Then the punishment phase set in as I questioned my choice of the bag. This wasn't really a camera bag at all. It was a small hip pack I purchased years ago for a trip to Perú. I kept a portable video camera in the bag along with a charger and batteries for a documentary I was shooting on Machu Picchu. The lining was simple canvas without any padding except on the bottom. Additional zippered pockets on the outside now held my camera batteries which created a lumpy structure to the bag. This was my own gear and my own fault for not protecting the camera better. I only started using the bag while shooting on builder's jobsites where I had to climb scaffolding to get certain shots, and I just kept using the bag out of convenience. I was more concerned with me fumbling the camera from 15 feet, much less a 3 foot high cabinet shelf. I thought back to how much I campaigned to different employers about the need to protect their gear, how I wouldn't travel anywhere without padded cases and strong ones at that- all because I didn't want to risk damage to employer owned equipment. What a hypocrite. Okay, okay, the true definition of hypocrite is "one who indulges" in hypocrisy. So name calling on this incident is a little unfair. I don't purposefully indulge in hypocrisy, unless you count margarita recipes. But that's because I can never remember them.
Lesson learned. Professionally designed camera bags are a worthy investment, especially when you shoot for a living. Thankfully the camera functioned fine and the damage was only cosmetic. The lens was okay too, and lens caps are more readily replaceable, so I got lucky there. Gaffers tape did a good job of hiding the damage and protecting any sensitive electronics. Some might wonder if I'm waiting on an endorsement from Nikon because it looks like I purposefully covered up the brand. But that's not an issue for me. I'm just thankful for a rugged camera. It deserves better now in it's old age. Time to go shopping at B&H. Not a paid endorsement. Yet. ;-)