Smashed lens what else could be wrong?

Kev R

Kev R

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Name
Kevin
Edit My Images
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Just back from a wonderful holiday in Mexico...:thumbs:

Couple of problems while I was there!

I had a fall, nothing too serious however my D90 with the 18 - 105 kit lens mounted hit the floor with a bang:'( The lens took the impact around the filter thread, smashed my filter, put a big ding in the filter collar and broke the apature function of the lens, the glass is still all in tact, lens won't operate now though and the zoom dosen't move.

I know the lens is shot and my insurance will cover that, what concerns me is the camera body could it be possible that damage has been caused to the lens mounting or any other delicate parts? How can I have this checked out? I do not want to claim for the lens and then find I have problems with the camera later on.

Any advise or thoughts would be welcome.

Second problem is my performance with the camera:thumbsdown:...I know it is me because of what this camera is capable of (Evidence from other D90 owners on TP) I shot over 600 images using RAW + Jpeg combined, while I can adjust and crop etc. some of images in RAW to make something slightly useful 80% of what I shot are rubish:shake:

None are crisp and sharp they look like they have been shot using a £50 compact, they lack life and colour. I used apature priority mostly and some just on auto but both are wishy washy.

My lens combination was 18 -105 kit lens, Nikon 50 1.8 and Sigma 70 -300 all AF. It may be that my AF is slightly off or something! Even the nifty fifty which is a fast sharp lens is off slightly.

If anyone wants to see a couple of examples for analisys you can pm me.

Thanks....Kevin. :help:
 
Kev R said:
Jsome of images in RAW to make something slightly useful 80% of what I shot are rubish:shake:

None are crisp and sharp they look like they have been shot using a £50 compact, they lack life and colour. I used apature priority mostly and some just on auto but both are wishy washy.
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This is pretty common when shooting in RAW! Don't panic! The JPEGs are sharpened in the camera, and have the saturation boosted as well I think, but the RAWs aren't. It's exactly as the camera recorded it, so it'll need work on your part to make it stand out, which the camera does itself for the JPEG. Learn to love photoshop/lightroom!

Sorry to hear about your camera and lens, I don't know what I'd do if that happened to me! Can you check the body to see if it works o.k with another lens? If not, take it to a dealer or someone who can service them, and ask them to give it a quick once-over.

Chris
 
Thanks for the reply Chris...

I am aware I can work with the Raw images somewhat although I did think the camera whould give me some pretty good results straight off! I think my main concern is the lack of sharpness for the quality of camera and reasonably acceptable glass, I expected better...that is why i think it is me, or my setting up/lack of setting up for the shots.

I have tried other lenses after the fall and all seems OK although I am nervous to just leave it at that long term without some extpert advice. May see what my insurance company suggest after all it is in their interest to get it right first time.

Cheers....kevin.
 
Sorry to hear about your lens, Kev, I'd be tempted to put in a claim for both the lens and the camera, just to be on the safe side if the insurance covers it.

Back to the question of your pics....how are the raw versions compared to the jpeg ones? As Chris says raw (not RAW) files are just that, you need to process them .Think of raw file as a negative whilst a jpeg is more akin to a Polaroid image, processed by the camera.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Sorry to hear about your lens, Kev, I'd be tempted to put in a claim for both the lens and the camera, just to be on the safe side if the insurance covers it.

Back to the question of your pics....how are the raw versions compared to the jpeg ones? As Chris says raw (not RAW) files are just that, you need to process them .Think of raw file as a negative whilst a jpeg is more akin to a Polaroid image, processed by the camera.
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Thanks Graham

Will speak with the insurance today...

I will at some point over the next day or so have a go with the raw files and see what I can do with them, I only have the basic Nikon "View NX" software to work the files, my Photoshop 7 doesn't have a raw option or plugin for the D90, so a bit limited with regard to PP of the raw files.

Cheers...
 
You may be expecting too much from the Len's you have i used to have the Sigma 70-300mm for a short time and was very disappointed with the IQ a switch to the Nikon 70-300mm VR showed just how bad the lens was, i have not used the 18-105mm but i see that a number of reviews mention lack of sharpness and distortion - go to your local camera shop and try a 16-85mm VR (very similar IQ to the 17-55mm but a lot cheaper) or 17-55mm as for the nifty it all depends on the settings used to take the picture do you have any examples ?
 
Were you shooting wide open with the 50mm or using a slow shutter speed?
Sorry to hear about the smashed lens mate
 
This happened to a friends camera and lens, he got both the lens and camera check out and fixed under his insurance through a canon service centre. As

Flash In The Pan
I'd be tempted to put in a claim for both the lens and the camera, just to be on the safe side if the insurance covers it.
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said ........Better safe than sorry.
 
Guys

Thanks for all the feedback and advice, I have been away for a few days so sorry for the late response...

Still don't know how to multi quote in the same post so will try and deal with each in order.

f1charlie
Thanks for the links...rawtherapee looks intresting for editing and procesing, faststone looks to be just a viewer which I have with the Nikon ViewNX. A plugin for PS7 would have been the ideal solution as I use that extensively for jpeg of course. realy appriciate the info.

Dogfish_magnet
I know what you mean about the Sigma it is very soft, even my shots tripod mounted are not realy that sharp at all. I got the lens from a TP member at a great price so I am well happy with that, I wanted to practice some sports (Junior Football) photography with the lens's focal lenght before investing in the right tool for the job i.e. a zoom at f2.8, thought the Sigy would be OK on a nice sunny day...plenty of them in Mexico and it wasn't :(

The 18-105 isn't that bad as a traveler maybe a little short to cover all circumstances, I realy do think the problem was me and my setting up for the shots. I love my fifty but it just wasn't as sharp as I expected, I will see if I can link to my Flickr and put a couple of shots on there. Thanks for the heads up on the 16-85 but I need a traveler so the lenght falls short for that.

MJ Stebbings
Thanks for the condolences...Re the 50, my evening and indoor stuff was all at f1.8 with slowish shutter speeds 1/20, 1/30ish but I had a table mount to steady the camera no remote so my button pressing could have effected the outcome! I was very delicate with the shutter release:boxer:

pete.rush
I discussed this with jessops today, they said they would send the body off to Nikon to have it checked out at no cost because of the warranty! not sure about that as it would be damage by neglegence wouldn't it? Anyhow he said it would probably be 6 - 10 weeks before I see the camera again, I have read realy bad things about Nikon service...

He did say that my insurance may insist on this before they consider the body for replacement, problem I have is two pending weddings, not as the official Tog I might add, god forbid, never mind two cameras I woud need ten pairs of trousers:exit: I am a guest at both but people (family) are expecting me to chip in with the unofficial distribution of wedding photgraphs, insurance don't know that though as far as they are concerned I might be the official tog! Anyhow if they insit it goes to Nikon i will insist on them covering the hire of a replacement for these events.

Lets see what happens...

Cheers all......kevin.

PS starting a new thread on lens advice as I may throw a few quid at the insurance payout on the lens and go for something more worthy.
 
Kev R said:
Guys


f1charlie
Thanks for the links...rawtherapee looks intresting for editing and procesing, faststone looks to be just a viewer which I have with the Nikon ViewNX. A plugin for PS7 would have been the ideal solution as I use that extensively for jpeg of course. realy appriciate the info.
Click to expand...

Faststone does have editing capabilities too. Although not on the same level as Photoshop it's good enough for some quick brightness/contrast/saturation adjustments, sharpening, cropping, resizing, watermarking, etc. And all free too!
 
I'd get the camera checked out, if something is bad enough to ding the lens like that then it may have done something to the internals, and I expect things like the mirror and lens mechanisms are fairly delicate by nature. If you find something wrong with it now atleast you can get it repaired on insurance.
 
PauloWanClift said:
I'd get the camera checked out, if something is bad enough to ding the lens like that then it may have done something to the internals, and I expect things like the mirror and lens mechanisms are fairly delicate by nature. If you find something wrong with it now atleast you can get it repaired on insurance.
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Agree, i have decided the absolute minimum will be a thorough check by nikon, hopefully i can get a replacement to be absolutly sure.

Cheers...kevin
 
Harsh luck on the camera, I would talk to your insurers rather than Jessopps as they will probably get it sorted out much quicker for you.

With regard to your shots. We really need to see samples before we can pass comment.
 
RichardtheSane said:
Harsh luck on the camera, I would talk to your insurers rather than Jessopps as they will probably get it sorted out much quicker for you.

With regard to your shots. We really need to see samples before we can pass comment.
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Thanks Richard

I spoke to my insurance and they told me to get the camera checked out and then tell them what I was claiming against, lens or lens and camera! It was they who refered to jessops. Some might think I'm mad and say just go for the lot...I am a bit iffy with that, I just want fixed or replaced what actually needs to be fixed or replaced. They only get the money back in raised premiums anyway.

Regarding the samples, I have tried in the past to post pics and just can't get it to work!:shrug: I then started a flickr to link to and have now forgoten my password :bang:

I am just on my way out now, will try and get this sorted later.

Cheers
 
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