I alluded to the bad news regarding my camera lens in yesterday’s post, but here’s a little bit more information for those who were curious about exactly what happened.
RIP 18-55mm kit lens.
I had just gotten back from shooting my floral arrangement gallery for the Valentine’s Day edition of the paper, and as I was taking my DSLR out of my bag, the strap got caught and the camera tumbled to the ground. I reached to grab it and cut myself (my right hand in the picture) and the lens hit the ground at a strange angle. I was in too much of a hurry to give my camera a thorough examination so I set it on my desk and went about working.
A few hours later, I had my wonderful roommate Elise shoot some blog photos with my camera, and she couldn’t seem to get the lens to autofocus. I picked it up and tried to manual focus it, and my lens broke.
Right in half.
In my hands.
Oh. Shit.
The 18-55mm kit lens is the only lens I have for my DSLR. I had been on the fence about getting a new lens for a few weeks at the suggestion of a good photographer friend, so this was a pretty clear sign I needed to bite the bullet and order the 50mm f/1.8 I’d been debating. I just placed an order, so it should be here within the next few days, but until then, I’m camera-less.
I can’t even borrow the lenses from my newsroom because I shoot with a Canon and all the equipment at the office is – you guessed it – Nikon.
Sigh.
I’m not entirely sure what to do about my 18-55mm kit. Should I repair it? Replace it? Say screw it and rely exclusively on the new 50mm when it gets here? I had been hoping to buy a new camera once I get a new and better paid job, and the new camera will likely come with a new kit lens, but I don’t know how long it will be before I get said better paid job, or even if I will get one.
My current camera isn’t anything insanely awesome. It’s a Canon Rebel XTi, and I purchased it for $400 at the beginning of my first media photography class during junior year of undergrad. That was back in 2010. I bought it at the suggestion of a much-loved and well-respected photographer friend from college, who shot with the same model, and I ended up loving it. (He ended up winning like five million awards.) It was a great camera to learn photography basics with and has served me well enough so far in my life, but after half a decade, it is nearing time for an upgrade.
So, my photographic friends, what do you think? Buy a new kit lens for my Rebel XTi? Hold out and use the 50mm until I can get a new DSLR? Any suggestions as to models I should look into?
oh no that sucks i’m sorry! if it were me i’d hold out for a DSLR!
http://www.rosecolorglass.com
I thiiiiink that’s what I’m going to end up doing. #brokegirlprobs… Thanks!
I wish I could help you out but I really don’t know enough about camera’s (yet) to give you a fair answer to that.. I’m so sorry that happened though, ugh!
xo naomiinwonderland.com
That’s OK- like I said, totally a sign I needed to suck it up and get the lens I had been debating on.
Womp womp. I’d say try to find a cheap kit lens if you can, especially if you know you’ll be getting another Canon (apparently it can’t hurt to have two kit lenses…) because I find it hard to work solely with a 50mm. I was so used to zooming in and out that having a stationary lens was suuuuper hard to get used to. And it seems really zoomed in, so it’s hard to get wider-angle shots.
Also, now I know why you found that photo of me laughing at a photo of you laughing at me.
xo, Caitlin
And Possibly Dinosaurs
Thank you! I found a 18-55mm kit on eBay for $60 so I might look into that sometime this/ next week, depending on what work says about fixing mine. (Doubt they will.)
oh no! i actually just send the body of my camera to get fixed as well, i seem to have really bad luck with it. hopefully you can figure something out!
xx danielle // shadesofdanielle.blogspot.com
Oh no! It’s seriously the worst feeling. I keep wanting to take a photo and remembering that I can’t. Ugh! I hope you get yours back ASAP!
Oh my god. I have actually never heard of this happening–that’s terrifying! Glad you were able to find a cheap kit lens to replace it in the meantime.
I have an old Rebel XTi as well
XxMO
madame-ostrich.com
It’s such a great starter camera! I hope you love yours as much as I love mine.
Ohhh no!! Happy to hear that you have a 50mm coming though – it really is a nice lens to have. That being said, I think it’s worth it o see if you can get your kit lens cheaply repaired or an inexpensive replacement because it’s nice to have both. I still use my kit lens for more day to day snapshots at family gatherings and stuff because I find it is easier, but use the 50 for blog stuff like food photography.
Excited to see how you like the 50!
x Kathryn
Through the Thicket
Thanks for the insight! I think that’s what I’ll end up doing. My boss said he would check about getting my kit lens repaired on the company’s dime, so right now I’m crossing my fingers for that!
This is heartbreaking to hear. But, I truly believe that everything happens for a reason, so if it broke, it’s just to make way for something better. You’ve got a new lens coming so maybe take the days before then to take a break from photography and just relax. A break is always good from things we do so often. Maybe you’ll have some sort of revelation about a project or shooting angle that you haven’t been able to master when you’re sitting without access to a camera. Id say make due with the lens you ordered because you’ll kick yourself if you buy a new kit and then get an awesome job a few months later that allows you to buy a whole new camera! Good luck!
Thanks for the insight! You’re definitely right about everything happening for a reason so I definitely do need to think outside the box and be more creative in the interim. My boss is looking into getting my kit fixed on my company’s dime, so I’m crossing my fingers for that outcome!
i actually was looking to get a new camera since i dropped my last one to pieces :X hope you can find something just as good or possibly even better
http://www.tiffanyxoxo.com
Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear! Cameras and lenses are SO expensive so having problems with them is the absolute worst! I hope you have good luck replacing yours!