotto design, which is why I use the Arca Swiss style plates. Although there are examples of poorly implemented Arca Swiss plates out there too - my 3 Legged Thing ball head has a plate where it's possible to clamp the L bracket on one side only, meaning the camera isn't properly secured. Needless to say I don't use it anymore! (see image below)

49840413786_61e3539b99_b.jpg


Lefty
 
Ouch!

Sorry to hear this David - bet you were glad you'd taken out insurance. (I'm with Aaduki but thankfully, haven't had call to use them yet). Also, a wise decision not to go after the camera, as tempting as it may have been at the time. Kit is replaceable, you are not!

In terms of the top plate - I never liked the Manfrotto design, which is why I use the Arca Swiss style plates. Although there are examples of poorly implemented Arca Swiss plates out there too - my 3 Legged Thing ball head has a plate where it's possible to clamp the L bracket on one side only, meaning the camera isn't properly secured. Needless to say I don't use it anymore! (see image below)

49840413786_61e3539b99_b.jpg


Lefty

Amar, thanks, I was using an Arca plate, the Manfrotto products ebding inQ6 are ARCA compatible, there was a Kirk L-Bracket on the GFX, my new Benro Haed (G2) seems much more secure though, though I've not had a GFX yet to test it with.

I'm still msuing over equipment choices, not rushing for a change! Plenty of options
 
I have visited the Hermitage and appreciate the distance the camera fell and the difficulty in retrieving it. Wise decision not attempt anything. I once managed to drop the viewfinder from my Canon F1n at Randolph's Leap near where I live. It did not fall so far and was undamaged apart from a scratch.

Indeed, there was no way of knowing exactly where the camera would be in the river, its quite fast flowing so could move quite easily, added to the fact that I saw it break into several pieces means that repair would have been impossible. If I'd been 30 years younger and not with my wife I might have tempted something stupid, but these days I know my limitations (I think!)
 


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