Hello everyone! Audiovisual arts student here, focusing in photography and cinematography. My name is Alice!
My guy here had an accident.
It’s my fault. I was in the middle of making a short film for an assignment, during a quite windy day. Though I had noticed the tripod not being very steady due to the wind, I neglected to warn my friend who I’d asked to watch over it when I had to be in front of the camera myself. At some point she stepped away from it for just a couple of seconds, to help me out with something, and at the very same time a strong wind blow happened to occur and next thing we knew the tripod was falling over with the lens taking all impact. I’m glad it was not the camera’s body at least, not gonna lie.
I checked with Olympus service and I need around $200 to have it fixed. Well I could get a new one (the simple, not the pancake version) for 250$, so even though I’m short on money right now, objectively, I wouldn’t say it’s that much of a difference. I’ve also looked at used lenses and the difference to the amount of money I need for the service is really insignificant, considering the risk that always comes with buying used products by individuals. (Used lenses by stores or corporations are more expensive than the needed for repair amount, so not really worth it either.)
The thing is, the 14-42mm is a very basic, starter lens and not very helpful when you’re trying to advance in photography fields. I only have it as it was part of the camera kit I finally got almost two years ago and stuck with it since. Occasionally I would look up other lenses online but could never really afford any of them. The kit itself (around $900 and a present from my family) was bought on credit lasting 48 months and it’s not easy to be paid off even with this plan.
Not too proud to say this, but I myself am not able to work at this point, due to my long-hours curriculum at university and amount of homework and projects I have to do for each class. So I’m practically penniless. There’s nothing really to cut expenses from either, as I’m not really spending any money at all on non-essential things; even clothes for example I barely ever buy any new and never fashion/expensive ones. Literally all of our expenses every month are only bills and groceries.
Having to suddenly pay (either way nonexistent) money to buy for the second time a lens that I’m supposed to already have and that we will continue on paying for until 2023 and also a lens that is the least useful of its price category at this point, hurts. At the same time, I’m currently unable to work on my projects properly.
In case I were able to buy a different and a little more expensive lens, I’m currently looking at M.Zuiko 25mm or 17mm, f1.8. The lowest prices I’ve managed to find over the past weeks are $407 and $448 each. Otherwise, I will just have my own repaired at some point eventually.
It feels weird and well, not pleasant at all asking other people for money, especially when obviously, there are way more serious matters than something like this, needing help with. I only decided to eventually post about it online as I’ve eventually acknowledged it’s taken a much bigger toll on my mental health than I thought, in addition to some other preexisting issues; So I thought I’d take a chance on it :’D
If someone happens to have some extra bucks aside that doesn’t need as much as I do, I would honestly appreciate the help!
By the way, I apologise for any possible grammar mistakes, as I’m not a native English speaker.
Thanks for your attention!!
paypal.me/alikilgdn