Who else has dropped their DSLR?

[Edge100]

Never dropped an SLR, but I did drop my Leica M6 (it was in my bag at the time, but the whole thing was dropped from about 6 feet).

Knocked the rangefinder out of alignment, but the camera was fine after a quick re-alignment.

 

[hulugu]

In Nogales, Mexico they have these giant drainage grates along the street that are about six inches lower than the surrounding street and sidewalk. I was walking with my two bodies and I was trying to mount my flash on one body, when I stepped in one of these holes.

I stumbled and fell forward, reaching out with one hand to keep from eating the asphalt, while the other hand kept hold of the camera. But, my other camera swung around my chest and bounced off the ground.

Didn't damage anything but the paint, but my fall and recovery was apparently spectacular because everyone, including a local motorcycle cop asked me if I was okay.

 

[Chappers]

My Samsung DSLR was thrown out of my bicycle basket when I hit a hole in the road. It was thrown about 10 feet and landed with quite a bang (not in padded bag). It survived but I did buy a better bag.

 

[westend123]

When we were on safari last time the wife managed to hit the button to release her 100-400 from her 5D3. As it all slid off the beanbag, she just managed to hold on to the 5D3. The 100-400 did a face plant on the ground 6' below. Naturally the lens was out of commission the rest of the trip. Canon repaired it by replacing some internal element mounts. Thank goodness no elements were scratched or broken.

I just glossed over it as something that can happen to anyone. After all, a happy wife is a happy life.

Do you remember how much Canon charged to repair the lens? Thanks!!!

 

[Ray2]

I've dropped cameras countless times and never had an issue. One (film Nikkormat + zoom) tumbled all the way down an escalator at O'Hare airport. Sent that one to Nikon. Came back with no repairs needed, a jest about the dents and the recommended black car paint to touch it up. Really got slammed on that one as it was my wife's backup body and she was on her way to a job. My DX's, D800's and Fuji X's all took worst falls than you're describing with no issues other than cosmetics.

For some cameras are jewels. For other tools. But they're, for the most part, built to survive work environments.

 

[bgd]

On a dive trip a guy went over the side thinking his brand new camera in a housing with flash was clipped on. It wasn't. He never saw that camera again.

 

[bhtwo]

Knocked mine off a pub table onto stone flags... landed on the baseplate... no probs - D2Hs.

 

[rick3000]

I picked my camera bag up from the passenger seat of my car, and didn't have the bag closed. It landed on the pavement about 2-2.5' below, some scuffing on one corner but that's it.

A friend of mine was walking in Asia, and had his camera on a sling on his side. A car/three-wheel thing went by and hit the camera lens first (he had a 70-200mm, so it stuck out pretty far). It didn't look great but everything, including the lens, still worked. Canon's are built very well in my opinion.

 

[simonsi]

I took my D300 on a downhill Luge ride (Luge on wheels on tarmac downhill track), hadn't shortened the BlackRapid strap enough so the battery side lower corner banged/scraped the tarmac for quite a while down the track, lost a bit of paint, few scratches/gouges in the magnesium.

Worked fine afterwards.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I took my D300 on a downhill Luge ride (Luge on wheels on tarmac downhill track), hadn't shortened the BlackRapid strap enough so the battery side lower corner banged/scraped the tarmac for quite a while down the track, lost a bit of paint, few scratches/gouges in the magnesium.

Worked fine afterwards.

I had a D300. They are built like a tank.

 

[The Bad Guy]

Dropped? I got a battery grip recently and can barely pick mine up. 😀