Broken Tamron lens

I think I have solved the mystery of the low-quality photos I have been getting with my camera lately (underexposed and grainy for the most part): my standard 28-80mm Tamron lens is broken.

Last week I picked up my camera as usual, and the lens simply fell off! The plastic thread for fixing it to the camera had almost completely broken off. Either I have screwed it on rather inexpertly last time I changed lens (some time late 2004 I guess), or it must have gotten a heavy bash on the side. Either way, it no longer fits the camera, and I do not think it can be fixed.

Until I can afford a new lens, or buy a new (digital) camera anyway, I only have a 80-210mm Tamron lens. That will give a new perspective and some challenges for me when I take shots at Koninginnedag next weekend.