I dropped my lens and I'm Sad

dahabit · 01-10-2016, 01:13 AM

So I dropped my retractable kit lens (18-55mm) that came with the KS-2. Now it's bent and won't close. I can't even turn to zoom in or out.

Now I need to figure out what I need to do next. The one good thing is, I have another lens that's very similar (3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR). So my question to you guys is, should I take it to the shop and let them try to fix it or save that money and try to buy a better lens (Pentax DA 50mm f1.8) Amazon.com : Pentax DA 50mm f1.8 lens for Pentax DSLR Cameras : Digital Slr Camera Lenses : Camera & Photo

chmance · 01-10-2016, 01:29 AM

Repair here in Canada will cost you an arm and two legs. Better save your money and get say a DA Limited prime. Besides you already have a similar lens.

**NZ_Ross** · 01-10-2016, 01:31 AM

Insurance claim?.......

pathdoc · 01-10-2016, 03:15 AM

If you like the idea of a fast prime, and using the long end of your kit lens has given you a good idea of what it looks like, there's no reason not to buy the 50/1.8; it's outstanding for the price, and at least where I am it's being sold dirt cheap.

Alternatively there are more wide-short tele zooms out there than you can poke a stick at - 16-50 or 17-50 2.8's, 16-85, 18-135, etc, the list goes on; it all depends on what your shooting patterns and needs are like and how much you have to spend. Given that you already have a backup WR 18-55 to fall back on, you might even want to think about something at the long end (50-200, 55-300, both available as WR), and have a nice two lens set that will cover most of your needs from the focal-length point of view. Using that for a while and then looking at where most of your shots are grouped will give you a very good idea of what focal lengths to buy in when it comes to saving up for and selecting premium lenses.

Personally I would rather have the older nonretractable kit lens than the retractable. You are in a good position to have this backup while you decide what to do. I am sad for your loss, but I do not think the damaged lens is worth repairing unless you can do it under insurance with no excess.

**Madaboutpix** · 01-10-2016, 04:13 AM

Yep, pretty much agree with what pathdoc suggested. If you are on a budget, remind yourself that IQ-wise your backup DA18-55 WR is easily as good, if not a tad better than your damaged retractable lens anyway. Get the DA50 F1.8, with the dedicated aftermarket lens hood LH-RA52 made by JJC, and enjoy it for the cheapo-bokehlicious-tack-sharp fun lens it is. That will get you quickly over your loss, I bet. Build your kit slowly, one at a time, and based on your shooting preferences from there. My first lens beyond the kit lens was the DA55-300, and that one has remained my telephoto workhorse to this day.

(And, hey, don't drop your lenses - they just don't take that kindly. But I trust you've learnt that lesson from your mishap already. I try to never rush it when I change lenses, or handle them, knowing that they need my full attention. So far, knock on wood, I've been lucky in that respect, but it has happened to countless photographers, and may happen to me tomorrow.)

Na Horuk · 01-10-2016, 05:39 AM

Ouch! Similar thing happened to me with my M 50mm, where the focus ring then bent. A repair cost around $50, which is about as much as another copy of the lens would cost.
Your options: - Inquire about a repair. Note that just having them look at the lens and tell you how much a repair would cost... will cost you something.
- sell the lens "for parts" "as is", state that it is damaged in the ad. Maybe someone will take it for a really low price. Five bucks is five bucks, and its better than throwing it away..
If you will be buying another lens, I suggest you stay away from 18-55mm and 18-50mm kit lenses. Better spend money on DA 35mm f2.4, DA 40mm XS, or DA 50mm f1.8. Any of these lenses has much better optics than the kit lenses. Or even something like Samyang 14mm, 16mm. I don't see the point of buying a kit lens, unless you are doing it because you need a cheap WR lens.

robthebloke · 01-10-2016, 06:06 AM

+1 insurance claim. If you're lucky, you'll end up with the HD version as a replacement.

If you're going to replace the zoom, get the 18-135 instead of the 18-55. It's a better lens (or even a second hand 16-45 f4, although you'll lose WR)

Edvard · 01-10-2016, 10:38 AM

You may try to ask on the Russian penta-club, they will most probably tell you, how to fix it yourself. It is either easily fixable, or completely crashed, given the plastic shape and the price of the lens.

carrrlangas · 01-10-2016, 11:06 AM - **2 Likes**

Just snap it into its proper position and it should be ok! (Not kidding, plastic is a great material)

bertwert · 01-10-2016, 11:09 AM

That's not good...

**eonb** · 01-10-2016, 11:14 AM

In the UK this wouldn't be worth fixing. I dropped a 18-135 a few months ago and it code £120 to fix. I've also currently got a Sigma 17-70 at Sigma in Japan for (fixed price) repair. You might find that the money you get for the lens caps is more than the lens is worth in its current state. As someone said earlier, you might fancy a go at taking it apart. You will need lots of patience, a VERY steady hand and some very small screwdrivers.

dahabit · 01-10-2016, 11:21 AM

Originally posted by NZ_Ross

Insurance claim?.......

No insurance.

**Quartermaster James** · 01-10-2016, 11:24 AM

Originally posted by carrrlangas

Just snap it into its proper position and it should be ok! (Not kidding, plastic is a great material)

This ^^^

ZombieArmy · 01-10-2016, 12:21 PM

I had a lens do this to me, I forget which one (might have been my F35-70). I just snapped it back into place and it was fine.

dahabit · 01-10-2016, 01:37 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by ZombieArmy

I had a lens do this to me, I forget which one (might have been my F35-70). I just snapped it back into place and it was fine.

OK will try.

---------- Post added 01-10-16 at 02:09 PM ----------

Originally posted by Quartermaster James

This ^^^

Just did this and it snapped back in place. Thanks plastic.

01-10-2016, 01:13 AM	#1
dahabit Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 62	I dropped my lens and I'm Sad So I dropped my retractable kit lens (18-55mm) that came with the KS-2. Now it's bent and won't close. I can't even turn to zoom in or out. Now I need to figure out what I need to do next. The one good thing is, I have another lens that's very similar (3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR). So my question to you guys is, should I take it to the shop and let them try to fix it or save that money and try to buy a better lens (Pentax DA 50mm f1.8) Amazon.com : Pentax DA 50mm f1.8 lens for Pentax DSLR Cameras : Digital Slr Camera Lenses : Camera & Photo

01-10-2016, 04:13 AM	#5
Madaboutpix Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North Rhine-Westphalia Posts: 1,446	Yep, pretty much agree with what pathdoc suggested. If you are on a budget, remind yourself that IQ-wise your backup DA18-55 WR is easily as good, if not a tad better than your damaged retractable lens anyway. Get the DA50 F1.8, with the dedicated aftermarket lens hood LH-RA52 made by JJC, and enjoy it for the cheapo-bokehlicious-tack-sharp fun lens it is. That will get you quickly over your loss, I bet. Build your kit slowly, one at a time, and based on your shooting preferences from there. My first lens beyond the kit lens was the DA55-300, and that one has remained my telephoto workhorse to this day. (And, hey, don't drop your lenses - they just don't take that kindly. But I trust you've learnt that lesson from your mishap already. I try to never rush it when I change lenses, or handle them, knowing that they need my full attention. So far, knock on wood, I've been lucky in that respect, but it has happened to countless photographers, and may happen to me tomorrow.) Last edited by Madaboutpix; 01-10-2016 at 04:32 AM.

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01-10-2016, 01:29 AM	#2
chmance Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Vancouver Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 484	Repair here in Canada will cost you an arm and two legs. Better save your money and get say a DA Limited prime. Besides you already have a similar lens.

01-10-2016, 01:31 AM	#3
NZ_Ross Kiwi Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Timaru Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,225	Insurance claim?.......

01-10-2016, 03:15 AM	#4
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	If you like the idea of a fast prime, and using the long end of your kit lens has given you a good idea of what it looks like, there's no reason not to buy the 50/1.8; it's outstanding for the price, and at least where I am it's being sold dirt cheap. Alternatively there are more wide-short tele zooms out there than you can poke a stick at - 16-50 or 17-50 2.8's, 16-85, 18-135, etc, the list goes on; it all depends on what your shooting patterns and needs are like and how much you have to spend. Given that you already have a backup WR 18-55 to fall back on, you might even want to think about something at the long end (50-200, 55-300, both available as WR), and have a nice two lens set that will cover most of your needs from the focal-length point of view. Using that for a while and then looking at where most of your shots are grouped will give you a very good idea of what focal lengths to buy in when it comes to saving up for and selecting premium lenses. Personally I would rather have the older nonretractable kit lens than the retractable. You are in a good position to have this backup while you decide what to do. I am sad for your loss, but I do not think the damaged lens is worth repairing unless you can do it under insurance with no excess.

01-10-2016, 05:39 AM	#6
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Ouch! Similar thing happened to me with my M 50mm, where the focus ring then bent. A repair cost around $50, which is about as much as another copy of the lens would cost. Your options: - Inquire about a repair. Note that just having them look at the lens and tell you how much a repair would cost... will cost you something. - sell the lens "for parts" "as is", state that it is damaged in the ad. Maybe someone will take it for a really low price. Five bucks is five bucks, and its better than throwing it away.. If you will be buying another lens, I suggest you stay away from 18-55mm and 18-50mm kit lenses. Better spend money on DA 35mm f2.4, DA 40mm XS, or DA 50mm f1.8. Any of these lenses has much better optics than the kit lenses. Or even something like Samyang 14mm, 16mm. I don't see the point of buying a kit lens, unless you are doing it because you need a cheap WR lens.

01-10-2016, 06:06 AM	#7
robthebloke Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Sydney Photos: Albums Posts: 844	+1 insurance claim. If you're lucky, you'll end up with the HD version as a replacement. If you're going to replace the zoom, get the 18-135 instead of the 18-55. It's a better lens (or even a second hand 16-45 f4, although you'll lose WR)

01-10-2016, 10:38 AM	#8
Edvard New Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Potsdam Posts: 9	You may try to ask on the Russian penta-club, they will most probably tell you, how to fix it yourself. It is either easily fixable, or completely crashed, given the plastic shape and the price of the lens.

01-10-2016, 11:06 AM - 2 Likes	#9
carrrlangas Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Joensuu (Finland) Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,761	Just snap it into its proper position and it should be ok! (Not kidding, plastic is a great material)

01-10-2016, 11:09 AM	#10
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,172	That's not good...

01-10-2016, 11:14 AM	#11
eonb Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: North-East England Posts: 73	In the UK this wouldn't be worth fixing. I dropped a 18-135 a few months ago and it code £120 to fix. I've also currently got a Sigma 17-70 at Sigma in Japan for (fixed price) repair. You might find that the money you get for the lens caps is more than the lens is worth in its current state. As someone said earlier, you might fancy a go at taking it apart. You will need lots of patience, a VERY steady hand and some very small screwdrivers.

01-10-2016, 11:21 AM	#12
dahabit Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 62 Original Poster	Originally posted by NZ_Ross Insurance claim?....... No insurance.

01-10-2016, 11:24 AM	#13
Quartermaster James Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 653	Originally posted by carrrlangas Just snap it into its proper position and it should be ok! (Not kidding, plastic is a great material) This ^^^

01-10-2016, 12:21 PM	#14
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210	I had a lens do this to me, I forget which one (might have been my F35-70). I just snapped it back into place and it was fine.

01-10-2016, 01:37 PM - 2 Likes	#15
dahabit Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 62 Original Poster	Originally posted by ZombieArmy I had a lens do this to me, I forget which one (might have been my F35-70). I just snapped it back into place and it was fine. OK will try. ---------- Post added 01-10-16 at 02:09 PM ---------- Originally posted by Quartermaster James This ^^^ Just did this and it snapped back in place. Thanks plastic.