How I Accidentally Smashed My Camera During Travels - RIP Nikon

I just arrived back from Madeira island, Portugal. Not all went that well as the title already indicates, I am now officially cameraless because I sadly smashed it to the ground 2 days ago, on another small island near Madeira, named Porto Santo. I broke both the lens and camera body, the shutter gives me errors. This is the story of how it happened.

I rented the quad bike for exploring Porto Santo island, it was awesome to drive it around there! I regularly want to take some photos so I don't always put my camera away in the bag, just to take it out a minute later. I and my girlfriend just stepped out of the restaurant and went to the quad bike. There was an area about 80 meters away from me that I wanted to take photos of, so I decided to not put the camera in the bag and hold it for the distance while I ride this 80 meters. While getting my stuff organized and putting on the helmets, I placed my camera on the front bar of the quad bike. Unfortunately, this is where I left it and for some reason, I didn't take it away before I started driving... just forgot.

I drove the 80 meters and then pushed the brakes, at this moment I knew I fucked up😂 The camera had not started falling to the ground yet but it was a matter of a fraction of a second. And then it happened. It was like in slow motion, I watched my camera get thrown off the front bar of a quad bike. It fell on the tarmac with a loud noise, the lens got ejected from the camera body. I stopped and quickly went to check on the camera. I collected the parts and attached the lens to the camera body but it was apparent that all the mounting points of the lens were broken and torn off during the impact, it didn't stay on.

Damage to the front

and broken-off mounting parts.

It was not a good lens so I wasn't too worried about it actually, I had plans to replace this wide-angle lens soon enough anyway.
What I was worried about was my camera body. I attached my 70-200 Tamron lens to it, to see if the mirror is still ok. The mirror is ok but the shutter wasn't. Something in there is broken. The mirror moves and all but I get an error on the screen saying: Error, push the shutter again. So yeah, it's totaled.

It was still 2 days to be on the travels and I wasn't able to take any more photos, felt baaad. Fortunately, my girlfriend also has a camera. A very entry-level Canon and I was able to still take the remaining shots with this one.

Now I need to buy a new camera and lens fast. I don't know how to be without one because I need to take photographs. Pushing the shutter button is in my blood. I had some plans to upgrade the camera body anyway but not yet. I dont want to sell parts of my crypto at the current prices but it looks like I don't have much choice now. Repairing the current Nikon D5600 is pointless and the lens is irreparable either way.

I think I want to move with time and upgrade to a hybrid, mirrorless camera. One of the choices I am currently interested in is the Nikon Z6 mark 2. But the camera body already is 2300Eur. Adding the good f2.8 wide angle lens is another 1000Eur. You could say that why don't you buy a cheaper one. Since I am buying it for many many years to use then I want the camera to be great, not entry-level. Obviously, 2300 Eur doesn't buy you a top-end camera but you can get semi-pro and overall a very capable body for it.

I just feel really bad selling crypto at the current prices, basically selling the bottom and who knows how long it takes for the market to really start rising again. I wish I had enough Eur reserves in the bank to carry on the purchases but I don't, after all the traveling to 3 countries for the past month. The timing is bad.

Still, I really look forward to getting new a new camera, it's absolutely interesting. Hopefully, Hive can help me earn back some of the expenses on this camera. You can expect so much travel stuff from me in the coming months. The Czech Republic, I haven't posted all about it yet. Two-day solo Iceland Trip and now a huge Madeira trip. Also stuff from Estonia. I will sure review the new camera too whenever I get it, Stay tuned!

RIP Nikon D5600 ( 2017-2022), thank you for the great service!