tara_d Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 <p>Hello! Last night my Canon Rebel XSi fell from a table onto a cement floor, a couple foot drop. My crappy UV filter was completely dead and shattered. At first it wouldn’t come off, but then it did after I worked it a little bit. The very front part of the lens was kind of bent inward, all lopsided, and it wouldn’t focus. My friend manhandled the focusing part out, but it was still having trouble. At first I couldn’t detach the lens, but then (same friend) manhandled it. Then I noticed those marks in inner the glass (second picture). Ginormous sigh. They don’t come out as black marks in the pictures, but I’m still trying to figure out the effects of them, or how they got there exactly - like is it a stress facture? My poor baby 50mm… In the few pictures I took with it I noticed a little bit of what looked like the effect you get from a diffuser, but I’m not sure of it. I’m going to take some pictures when its light tomorrow and try to see. Sigh. It’s still doesn’t sound happy when its focusing.<br> Any ideas about what those black dots are from? Were they there, or could they have happened on impact? There was a shard of blue glass when I took the lens off the body. I wonder how much repair would cost, or would it be more then the lens is worth? Ideas?</p> <p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5396568022_daf1af0190.jpg" alt="" /></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wgpinc Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 <p>You can buy a new 50mm 1.8 Canon lens for $119. It's a great little lens and a great bargain. Just get it and don't stress. Use the broken one for a loupe or a paperweight on your desk as a reminder to be more careful with your gear. Good luck!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejchem101 Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 <p>hmm a shard of blue glass when you took the lens off? this doesn't sound like a piece that would come from the lens to me. I think I would personally be more concerned about the effect on the camera rather than the $75 lens. 50 1.8s are basically made to be disposable imo.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjoseph7 Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 <p>The black dots look like paint chippings that came off the lens when your buddy manhandled it. The total cost to repair this lens would probably not be worth it. I payed $175 to repair a dropped 24-70mm f2.8 minus the shipping and insurance. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charles_clark1 Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 <p>Write it off to experience. Be glad it was only the nifty fifty.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_young3 Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 <p>Bonus! It saved your camera from an undoubtedly otherwise fatal blow. Double bonus: You get to shop for its replacement.</p> <p>The funny thing about the nifty-fifty is the replacement cost is not the $100 it costs to buy a new one, but the $300 to $400 to just barely improve on it. I parted grudgingly with my 50/1.8, but it went to a good home. On the other hand, I've been just as happy with the 50/1.4, possibly even more so.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derek_hofmann Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 <p>My Nifty Fifty sacrificed itself to cushion the fall of my 400D onto a cement garage floor. May it rest in pieces.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_j2 Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 <p>Not worth even checking in to repairing!<br> Just go get another, (maybe used from KEH, B&H or Adorama) or possibly move up to the f/1.4 but it'll cost a bit more!<br> Hope the fall didn't hurt the body! That's what I would be more concerned with.<br> Best wishes!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_pierlot Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 <p>Tara, just dispose of your disposable lens, and pick up another. Or, as some have suggested, use it as an excuse to "upgrade" and get a 50/1.4.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Ian Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 <p>I think you should consider yourself lucky if all you have to replace is the 50, I'd be worried about where the blue glass came from (mirror?) and make sure the body operates well with another lens... There's no end of things that <em>might</em> have been knocked out of whack with a blow like that....</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_j2 Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 <p>$45 per hour is what an eBay based repair company would charge. I would get another 50/1.8. Upgrading to a new 50/1.4 for another $400+ a filter is not worth it. I have the 1.4 and rarely use the 1.4 setting because the contrast is too low for my tastes.</p> <p>If you inadvertently bounce the camera and another f/1.8 lens off of a concrete walking surface again, lens-wise, you will again <strong>only</strong> lose around $125 + taxes.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara_d Posted January 29, 2011 Author Share Posted January 29, 2011 <p>Thanks so much for your help :) I was thinking it probably wouldn't even be worth it to try to get it repaired, with shipping costs and all that. And even if I wanted to get it looked at, I would have to drive at least an hour and half and that just seems silly.<br> I'm scared for my camera now, though... I was kind of scared when I saw that blue shard of glass, and couldn't see anywhere on the lens that it came from. I'll try my camera out with my older kit lens tomorrow and see if its working okay with a different lens. I looked at some closer pictures that I've taken with the broken lens, and there's definitely some odd soft focus and weird light play. I'll put a combo of some of the weirdness at the bottom of my post.<br> I know it seems silly to be sad over a relatively small investment, but I am bummed, since I don't have the money to invest in a new one right now and I'm pretty sure my 28-80mm f3.5 kit lens can't take a good picture indoors for anything. Oh well.</p> <p><a title="50mm weirdness by טרה, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5295/5397404784_d1365140b4.jpg" alt="50mm weirdness" width="500" height="313" /></a></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_j2 Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 <p>It may be the IR Cut Filter (blue glass) according to this page:</p> <p>http://ghonis2.ho8.com/rebelmod450d4.html</p> <p>Then (again), I may be wrong.</p> <p>Send the camera into a Canon authorized repair centre. It looks like your camera maybe damaged too.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_young3 Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 <p>Triple bonus... Free IR conversion. Get a few filters and see!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara_d Posted January 29, 2011 Author Share Posted January 29, 2011 <p>Shoot, that was about the color of it. Aww man. :( This really sucks.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_j2 Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 <p>Tara D, cut your losses. You may need a new body and lens. Look at it positively as a step forward. <strong>:)</strong></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara_d Posted January 29, 2011 Author Share Posted January 29, 2011 <p>Really, cut my losses?! :( Please don't tell met this is going to be that expensive that I might as well buy a new body...<br> Really, no ideas on how much repairs would be for fixing that filter? There's no way I would try that mod myself.<br> Thanks so much for your help! And for helping me to look on the bright side. I want to puke!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_j2 Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 <p>It may be more than just the filter, Tara D. Your autofocus maybe off. Your whole camera needs to be recalibrated and adjusted.</p> <p>Hey, ten years ago, the shoulder strap of my cheap camera bag broke. Inside was a then expensive Nikon F5 with an attached brand new Nikkor AFS 28-35/2.8. It all went 'thump' onto a concrete walking surface. I think it cost around $400 to recalibrate, repair, etc. It was never the same.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara_d Posted January 29, 2011 Author Share Posted January 29, 2011 <p>Are you saying even if I get it repaired, it might not ever be the same again? Blerg.<br> ... I think you are right about the auto focus being off. It's been having an awful hard time with it. All right, well... I'll guess I'll see if I can get an estimate or something, and then go from there. Thanks for your help. I would have kept fooling myself thinking that it was just the lens with that mysterious piece of blue glass if you hadn't showed me that page.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_j2 Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 <p>Yep! You can buy a used body and 50/1.8 from a camera store that offers a 90 day warranty to save (say) $100 (?) if you are really tight with $$$.</p> <p>We are all here to help each other, Tara D. Come back here and let us know how much the estimate is. Okay?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_watt1 Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 <p>Tara D<br> Before anything, inspect the inside of the camera body very closely. If anything seems out of the norm take it in to a professional. If there is something broken or snapped in the mirror area, more damage to the camera could result by opertating it and maybe this is far stretched but damage to the back side of a different lens as well (scratching the glass with the mirror or other fragments, depends on the lens). As far as for your nifty fifty, just keep your eyes out for a new one. Lesson learned as you know by now. I always have my gear in a padded bag and when going to take it out, neck strap is around my neck first. And when Im done neck strap is the last to come off. I busted an old Minolta film camera (no comments please on the Minolta please) years ago, just taking it out of my vehicle and fell out of my hands. Busted lens and camera. Anywho this is my opinon.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara_d Posted January 29, 2011 Author Share Posted January 29, 2011 <p>Hmm thanks. Yeah, I was wondering if I was doing any harm by continuing to use it. If that blue filter inside is cracked, I could be harming it more by using it. Thanks for the warning :)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaydesi Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 <p>I see people selling used nifty fiftys on craigslist all the time for $50-$75. Definitely get your camera checked out, though.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_sunley Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 <p>It's easy to check for damage to the IR filter, remove lens, put the shutter on B and press the shutter button, and look inside. Probably a good idea to shake it a little over a white piece of paper before and while you have the shutter open, to see what else falls out.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indraneel Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 <blockquote> <p>Probably a good idea to shake it a little over a white piece of paper before and while you have the shutter open, to see what else falls out.</p> </blockquote> <p>hmm... maybe a gold coin to pay for the repairs.. you never know..</p> <p>Interesting... on my Nikon D70, the IR filter was held in place by a black frame, no glue. The left corner of two of your images show a greenish and magenta tinge. It may or may not be from a chipped IR filter. As Bob said, you can easily check for it. If the IR cut is damaged, don't sweat. just open the camera and get rid of it, and insert a piece of red Rosco gel behind the mirror to convert it to an infrared/BW camera.</p> <p>As for the 50mm, you might try opening it and brushing the specks off, seeing as it's gone anyway.</p> <p>Total cost: $5 for a good screwdriver, let us know how it went!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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