Warning...

sometimes life bites!!! I decided to share my story here and in as many places as possible in hopes of helping someone else out here in cyberworld avoid making a similar mistake to the rather LARGE error I made today.

As most of you might have picked up from my previous messages I'm a pretty careful person and things that I buy have to last a LONG time. So I wait until I can get what I truly want instead of just settling. Well my long wait for a Digital SLR finally was met this Christmas. My DH got me the most amazing Nikon D80 with a 18-135mm lens, along with a fabulous Manfrotto tripod with a pistol grip rotating ball head mount.

This morning I was photographing the projects that needed to be sent off to Paper Crafts today. I needed to go to the other room to get something after setting everything up and taking a couple of pictures. Being that I was right in the main traffic pattern of our kitchen I wanted to be ubber careful that an accident wouldn't happen with the kids scurrying by, so I moved my camera, on the tripod, in to the corner. I made certain it was nicely settled and walked away. I had only made it maybe 10 feet, when behind me there was the most enormous crash. Yes - my camera had tipped over smashing it and the lens into little pieces all over the hardwood floor. Needless to say after the initial shock and more than a few tears, I have decided that I need to share what happened in hopes that someone else doesn't do the exact same thing I did.

I had no idea that the weight of the camera could tip the tripod right over. This is a substantial tripod - it's heavy - but all of you out in cyberworld please know that there is a lot more to be done with a tripod than just having your camera securely attached. Unfortunately I had no idea that when I had pivoted the camera into a vertical position it extended too far out between the two legs. I still don't know how it happened, physics - gosh darn physics!!! I thought I was good at physics, but apparently I am VERY bad - it didn't even dawn on me! The weight of the camera and lens pulled the whole thing over. There wasn't a soul near it - it just toppled. So hard lesson learned - NEVER pivot your camera vertically and leave it standing on a tripod - even the best tripod in the world. I'm not certain if I needed to have a weight bag hanging from the tripod, or what I did wrong at this point, but needless to say I'm very sad. I have to hope that their is a miracle in the works out there and that perhaps I will be able to get a new camera, but this baby's toast! I don't think that it's even fixable based on the number of little pieces I see in the pile we collected.

SO please be on the alert with your new camera gear and even if you think you are being careful, be just that much more careful!

Well, I guess that's it - I'm going to call my Mom - you know it's always good to talk with your Mom when you're just a little sad Ü

Comments

[StampyLady]

Hi Ellen,
You must be crushed! Are you sure one of the legs was not tight and simply gave out? Your camera should be covered by your homeowners policy.
Best wishes for a happy solution,
Richell

[Alison Solven]

I'm so sorry to read about your camera. I could just feel your excitement reading the post. If you purchased your camera with VISA or American Express (it has to be a specific Amex card) you can possibly have it replaced. I know my sister had her camera repaired when it fell through her VISA insurance because she paid for it with her credit card. Good Luck!
Alison

[Barbara V]

Oh Ellen...I am sooo sad about that! I am still sitting here with one hand over my mouth and trying to type with the other. I so hope something works out for replacement.

[kathynruss]

What a total bummer. So sorry you lost your new toy. Thanks for warning us about the law of physics!

[dbeltt]

Ellen,
My stomach hurts thinking about this. I'm so sorry!
D

[Erica T]

Maybe someone else posted this already, didn't have the time to read them all at this time. Check to see if you have insurance if it wasbought on a credit card, we had a similar experience and it was covered by VISA insurance... I sure hope that you are able to get it replaced...

[Lynn]

Tears over here as well. Crossing fingers for good old VISA. I recall they USED TO run commercials about these kinds of things.

[Sandy]

Ellen, so sorry to hear about your camera - I can feel the heart sinking as it crashed! I hope you can replace your camera as suggested in the prior comments. Let us know what happens! Sandy

[Sue]

Yikes...
OK...I have not had time to read all the posts so apologise if this has been suggested already but if you paid with your VISA card (and probably MC also) it should be covered with their insurance...call them up....it is a great service!
Sue

[Taylor]

Oh Ellen! (((HUGS))) I'm so sad for you right now. I know how excited you were about your new camera. I'll be hoping for a miracle too!

[Juanita(Toni173)]

TFS Ellen. As usual you are thinking about helping others. I feel soooooooo badly for you. Ughhhh, how devastating. I will ask a special prayer for your comfort and some kind of miracle that will awe you of God's work.

Insert huge warm hug here.

[danita (moberkitty)]

Oh Ellen, that sooooo sucks!!!!! :( I would be devastated. I'm soooo sorry this happened!!!! :(

[Samantha]

I am so sorry this happened to you. I cannot even imagine. I would be hysterical. (((HUGS)))

[janice]

{{{{hugs}}}}
oh i am so sorry that this happened! i felt the sadness and started to stress half way down the story you were telling. it's ok to have a few days of "mourning" and sadness, it is only material, but GOSH you have wanted and waited so long, so the sadness and tears are justified.
be patient, behind every closed door is a window opening.. your camera will be fixed somehow...
meantime, hug! hug! hug!
so so sorry,
jan

[A. Sanborn]

OMG Ellen!!! I think we can all feel your sorrow! I do believe in miracles, so I wouldn't hang up the pcs. just yet! Give your homeowners insurance agent a ringy-dingy along with NIKON. In the meantime I'd be scouring the box and booklet for TRIPOD and CAMERA disaster warnings... should be in there! ((((( CYBER HUGS )))))

[Joan B]

Hugs through the internet!

[Elaine]

Ellen, OH MY GOSH!! I am so sorry, dear heart!!! It must be heart breaking - you are kind to share the misfortune so others will not live through your same pain. I wish you a better 2007 and maybe a miracle will come true for you with camera karma!! I HOPE :)
hugs,
Elaine

[Laurie]

Ellen, I'm so sorry that happened! We just got the D80 too and I'm sure you were loving it! I hope that you can get it fixed soon.

[paige]

Ellen, talk to Nikon... you never know what they might do... I'm so sad for you when these random acts occur. What a bummer. (((((HUGS))))))

[Dawn]

Oh my gosh Ellen. Thank you so much for this info. I got the exact same camera and tripod for Christmas and I would have never thought of that. My hubby got mine with an extended warranty. Maybe you could try that route. I will think happy and good thoughts.
Dawn

[Rose]

I am so very sorry to hear of your mishap. I will be thinking positive thoughts that things come out right for you.

[asela]

Oh Ellen, my heart goes out to you. I'm so sorry this has happened. I don't know what to say. I hope that maybe, somehow, it's fixable. Hugs

[Gina K]

Ellen,
I am just sick for you. I love my DSLR and I would cry it that happened to me. Thanks so much for sharing that story on SCS to warn us.

I hope somehow that your homeowners covers that. Keep us posted on what happens. I'll keep you in my prayers.
Gina K.

[Debbie Olson]

Ellen, yikes! I feel awful for you. . . I'd be majorly sad too. :-(

[Kathy D]

Ellen -

So sorry that physics got you!

Did you purchase the camera with a credit card??? (there might be some insurance coverage with that?)

Homeowner's insurance? (although the rates may go up more than the cost of your camera)

Is the tripod a new purchase??

((((hugs))))