Big Canon EF 600mm f/4 lens goes for a swim:)

[potato1]

I'm not sure how many have seen this before but I thought it was a pretty big eye opener, photos of a Canon EF 600mm f/4 (sometimes used by motorsport photographers) being retrieved from a crocodile infested swamp. Apparently, the guy was shooting from a bridge, with the 600 on a monopod with a 2x. The head snapped, with the lens hitting the concrete bridge, then rolling off, straight into the water!

Photos:

Tim Austin Images | Miscellaneous
Tim Austin Images | Miscellaneous

[Rockefella]

Originally Posted by potato1

I'm not sure how many have seen this before but I thought it was a pretty big eye opener, photos of a Canon EF 600mm f/4 (sometimes used by motorsport photographers) being retrieved from a crocodile infested swamp. Apparently, the guy was shooting from a bridge, with the 600 on a monopod with a 2x. The head snapped, with the lens hitting the concrete bridge, then rolling off, straight into the water!

Photos:

Tim Austin Images | Miscellaneous
Tim Austin Images | Miscellaneous

Wow.. aren't those in the $10,000 range?

[RacingManiac]

probably more than 10K...

the monopod's head snapped?

[2ndclasscitizen]

Sucks to be him.

Would have been insured though.

[The_Canuck]

Still work?

[LotusLocost]

I am pretty sure that if it's taken apart and cleaned and dried, it will work again.
Sucks anyway though.

[baddabang]

Thats got to suck.

[johnnynumfiv]

I believe all the L series lenses are watertight. Sucks that it could get in through the opening on the camera side.

[Manik]

Originally Posted by johnnynumfiv

I believe all the L series lenses are watertight. Sucks that it could get in through the opening on the camera side.

I thought they were resistant to rain and such, but I'm doubtful if the entire thing goes underwater.

[johnnynumfiv]

Originally Posted by Manik

I thought they were resistant to rain and such, but I'm doubtful if the entire thing goes underwater.

They have seals between all the moving parts, but true, it be interesting to see if they could hold up while submerged.

[2ndclasscitizen]

Originally Posted by LotusLocost

I am pretty sure that if it's taken apart and cleaned and dried, it will work again.

After being in a swamp? Doubtful. At the very least all the electronics will need replacing. And it's very rarely economically viable to completely disassemble and repair lenses.

Originally Posted by johnnynumfiv

I believe all the L series lenses are watertight. Sucks that it could get in through the opening on the camera side.

I'm with Manik on that one.

[ScionDriver]

This stuff happens in the world of professional photography. I hope he had it insured. My dad told me once about a guy who dropped like $10,000 worth of equipment off a boat in Vietnam while on an assignment.

[LotusLocost]

Originally Posted by 2ndclasscitizen

After being in a swamp? Doubtful. At the very least all the electronics will need replacing. And it's very rarely economically viable to completely disassemble and repair lenses.

Sure.
Some parts will most certainly have to be replaced.

I don't know if it is economically viable though, but maybe..
You got some working hours on 10.000$++....

[basman007]

oh crap I'd feel so sick if that happened to me.

[potato1]

I'm pretty sure it was a rental and was covered by insurance. But I think that lens was a write off. All the mositure and gunk that would get into the lens is impossible to clean up I guess.