Canon 600mm - the nightmare photos

borrowlenses.com · February 11, 2008

These would be the scariest images that you can ever receive as a rental shop. What you see there is a Canon 600mm f4 IS that went swimming with the crocodiles in Florida, and subsequently fished out by divers. Kids, please don't try this at home.

Off to repairs with this thing. Will keep you posted.

Update 1

The story goes something like this...

The renter was using his 1Ds II to take pics with this lens and 2x extender (still attached in the pics). The monopod head snapped off, and the whole rig came falling down on the concrete. where the camera snapped off from the rest of the assembly. The lens then fell into the crocodile infested waters bellow the concrete bridge. The pictures are the aftermath.

First word we got of this was an all caps email, asking to call about an accident with the lens. At this point, two of our people had heart attacks, another started seeking a lawyer with the bankruptcy court.... etc. It was a rather nerve racking atmosphere for a while.

This lens renting business is not all gravy. Sometimes this happens.

Update 2

We talked to Canon Professional Services (CPS). According to the person there, out of 10 lenses he has seen that were fully submerged, they were able to recover 0 of them.

By the looks of things, we are going to write this off as a loss. Hood and hard case will be sold off. So far there is a plan to get a couple of guys together, take a sledge hammer to the lens and film it (ala Office Space). The results will be posted on YouTube for your viewing pleasure (horror?). Is that kind of like lens snuff films? :huh

Update 3

We are collecting ideas on the best way to destroy this lens. The video will be publically shared afterwards. Please let us know your thoughs. Dynamite is limited to whatever we can get at a fireworks shop.

Update 4

There has been a lot of questions on whether the customer renting this lens is now paying up the $7200 tab to buy us a new copy. I feel like this question is creating a lot of anxiety from potential customers, so I am answering it. No, the customer is not responsible for the full damage. He had insurance (purchased from us at time of rental) on this lens, so is only responsible for 12% of the cost of replacement.

This is all the comment I will give as far as insurance and the underwrites, etc.

Update 5

A lot of people have been asking for donations to schools, sales as props, art projects, etc. Folks, we are in the process of negotiating with various parties involved. We are not sure if we will get to keep the carcass after everything settles down. I am taking note of the particularly charitable/funny/inventive ways of destruction, and will choose the proper method of disposal when the dust settles. If videos are made, it will be made public and links will be posted here. At this point, I am not expecting anything to happen for about a month. Right now, we still have not even received it back from the customer.

Hindsight · February 11, 2008

Ouch... surely there must have been insurance of some kind?

Icebear · February 11, 2008

My sincerest condolences
I know advice isn't what you're looking for now, but before I destroyed that lens, I think I'd make sure you'd exhausted all the insurance avenues. If your lease agreement makes the renter responsible, he should report the loss to his insurer as a liability claim. If YOU have insurance on the beast, I'd be very surprised if your insurer wouldn't pursue subrogation against the renter (and his insurer). In any case, an insurer will demand the salvage. You prolly already know all this, but hey, maybe the shock affected your judgement.

:cry anyway.

borrowlenses.com · February 11, 2008

I have been getting some people saying that the insurer will want to keep the lens. I really hope that they don't. Imagine all the fun that Nikon users would have in seeing this loaded with some fire crackers. Or the tests we can do by shooting the fornt element with BB guns.

Cuong · February 11, 2008

So sorry to hear this. Can you set up the lens to focus sunlight to light the fuse of explosives strapped to the lens itself. Let's see how much explosive it'd take to bring down this L lens.

Cuong

SloYerRoll · February 11, 2008

If you get it back. My vote is for a long zip line, some fast pulleys and a steel pole at the end. Oh man the carnage.. You could set up a high speed camera inches away from the destruction!...

Can you imagine what kind of advertising that would be? It would hammer across youtube.. It might take time to pick up speed, but you can't pay for advertising like that.

DJ-S1 · February 11, 2008

Will it blend?

SloYerRoll · February 11, 2008

DJ-S1 wrote:

Will it blend?

rofl

thumb

Icebear · February 11, 2008

DJ-S1 wrote:

Will it blend?

Send it to Mythbusters and find out!!!

TaDa · February 11, 2008

Tie it to the back of a New York City cab and get the driver to drive around the block of B&H. I bet that you will have a good 20 people chasing that cab down the street

bkatz · February 11, 2008

You could always give it to Letterman to drop off a building

We know what would happen in his will it float series.....:D

How about dropping the fireworks/gun powder through the filter holder (just don't stand in front or behind the lens when it blows).......

Nikolai · February 11, 2008

Good grief, dude, I'm sooo sorry to hear this...:cry
My sincere condolences!

SavedByZero · February 11, 2008

Just dry it out and it should work just fine.

Nikolai · February 11, 2008

Smashing idea:
go to some public event where a lot of people with a long glass gather. Prentend to start shooting, then get angry/upset about something, grab the lens, smash it on the pavement, kick it hard - and then leave...
All that with a silent partner or two filming it on HD...

Nikolai · February 11, 2008

Another idea: sell it to some Nigerian prince

Icebear · February 11, 2008

Nikolai wrote:

Another idea: sell it to some Nigerian prince

And only asking for to deposit $1200USD by Money Order for to insure goodest faith. Understand just to cover insurances and postals costings.

Moogle Pepper · February 11, 2008

I pray for it's lost soul. May the 600mm rest in peace.

Icebear · February 11, 2008

Oh, and I was wondering if you'd care to tell us which monopod head NOT to buy?:D

Manfr3d · February 11, 2008

Options ...

1. Cut the lens in half and put it behind glass for display
2. Give the glass elements to diy astronomy geeks
3. Clean it and remove the electronics, voila MF f4 lens.

Seefutlung · February 11, 2008

sorta partial to the "blend" idea ... 600mm Salsa ... add a few Coronas and it's fiesta time ... (althrough I prefer Bohemia ... but for those with undeveloped tastes ... a Corona is good.)

Gary

Pezpix · February 11, 2008

Why do the good die young? Oh the humanity of a tasty piece of telefocal goodness gone to glass heaven.

cmason · February 11, 2008

I am thinking a little 'just revenge' would be interesting: something like a photo of a 600mm lens, crusted over with bird poop, with 3 or 4 seagull standing on it.

SloYerRoll · February 11, 2008

This thread is only a few hours old and already there are too many good ideas to pick from.....

evoryware · February 11, 2008

The thought of Calvin (from Calvin & Hobbes) peeing in it comes to mind...

I thought L was for indestructib"L"

mmtoruno · February 12, 2008

Icebear wrote:

renter responsible, he should report the loss to his insurer as a liability claim.

:jawdrop First off Max, sorry for your loss.:nah

Accidents are unforeseen and unplanned events or circumstances. Yet this must be hard to swallow.
I hope your insurance company will handle this claim with compassion.
As for the renter if he/she did not buy the insurance from BorrowLenses
Hopefully he/she has a “Homeowners Policy” in force! As mentioned before this could be filed as a Liability Claim. “Peril” being damage. There is no deductible applicable on the Liability portion for Homeowners policy if that’s a concern.

I will stay tune, to find out the disposal method.

leaforte · February 12, 2008

I say have an Uhler Fest, before winter is over, chuck it on a hot campfire, while chanting, and sipping on craft beer made from cascade hops from the great northwest. Chant herfta hey, three times, herfta her three times, and than, ya shore ya betcha...and toss! Bummer.

Bendr · February 12, 2008

Wow, That sucks guys! hopefully you are able to get something worked out,

BTW, I like this idea, and the will it blend one...

Nikolai wrote:

Smashing idea:
go to some public event where a lot of people with a long glass gather. Prentend to start shooting, then get angry/upset about something, grab the lens, smash it on the pavement, kick it hard - and then leave...
All that with a silent partner or two filming it on HD...

Hmmm, as for other ideas, perhaps launch it from a cannon...

tobers · February 12, 2008

I like the idea of smashing it to pieces at a big sporting event, fashion show or whatever with loads of other photogs looking on. That really would be funny.

How about taking it to an animal park and appearing to accidentally drop it into an alligator infested pool - that would be a laugh too.

Richard · February 12, 2008

What a disaster. My condolences.

I would suggest recycling it somehow. Remove the guts and use the casing as an umbrella stand or perhaps a vase in your office. Attach a sign to it that says "Don't try this at home."

Regards,

jww · February 12, 2008

rsinmadrid wrote:

What a disaster. My condolences.

I would suggest recycling it somehow. Remove the guts and use the casing as an umbrella stand or perhaps a vase in your office. Attach a sign to it that says "Don't try this at home."

Regards,

..yeah.. I like that thought. Don't blow it up, just make it useful somehow. I think if it were up to me, I'd make some sort of trophy out of it.

Just a tragedy it happened... even if it was one of those white lenses.

PackMule · February 12, 2008

The MythBusters must have some good use for it. If not, I'd go for:

tobers wrote:

I like the idea of smashing it to pieces at a big sporting event, fashion show or whatever with loads of other photogs looking on. That really would be funny.

Bummer.

:

Canon 600mm - the nightmare photos

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