A farewell to old friends...

...is not the usual style of 'first for the year' blog entries. They are most often filled with happy greetings and accompanied by a plethora of suggestions and inspirations for the brave new year. Not so this blog! Even though my 'old friends' are inanimate objects and I am responsible for their dramatic demise I could not let their passing go un noted.



The rocks that 'caught' my 1Ds! - Images by Paul Foley


The fateful day, just before Christmas, saw me slip while climbing a steel ladder near the little lighthouse at the end of Cremorne Point on Sydney Harbour. I had been scouting locations on the rocky shore carrying two camera bodies (a Canon 1Ds with 24mm TS-E Lens and a Canon 5D Mark2 with a 17mm TS-E lens). I wouldn't normally take two bodies on a scout but I needed to compare the angle of view of each lens and wanted to avoid changing them in such a damp, salty environment.

Anyway, I was climbing the ladder when I slipped just a few steps from the top. Self preservation took hold as I lurched to regain footing and a firm grip. And so it was that the reliable, sturdy 1Ds (with the always versatile 24mm tilt shift lens attached) was sacrificed to prevent me joining them on their plummet to the rocks about 4 metres below

I heard the thud as I turned to watch the camera tumble across the rocks.The lens broke from the body and then clattered some distance to end up in a small rock pool. In the corner of my vision I noticed something fly through the air and splash into Sydney Harbour - I later found out it was the camera's battery pack.

It took a few moments to regain composure and get a stronger grip on the other camera still hanging by it's strap on my right shoulder. My first instinct was to climb straight down and collect the pieces - as if there was a longer variation of the 3 second rule for dropped food that might be applied to cameras. Instead, I climbed the last few steps and found a place to rest the surviving 5D before (very gingerly) heading down the ladder to retrieve what I could.

In the meantime a few waves had washed across the rocks and made sure that any slight hope of resuscitating the camera body was completely futile. When I got to the camera I was surprised to see the lens mount was still attached - it was the body of the lens that was a few metres away. I was also surprised how little structural damage the body had sustained. They make the Canon 1D series very tough indeed. I retrieved the rest of the lens from the rock pool to see that, as well as being torn apart, the front element was badly scratched.

It's about now that the practicalities set in. Sure, I was sad to see two favourite pieces of equipment that had helped my successful transition from film to digital in such a sorry state. And, while their destruction was spectacular, there would be no valiant tale of bravery, dogged devotion to the 'decisive moment' that could embellish the event. I had just slipped!

So my mercenary, professional mind soon went to thoughts of insurance. I have always appreciated the value of insuring my gear since an unfortunate time in the early 80's when I didn't and some person decided that what was mine was his. Even though I knew my policy was current I still had that momentary, stomach churning thought that it wasn't.

The insurance claim process was efficient, professional and speedy considering that Christmas was less than a week away. With a same day assessment and written report by Canon Professional Services (thanks Jay), the prompt and understanding processing of the claim by WSC Insurance Brokers and Lumley Insurance (ta Jacqui) as well as the quick supply by Kayell Australia (thanks Suresh), I took possession of a new Canon 1Ds Mark3 on Christmas Eve.

The insurance experience has also led to a re-assesment of my valuations. The camera body had had two updates but also a price decrease since I first purchased it so it was over insured while the 24mm TS-E had been discontinued and replaced with an much more capable lens (with a significant price increase) so it was under insured. Unfortunately you can't apply the balance of the the over insurance to help make up for the deficiency in the under insurance. Needless to say, I am updating my valuations at the moment and will be sure to do this each year at renewal time.

I wrote about the 24mm lens in an earlier blog entry. It was a favourite and I look forward to replacing it with the updated model when I can spare the 1K or so that I need to make up the insurance shortfall.

So, there it is, my first blog entry for 2011. Not an inspiring, uplifting concoction of ideas for a healthy, happy and prosperous new year - just a salutary lesson about keeping insurance values current and perhaps a resolution to watch your step.

Have a great year and feel free to provide your inspiring, uplifting ideas in the comments :-)