The 24-70 (non VR) was almost permanently fixed to my D3 back in my commercial days. It was heavy but beautifully balanced with the D3. 

While photographing a leisure centre back in the day I was taking shots in the gymnasium, saunas, sun rooms etc while waiting for them to ‘clear the pool’ as a I wanted a still water image.

It took the guy ages to get all the overweight blobs out of the pool then had to wait for the tsunamis to subside.

I was 3 floors up by then when I got the call to “come now”. Racing down the concrete stairwell with D3/24-70 lodged precariously in my bag, I took a corner too quickly and the whole combo went airborne smashing onto the floor. The lens mount stayed on the D3 (which was unaffected) but the lens rear burst into 5 or 6 parts. I said bother or several similar words…loudly. 

I had to go to the car to get my D300 with basic lens attached.

By the time I got back, some fat git had jumped in the pool and it was like an Atlantic storm.

I called it quits on the job, saying I would return on another day for the pool.

On my way home I dropped into ACS at Watton.

When David had stopped laughing about my story we went into his workshop, where he reassembled all the bits (no replacements required), tested the lens and camera….shoved it tightly into my bag and told me to ‘go away’. No charge…he thought the picture of me running up and down stairs between exercise areas an amusing enough reward.

The lens was actually sharper/smoother after he reassembled it.  

They are quality lenses built to last and take abuse.

Last edited on Mon Apr 4th, 2022 06:57 by