The demise of a D3 with 24-70 2.8 lens

[Ed_Ingold]

<p>If a D3 ever appears on eBay in less than "mint" condition, this is what you might expect ;-)</p>

[paul_mcmullin]

<p>Oh meant to say - we shot the job eventually using my backup D2x and a cobbled together head attached to the mast with gaffer, cable ties etc.</p>

[ShunCheung]

<p>Time to upgrade to a D3S.</p>

[bms]

<p>Condolences! That really blows! The lens looks suprisingly intact.... Who needs fron elements anyway? Put in on ebay as 14/15 condition....</p>

[kris-bochenek]

<p>"This parrot is no more" RIP dear D3 I'd burry it in my back yard with a little tombstone that says Here lies D3 and it's 24-70 both died the heroic death while on assignment. Sad story. This will make me care for my cameras even more.</p>

[mike_halliwell]

<p>Hi Paul, I'm interested in the zoom bit... Do (Ooops.....DID!) you have a servo or something to 'power' zoom while up the pole?</p>

[paul_mcmullin]

<p>Hi Mike, the software is Nikon Camera control Pro and whereas you can control everything from the computer shutter/aperture/mode/etc etc with DSLR's you cannot control the zoom as it is a manual function. With integrated snapshot type cameras you can zoom. Its always useful to have 'Liveview' on the camera which the D3 had as we could see what the camera was pointing at but the D2x doesnt have this feature and therefore we had to shoot an image open it and then adjust as required. Though at that point we couldnt pan and tilt remotely either so we could only twist the base of the mast to pan and then shoot. I think you can download a trail version of the software from the Nikon website. </p>

[aboi-photos]

<p>that pic made me teary eye.. :(</p>

[mike_halliwell]

<p>Hi, I've got the 'paid-for' version and often use my D300 with a Sigma 10-20mm mounted on a Benbo at full height, ie about 2ft higher than me. I was forever having to get on my ally camera case to reach the lens. Managed to get a servo to drive the lens via worm drive from zoom-lock end to end. Needs a simple clutch to prevent lens over-rotation. It doesn't work via RC, just a pair of very thin cables and a little servo-tester board gaffer-tapped to the laptop. Maybe I ought to market it?</p>

[jeff_livacich]

<p>I think a closed-casket ceremony is in order.<br>

Good thing it didn't land on a Nikon F- there'd be almost nothing left of it while the F would have a small dent in the prism! 8>D</p>

[rob_shane]

<p>Nikon Down, Nikon Down!<br>

Well it does make for a good photo subject now.</p>

[Stephen L]

<p>Thanks! Now the stuck pixel I just found on my D90 doesn't seem all that bad!<br>

;)</p>

[ejchem101]

<p>You need to control your rage a little better next time.... bad tempers get expensive!</p>

[photo5]

<p>A Nikon F would have kept working, but the digital captures out of it would have looked terrible before *and* after!</p>

[anuarpatjane]

<p>D3 last thoughts while falling: Thank god I never became a Leica :P <br>

Im sorry for your loss, but im sure you will get over it soon, just wait until nikon shows us the new hidden beauties. <br>

Best regards! </p>

[bojepsen1]

<p>A sad sight if ever I saw one... but surely some duct tape and a lot of elbow grease will make it all as good as new... I'm shure it was on a MacGyver episode once...</p>

[peter_simpson1]

<p>At least you can re-use the strap. Would look good on an F series...</p>

[Uhooru]

<p>Only 60 feet?! It's about what I'd expect from that flimsy Nikon construction! ;)<br>

Too bad mate, it makes me sick to see it.</p>

[John Crowe]

<p>Kent, I can't stop laughing!</p>

[BernardMiller]

<p>Now this is definitely one advantage of film. If the camera had been an F4, after the impact you would have found it sitting at the bottom of the crater it had carved into the asphalt with, oh, possibly a scratch or two--but otherwise perfectly serene and ready for further action.</p>

[asafrye]

<p>i tossed my cookies. . .ugh!</p>

[r1a2d3ok]

<p>Someone stole my first 2 week old D3 and 24-70 2.8. I FEEL YOUR PAIN.:(</p>

[leicaglow]

<p>I think it just got a bum bounce. Otherwise the lens shade would have saved it. I wonder what my insurance agent would say if I were to call this one in.</p>

[anirbanbanerjee]

<p>It's a painful picture :-( However, the strap, VF eyepiece and the battery probably will still be usable!</p>

[dan_south]

<p>Ouch! That made me cringe!</p>