Dropped and bent my lens :(

**Pete Prue** · 28-07-2012, 07:42 PM

Hey guys, been a while since I've posted in here and I wish it were for a better reason.

Today I dropped my K-5 and DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED (IF) SDM, I know, I know, hold back the tears... and it's now bent. The rear portion of the lens housing coming away about 0.5 to 1mm on one side.

So... where do I stand with insurance on this? I'm sure I'm not the only one to drop their favorite lens. The gear is insured, and when I asked if I needed to list anything if it were over $2k they said no, so I'm hoping I'll be out just the excess?

Also anyone had any experience with getting Pentax lens repaired? If I have to go through Ian R Little it'll take forever, I'm thinking it may be better to go via Australia?

So bloody gutted...

**weap10** · 28-07-2012, 08:13 PM

My condolences.

When I dropped my camera it turned out that thankfully I had ticked the little box for 'Accident cover' on my policy so that was all good. That was on my contents policy with AA.

We had some issues with whether it needed to be specified on the policy or not but thats a long story and it worked out alright in the end.

Although I have a Nikon I also dealt with Ian R Little and it wasn't too bad, only away for a couple of weeks. It was good for the motivation cause I felt like everything I looked at would have made a great photo because I didn't have a bloody camera.

**pearlyred** · 28-07-2012, 08:46 PM

Hi Pete,

That's not good, sorry to hear about your lens

All depends on who you're insured with really and what cover you have. Check your contents policy for whoever you're insured with. If you don't have one, most of the big companies offer them online via their websites.

I'm with State and I know that they will only cover up to $2500 for photographic equipment that is not specified (per claim).

No idea about Pentax repairs and your insurance will likely have no idea either, it will be left to you to organise for a repair assessment (which they should pay for if you complete the claim with them). Then they will pay either repair, or replacement depending on the verdict (and depending on your policy).

**BlueRose** · 28-07-2012, 09:04 PM

Oh bummer! Good luck with the insurance, I have all my camera gear noted on my policy, must check if it has accident cover...

**rjd** · 28-07-2012, 10:54 PM

Ouch good luck with the insurance & repairs!

**pearlyred** · 29-07-2012, 01:28 AM

Originally Posted by BlueRose

Oh bummer! Good luck with the insurance, I have all my camera gear noted on my policy, must check if it has accident cover...

Most cover accidental damage by default, but it pays to check.

**Pete Prue** · 30-07-2012, 08:33 AM

Thanks for the sympathy and heads up! When the gear was stolen and replaced last year the girl I was dealing with implored me to try and never take all my gear out at once and to take only what I was going to use. Hence I only took the 50-135mm and body to my sons rugby game, taking the camera without the protection of my camera bag which was at home with the remaining gear in it! Hoping to find out today how it's going to pan out.

**Simonf** · 02-08-2012, 12:19 PM

Your insurance co should cover the accident minus your excess.
I would send it in for a quote before you put in a claim as it might be less than your excess though i doubt it.
Littles are the second oldest Pentax agent in the world, and while they can be a bit slow generally they are faster than Canon, though that isnt saying anything.
I droppeda lens and camera a few years ago and the lens came off and popped some screws on its mount. after 3 months during which it had to go back to Japan to be lookec at it eventually was going to cost only about $50 less than the cist of a new lens to repair. So it may not be worth repairing. Incidentally this was a Nikon lens not a Pentax.
I would send it to Littles as most likely the individual lenses may need to beset up usi g a columator which they are only likely to have. Alsoit saves time in case parts are nee.ded

**Pete Prue** · 17-08-2012, 10:02 AM

Well it's turned out all good, save for the $250 excess!

The lens was deemed uneconomic to repair, which did surprise me as it's retail value is $2,400. Apparently to be repaired correctly would have meant sending it back to the plant in Japan where it would have had to be realigned etc, and the expense was too great. Luckily Littles had a replacement in stock and within two days of the repair assessment being sent to IAG I had the replacement lens in my hands

**Simonf** · 17-08-2012, 01:39 PM

Glad you got a new one.
I'm not surprised that the lans needed to be sent back to Japan to be repaired. realignment is a very specialised job requiring it to be done by machine, and Little's wouldn't have enough demand to justify purchasing a machine. Also manufacturing tolerances mean that there are different sized shims etc to get things correct. It wouldn't be economical for Little's to stock all these.
I dropped a Nikon lens a few years ago and it went to T A Macs to be repaired and had to go back to Japan for the same reason. In the end it was going to cost nearly as much as a new lens to repair it. Insurance Co told me to just get a new one as I had business insurance so it was interrupting my ability to make money.
I woulkd doubt that any agent in NZ had the capabilities to realign lenses etc, though Nikon and Canon may have the capability in Australia now.