I need advice on D90

[winstonoyy]

I've dropped my D90, unfortunately. It landed on the flash mount first from a height of about 1.5 feet. Now its flash button, delete button and AE-lock does not work. I cant activate my built-in flash.

I have an event coming up, and I need my camera with flash cos the event is night time and indoors. What should I do?

If I buy a external flash unit, will it work? Or should I just repair my camera? It is out of warranty, bought in Dec 2009.

If I were to buy an external flash unit, what is most suitable? I hardly use flash in my own hobby, preferring to use a 50mm f1.4D.

Please help advise what is the best option, the cost involved and the rationale. Thanks.

[cichlid]

Whether the external flash will work or not, you have to mount the flash to test as the hot shoe might be damaged?

[winstonoyy]

How do I test if I do not have an external flash unit at all?

[spree86]

How do I test if I do not have an external flash unit at all?

Borrow a flash from your friends to test it

[I30cw]

Possible solutions:
1) borrow flash fr friend if u have - no cost.
2) rent a flash fr shop http://www.lens4lease.com/ - cost u $30-70 depends on no. of days n type.
3) send for repair - least priority if the time (days) r too tight.
4) if die die must send for repair, prepared to rent a set then.

My few cents opinion.
:-)

[winstonoyy]

Thanks for that.

My event is on 24th, so there's still about 2 weeks. Do you think can repair the fault?

[pansbulcem]

Nikon Service Center sure can check and advise you. Maybe faster than asking on Forum.

[SilentSeth]

depends on the damage.. i think the only way to know is to visit a service centre and let them asses the damage.

[daredevil123]

Just send it in to be repaired.

And if the repairs are not in time, just rent a camera body. It is not that expensive.

[JasonB]

What event are you shooting for? Are you being paid to do that?

[winstonoyy]

I'm shooting my cousin's ROM. He did not want to hire a photographer for his ROM to reduce costs, and is willing to photoshop himself with RAW images that I take for him. So I'm shooting for free lo. Repairing the camera is technically rectifying my own fault for dropping it, but if buying an external flash unit can make up for the lack of flash through repair, then it is probably more cost efficient than repair itself. Hence I am comparing the 2 to make a decision. I'll probably head down to Nikon Service Centre on Thursday to check how much the repair will cost, and whether external flash will work without repair.

Thanks for your advice. If you have better ideas, do tell me!

[JasonB]

I'm shooting my cousin's ROM. He did not want to hire a photographer for his ROM to reduce costs, and is willing to photoshop himself with RAW images that I take for him. So I'm shooting for free lo. Repairing the camera is technically rectifying my own fault for dropping it, but if buying an external flash unit can make up for the lack of flash through repair, then it is probably more cost efficient than repair itself. Hence I am comparing the 2 to make a decision. I'll probably head down to Nikon Service Centre on Thursday to check how much the repair will cost, and whether external flash will work without repair.

Thanks for your advice. If you have better ideas, do tell me!

First, repairing takes time, there is a queue which progress is slowed daily by newbies overly concerned with sensor cleanness. NPS members get priority queue but still...

Second, if you rent and buy a flash, it might work, but you dropped your cam, there might be unknown damages, so you cannot trust what might also be damaged. As you had said yourself some buttons already don't work. I suspect the insides had been knocked out of alignment. We donno what else is damaged. This is not a camera fit for a job, less a once in a lifetime event.

Lastly, there are many affordable and capable shooters out there with decent gear shooting ROM. It's probably better to hire someone. Repairing at NSC is not cheap, especially if need to replace parts.

And FYI, many pro shooters shoot ROM with 2 cameras. I do with a 24-70 on one and a 24 1.4 on the other in case one goes down I have the other immediately.

My advice is to tell your cousin you cannot do it already, there is still time to hire a photographer, the longer you wait, the less chance he has to hire.

[catchlights]

even it is a simple ROM, I still carry two bodies, two lenses and two flash. 22pieces of AA batteries, 11 pieces of CF cards (4GB/8GB/16GB).


anyway, just send your camera for repair, but don't count on your camera until you confirm it is working fine after a few outings.
and tell your cousin you need to rent a camera body and flash, he will have to bear the cost of rental, take it or leave it. it is still cheaper than hire a proper photographer btw.

if your cousin think it is too expensive, can try look for hour rate at $34.50 photographers from here.


hope this help.

[winstonoyy]

Thanks to all who replied.

My cousin is probably hiring a photographer for the main wedding event next year. Hence he decided to ask me to do it, short of using a point and shoot.

Of course, I'm no pro. I do photography as a hobby, only 1 body, 1 kit zoom and 1 prime. Hence I don't have the luxury of all here who uses 2 bodies and multiple lenses for weddings, can't afford as a hobbyist.

I've gone down to Nikon. Top cover FPC need replacement, and aperture control is going. Hot shoe still works, so getting an external flash is one option. I survived Hanoi with some decent photos using this damaged camera, so operations wise it still works I guess. Repair costs are a little high, in particular the labour costs itself. And they don't have the parts for aperture control, so I can't repair in time within 2 weeks for his ROM.

Kinda in a dilemma now.

[sjackal]

Thanks to all who replied.

My cousin is probably hiring a photographer for the main wedding event next year. Hence he decided to ask me to do it, short of using a point and shoot.

Of course, I'm no pro. I do photography as a hobby, only 1 body, 1 kit zoom and 1 prime. Hence I don't have the luxury of all here who uses 2 bodies and multiple lenses for weddings, can't afford as a hobbyist.

I've gone down to Nikon. Top cover FPC need replacement, and aperture control is going. Hot shoe still works, so getting an external flash is one option. I survived Hanoi with some decent photos using this damaged camera, so operations wise it still works I guess. Repair costs are a little high, in particular the labour costs itself. And they don't have the parts for aperture control, so I can't repair in time within 2 weeks for his ROM.

Kinda in a dilemma now.

I tell all my wedding clients, that their ROM ceremony IS the main wedding event, the single most important segment of anything, not the banquet reception or whatever. It is the event where they speak their lifetime vows to each other, where they put on the wedding rings as man and wife, where its solemnized by a religious leader or respected member of our community, where their parents both gave approval, where is is legally binding in law, and where the first ever kiss as man and wife takes place. It is often the event where tears are flowed and emotions are released.

I understand you are not a pro and only doing it as hobby, which is exactly where the problem is - made worst by the camera accident. This is seriously the job of a professional, or at least a very capable amateur with adequate skill and ample gear. I urge you to take the earlier advices from other members and ask your cousin to hire someone who can do the job.

Good luck.

[catchlights]

Yes, agreed with sjackal,
Wedding solemnization is the most meaningful and most sacred event, where two individuals commit themself to one another, promise to love to one another, vow to protect, to cherish one another, united as ONE, till death do they part.

whether pro or not pro, photographers should take shooting Wedding solemnization ceremony very seriously.