Major league damage: $12K Sony lens hit by 104mph ball

Photographer Jim Rassol's lens was struck by a fast-moving foul ball at a Miami Marlins game last weekend. The Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS is around $12,000 / £10,800 / AU$18,000 to buy. 

The commentators seemed somewhat sympathetic, the first asking: "How much did that baseball cost?" and being told "A lot, those are not cheap." After a moment the team did – we hope jokingly – add "Thirty or forty bucks?!"

The Miami Marlins are a Major League Baseball (MLB) side, and play in the National League East. According to Rassol the ball left the bat at 104mph, but despite obvious disappointment on his face, he managed to quickly turn a "better the lens than me" look to the TV cameras.

One of the other questions which went around the stadium – where the sound of broken glass was audible – and was voiced by the commentators for the world was "I wonder if he got the shot as the ball was going into it." Sadly we don't seem to have an answer, but it'd be impressive if the autofocus could keep pace with a >100mph ball!

We were also surprised to read, on sonyalpharumors, that one of the photographers friends thinks the insurance won't pay out. Is it an 'Act of god?' because the team sheet would suggest otherwise. It's also suggested that he didn't have any, but a friend, Joseph Cavaretta, has organized a GoFundMe to help Jim Rassol already. 

You might think the odds of an event like this are low, but it's not even the only similar incident we've reported at the Miami Marlins – back in 2022 O'Neill hit a foul ball that sailed directly over home plate and smashed straight into the batting angle camera.

baseball

A baseball blooper at the Miami Marlins back in 2022 – broadcast cameras, however, usually have protective glass so the optical glass isn't lost in an incident like this. (Image credit: Miami Marlins / MLB)

This time the Marlins were taking on the Pittsburgh Pirates, and eventually scraped a win in what looked a tight match.

Whether he'll want it or not, it seems Jim did get the rest of the match off. He told followers that the lens is beyond repair (not a shock if you watch the clip in the tweet) but he is OK.

Miami Marlin's next game is against the Boston Red Sox.

•  Best camera for sports photography

Adam Juniper
Managing Editor

With over 20 years of expertise as a tech journalist, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge across a vast number of product categories, including timelapse cameras, home security cameras, NVR cameras, photography books, webcams, 3D printers and 3D scanners, borescopes, radar detectors… and, above all, drones. 

Adam is our resident expert on all aspects of camera drones and drone photography, from buying guides on the best choices for aerial photographers of all ability levels to the latest rules and regulations on piloting drones. 

He is the author of a number of books including The Complete Guide to Drones, The Smart Smart Home Handbook, 101 Tips for DSLR Video and The Drone Pilot's Handbook

Read more
Removed Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S foot mounting plate, with inset roundel showing the foot with the plate attached. Screaming emoji in bottom-right corner
"Nikon Z users beware": US$7,000 of camera kit nearly plummets, as pricey lens foot mount works loose
Product images of Nikon Fisheye 6mm f/2.8 and Nikon Fisheye 14.3mm f/4 on a white background
Oh boy! If this vintage Nikon lens and slice of Disney history sells for its asking price, it’ll smash the previous record
Stills from LA Chargers YouTube video about a day in the life of team photographer Mike Nowak, with inset team photo, image of Canon camera being handled and image of Mike talking to the camera
Want a pre-Super Bowl LIX watch? This day-in-the-life video of an LA Chargers team photographer is fascinating for sports photography fans like me
Photographer James Artaius using the Sony A9 III with Sony 300mm lens, standing in a floodlit track and field stadium at night
Best camera for sports photography in 2025: get in on the action!
motorsport
Best lens for sports photography in 2025: telephoto zooms to get closer to the action
Sigma 300-600mm f/4 DG OS Sports graphic showing the interior construction of the lens, above a standard product shot of the lens on a black background
First there was the ‘Sigmonster’ now there’s the ‘Sigmungandr’, I think the Sigma 300-600mm f/4 DG OS Sports is a mythological BEAST of a lens
Latest in Lenses
Fujifilm Fujinon LA30x7.8 BRM-XB2
Fujifilm announces development of a new 30x zoom broadcast lens ahead of NAB 2025
Rokinon AF 135mm f/1.8
Huge price drops on low-cost prime lenses for Sony and Fujifilm camera users
Canon RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM on the Canon EOS R5 Mark II against a white background
Canon’s bright hybrid prime lens lineup just got wider with the new Canon RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM
The Canon RF-S 14-30mm f/4-6.3 IS STM PZ against a white background
Canon launches a cheap compact lens geared towards video – with a new feature it has never offered before
Viltrox AF 50mm f/2 Air
Viltrox reportedly readying a cheap yet fast 50mm AF lens for Sony and Nikon cameras
James Artaius using a Canon RF 20mm f/1.4L VCM on a Canon EOS R5
Hands-on Canon RF 20mm f/1.4L VCM review: Canon's widest professional prime for the RF mount
Latest in News
Specta Mini drone hovering over a car and four people
Want to get around the DJI drone ban AND save? Meet the Specta Mini – cheap and USA-legal!
Potensic Atom SE drone
Drones deals with the power to impress - these Potensic drones are great!
Fujifilm Fujinon LA30x7.8 BRM-XB2
Fujifilm announces development of a new 30x zoom broadcast lens ahead of NAB 2025
Pergear CFexpress 4.0 Type A Master cards
Pergear launches new super-fast AND super-cheap CFexpress Type A cards
Rokinon AF 135mm f/1.8
Huge price drops on low-cost prime lenses for Sony and Fujifilm camera users
A sleek YoloCam S7 camera body with a vertical sensor, paired with a detachable lens against a dark backdrop
The YoloCam S7 gives a novel twist to the 4K streaming camera for those recording vertical video