Dropped my 40D

[annie.frangipani]

My 40D is a tough old girl. She gets bumped a bit (not drastically) but she still powers on. Nothing has ever gone wrong.

I hope that is the case now.

I've dropped my camera 3 times in the last 2 days. The first wasn't too far, so I wasn't too worried about it. The next time it fell of the couch, which bothered me, but still nothing appeared to be wrong. It still works perfectly.

Yesterday, it fell off my shoulder. And bounced.

It is still working perfectly. The photos are in focus, there are no weird noises when I turn it on or off or take a photo (except it makes a different shutter noise when I switch to Live View, which I've never noticed before because I've never really used it, so that could be normal?)

But today, I was looking over it again, and noticed through the viewfinder, I can see little reflections of something inside the camera, or lens. They don't show up in any photo, I've cleaned the lens, and looked inside the camera and couldn't see anything wrong (not that I'd really know what to look for).

Are reflections normal, and just something I'm noticing now because I'm LOOKING for something to be wrong? Or could dropping it have bumped any of the glass or mirrors inside that are now making the reflections?

I CANNOT afford to get it looked at right now, and since it still takes photos as it always did, should I be worried? Because I am...

Oh and the only other thing I can think of that could be wrong is my lens (50mm f/1.8) doesn't focus smoothly right at the very last point before it focuses all the way out (excuse my poor technical talk). I know it's a cheap lens, and once again, I've never noticed if this was the case before or after the drop, and maybe I'm just noticing EVERYTHING right now.

If anyone has ANY advice PLEASE let me know!

Thanks!

[Woody]

Hello Annie Frangipanni (what a great name)

WHy not try to down load a photo to your computer to see if it showing any abnormal signs.

Or, if you have another lens, try that do the same as well. You'll soon see if there are any issues.

Cheers,

John W

[JoeDavis]

Hello Annie

Dropped my XTi once, from a picnic table onto a brick patio.
Camera worked great, didn't appear to be anything wrong until I went to take out the compact flash card.
The release button was broke, I could have kept on using the camera and downloaded by usb but decided to get it fixed.
It cost me $300.00 CDN
My advice, take it in and get it checked, I would rather be safe than miss an important picture.

[annie.frangipani]

Thanks for the advice. I took photos with it and uploaded them to my computer - there is nothing wrong there. I don't own another lens, so I can't check that But if there is nothing wrong with the photos, should I be worried?

[annie.frangipani]

Thank you I checked every button, the CF card release, the battery grip and everything around the camera and it is all working. The only thing are those reflections, and maybe the sound of the shutter in Live View and the smoothness of the focusing ring. But all this is not affecting me taking photos or uploading them. I really can't afford to get it looked at - but if there is something wrong I can't afford not to. STRESS!!!

[annie.frangipani]

Oh and I now realise in Live View the shutter is on silent shoot so that is why it makes a different noise! Phew! One more thing NOT wrong with my camera!!!

[OsmosisStudios]

It sounds like you could have an issue with sometihng in the viewfinder chain (the reflections are NOT normal). I'd have someone take a look at it, even if it's just a local shop that can give you a free estimate on the work that needs to be done.

[inkista]

One other thing: I'd say invest in a good grippy camera strap, or learn to wear your camera strap cross-body, so you won't have it falling off your shoulder so easily.

As OS says, the reflections are the only thing that doesn't sound normal. With the 50, you may just be trying to focus on something that's too close for the lens. The 50/1.8 has a minimum focus distance of 1.5' (.45m).

[annie.frangipani]

Thank you! I do normally wear my camera strap across my body, this was one time that I didn't :S I haven't seen the reflections again, and as I was shooting out of a thick window frame in a dark room to a light outdoors, could that have been the cause?

[annie.frangipani]

Thanks everyone for your advice - I took the camera in to be checked and the technician couldn't find anything wrong! Yay! He was surprised not to find any faults after dropping it, and I suppose if there was something wrong he would have found it and told me because that's how they make money, right?

Anyway just thought I'd let you all know!