Last week I purchased a Nikon D5300, mostly for video work (I’m going to be sharing a lot of new videos this year!) and also as a backup for my D610. I was really enjoying it until Saturday evening when the camera slipped free from the Nikon strap and fell to the floor below. It didn’t fall very far, maybe a couple of feet, and it landed on a carpeted area, so I thought it would be okay. Alas, it was not. I began to get the dreaded error saying “press the shutter release button again.” Additionally, while the camera appeared to be taking pictures, they came out looking like this:
Obviously, those two things were a clear sign I would need to have it serviced by Nikon. Aside from forcing me to spend several hours to take it to the service center in Tokyo on a rainy, cold day, it also will probably set me back roughly $100-$200, and I won’t be able to use it for a week or two.
I don’t say all of this to complain however. Rather, I offer it as a warning. You see, my predicament could have been easily avoided had I attached the strap properly. I thought I had done it correctly of course. It’s a strap, so I assumed it was self-explanatory. And maybe it is self-explanatory for others, but at least for me, that assumption ended up leading to damaged gear. So my point is, don’t make assumptions when it comes to protecting your gear. Make sure you take the time to confirm your strap is correctly attached. It could save you time and money, not to mention the emotional turmoil that comes with broken gear.
To be honest, I’m not a big fan of Nikon’s straps. I haven’t used one in a long time. I have instead been using an Op Tech USA strap, which I love! But, that doesn’t change the fact that it’s my fault, not Nikon’s, that my camera fell and broke. So again, save yourself the trouble and make sure your strap is secured properly.
If you’re using Nikon’s strap, here’s their page showing how to properly connect it to your camera: Correct Way To Attach A Nikon Strap
Have you ever made a mistake that led to broken gear? Share your sob stories with me in the comments – I’m in the mood to listen! 🙂
