Catastrophe

Seven Years of Good Luck!

Work on sending a report. Then, edit four portraits to be printed in 8"x12" and framed after downloading one of them from the camera to the laptop. Unplugged the USB data cable from laptop. After the end of work, get up from the working chair for a drink and alas, the sound - a big thump of some heavy machinery crashing down behind me. Thought it was the laptop. But on looking down, what do ya think it was? It's the beast falling - tripped from the end of the USB cable on my thigh! It's just lying down there like a battered tank - in its usual pose - neither tilted nor upside down! Picked it up in agony, and the sound of shattered pieces of glass came from inside. Switched him on - the front panel's alright, the info buttons alright, the LCD's alright, the Liveview's alright, the playback's working, the AF assist lamp's working! It's alright with the body! Suspect the 24-120 lens then. Couldn't open the lens cap - it's stuck together with the UV filter rim. Sounds of pieces of shattered glass came from inside the lens. Thought the front elements are a gonner. Detached it. Fix the 70-300 and shoot - ok it' alright! Finally wrench free the lens cap - and - voila - the len's intact and the UV filter? It's in shambles!

Later on, the findings of close scrutiny and post mortem reveals that - all the impact from the two-half feet drop from the desk - was taken headfirst by the tip of the USB cable still attached in the camera! The tip's bent like and 'L'. Then the secondary impact was taken by the lens cap together with the UV filter!!

Saved in the nick by these tiny but brave warrior extensions of mine!!

So damned good!