Wear it, don't carry it!

On Friday, I was on my way out to take some pictures and picked up my beloved Nikon complete with my “workhorse” the ever versatile 18-105mm attached. Instead of placing my camera over one shoulder, my stupid inner self elected to carry it along with a plastic bag in which were items now irrelevant, I walked out of the front door and as I put my free paw into a pocket to get the car key, I was distracted and the Nikon crashed to the concrete step landing on its back. This happened in slow motion, and the lens flew off landing and rolling off a few inches. My wife was at the door and said “Well it’s no good just looking at it!” a pretty well-reasoned remark. Back inside Burkey Towers, The camera body looked fine, but the lens mount was somewhat smashed, a bit like my spirits. My darling wife offered to buy me a new lens, an early birthday present.

So, it was that after a squint at a few photography magazines, I pointed the Mazda towards Liverpool city centre, before passing over the portals of Wilkinson Cameras. Now, I have a brand new toy, a rather splendid Sigma 24-105mm DG OS HSM. I shot off a few frames in the shop before placing the plastic in the smiling aperture of the credit card device. My 10-20mm was placed in the new box and I toddled off taking a few frames with the new lens on the way back to the car park. Mrs.B offered to pay half when she heard how much I’d just relieved the coffers by! Very generous indeed, and I consider myself blessed if rather clumsy.  As I thump the keyboard my "workhorse" is in front of me. I may be able to get a new mount for it. It has served me well. The new lens is a fine piece of kit, if a bit heavy and I will soon love it. A full frame body might be on the cards, but not just yet.  

Moral of the story is, ALWAYS use the camera strap! Wear it don’t carry it. Age should bring wisdom. I always buck the trend!

Quite a story Rod, sorry to hear of your mishap, but a plastic bag  I wouldn't trust a plastic bag to hold cotton wool - but then you know that now. 

I always use the strap with my new camera, as soon as it's out of the bag it's around my neck. Even when I had my various P&S's they didn't have a proper strap just a wrist leash, as soon as I'd taken my shot they went back into their protective cases and into my bag or pocket. If was a bit of a faff but I've a Fuji Finepix compact that I've had for years, apart from a small amount of wear on the shutter button there's not a mark on it anywhere. People (husband David mainly) laughed at me for constantly putting it away all the time, but being careful pays off as your story highlights very well.

Glad you got sorted out  

Unfortunately I have also to admit to having 'been there and done that' but not got the t-shirt. Many years ago was simply holding the camera, a Canon AT1, with the strap dangling and lo and behold the strap got hooked on a fence post and the camera did a sudden vanishing act from my somewhat loose grip. Fortunately it landed on grass and gravel so only cosmetic damage, with nothing vital broke, Lens hood and filter protecting the lens. So nowadays the strap sits firmly on my left shoulder with left hand usually resting on the lens to privode tension. Never have it round my neck ... that looks too much like a tourist!!! When out walking it also hangs off the left shoulder but the strap is also secured by a small carabiner fastened to the backpack shoulder strap ... and trust me that does work!! But a few years ago I had the camera and, as Rod refers, workhorse Sigma 17-70 hanging off the shoulder and just happened to need a 'comfort break' but amongst all my fumblings etc said lens lens made contact with solid porcelain!!!! And from that day on the lens has never been totally reliable. Usually OK but I think the IS floating lens element is possibly floating around a bit more than it should. Such is life and another valuable lesson learned.

You will definitely come to love the new Sigma lens Rod, wish I could have afforded one when I got the used 24-70 f2.8 for the 5D. As you say they are quite heavy but I like a bit of weight and certainly to the average eye, ie most of us I expect, the quality is practically indistinguisgable from similar Canon or Nikon marque lenses. I got used to lugging weight around following various sports events carrying 2 F1's with drives and a handful of Canon lenses plus the usual other 'must have' rubbish in a solid canvas Billingam bag .... still going strong to this day   

I shouldn't laugh at the bit about the porcelain but I did 

I prefer the camera slung over my shoulder, but if there are lots of people around it goes around my neck, purely so it doesn't get knocked, I've more control over it in front of me. The neck strap that came with it is just a little to short for going over my shoulder, I need a longer one - something else on the shopping list  I do already own a carabiner though.

Well, it is a family site so I was being polite

As to straps I hate the modern wide one, i still use two that I had with my F1's many years ago. I'm amazed as I would have thought the Nikon standard issue strap would have extended at least to hip level which is more or less where I like mine to hang as that way my hand rests nicely on it for support and added security

Yes I do believe his strap was on the camera in the plastic bag 

Everytime I'm tempted to not use the strap I shall think of this thread and maybe avert disaster.