Camera Help! :(

[ForbiddenX]

Hey guys, last night I dropped my D40 . It dropped from about waist level to the hard wood floor. I was pretty bummed that I could be so careless and drop my camera! My lens is a bit weird now. When I try to zoom in and out, it feels as if the gears or something aren't properly placed anymore. I get a bit of resistance every now and then, but it's still usable. It's the 18-55VR

The bigger problem I have now is the flash. It doesn't flash anymore . Everything else with the camera seems to be in good shape. Nothing else broke except the flash. When ever I try to take a picture, the flash just keeps releasing. Even when it's out already, the latch just keeps going on and on. Like it keeps trying to open the flash even though its already open. When I take a picture nothing happens. I dont know what's wrong. Could it be the flash bulb died? Or something worse? Is this an easy fix or is it a hard one and will it cost a lot of money? I don't think the warranty will cover it either since I did drop it. What do you guys think the rough estimate would be to fixing it?

I have an SB600 right now too but I just don't like lugging it around with me all the time, sometimes theres just a shot that needs flash, not all of them.

Thanks in advance!

[Levitron]

1) the cost of labour + parts will very likely out-weigh the cost of getting a new/used one

2) dropping the lens or the body like that would probably have knocked important things like the lens elements or autofocus sensors out of calibration

Good luck....I know how you feel.

[Senna4ever]

Take it to the place where you bought it. They should be able to send it to Nikon's repair facility in Richmond free of charge. There may be an estimation fee though.

[niforpix]

^^ and shipping fee.