Lens disaster > repair or replace

[KB_S1]

After carefully looking after my D50 throuh a Stag weekend I was unbelievably gutted when on Sunday night I dropped my camera getting out of the car.
Fortunately it was in its case but it was a fair thud. Strap was tanled in my jacket sleeve and as I pulled my jacket from the car the camera did a catapult out!

Anyway, on inspection the filter was smashed and the lens mechanism has become detached so that you can zoom or focus manually but not together and the AF is goosed.
Glass is all fine, does anyone know if it will be worth repating or is it a repair job? Lens is the 18-55 that came with the D50, can only find a few places sellin it at around £120-£130.

At this price I would be tepmted to o for Nikons 18-70 lens which I think Ican get for around £170. any other options?

[marctwo]

I dropped mine at a wedding once. Cost £120 to repair (the same as I had paid for it from ebay). Decided to repair it becase it was otherwise a good lens and there were not that many around on ebay at the time.

If yours is the kit lens I'd probably just get a new one (look at it as an excuse to upgrade?!).

>> Edited by marctwo on Tuesday 4th April 14:30

[KB_S1]

marctwo said:

If yours is the kit lens I'd probably just get a new one (look at it as an excuse to upgrade?!). >> Edited by marctwo on Tuesday 4th April 14:30

That is the thinking just now, might feel less bad at forking out a wad of cash if I get something new and better for it rather than just replacing what we have. Only thing is i wanted to add an extra lens in maybe 6 months time.

[Mad Dave]

If you're feeling flush, Nikon now do an 18-200mm DX with VR (vibration reduction). It looks like a beautiful piece of kit, but its near the thick end of £500!