D300

I have just found out that a D300 (body only) can be dropped onto a concret floor and survive.

This should not be tried by kids without an adult present.

I've yet to drop my D300, but quite a while ago, on a trip to the Quarry Bank Mill at Style, I did drop a Nikon FE, on to a stone floor but it carried on working through to the end of the film and "died". So, fearing the worst I took it to a camera repair outfit in Liverpool and after a certain amount of knowing looks and deep intakes of breath etc they told me that the entire top plate needed replacing and a partial rebuild required. As luck would have it there were no black top plates in the U.K. Rather than wait ages I settled for a chrome one and ended up with a unique hybrid camera, which I still have and it's in fine working order. I counted myself lucky. The moral of the story is to always keep the strap around your kneck or, at least over a shoulder, especially if you are in The Apprentice House at Quarry Bank Mill!  

The D300 is a pretty sturdy camera but the FE was partly made out of brass and could have been handy if a mugger threatened!

Rob, I think I'll let Dennis try another drop......for a genuine test.

Well Rod, my FE still has its black top plate and working fine, as is my F3 with MD-4 motordrive which feels like it's made out of cast iron.

 As they say----they don't make 'em like they used to. It's called progress.