When you attach a lens that is much heavier than the camera body and use a strap connected to the camera, you are putting extreme stress on the camera’s lens mount and risking damage to the lens mount. That is why you attach the strap to the lens and not the body. Basic physics.
My camera weighs 1.1 lbs. and my 150-600mm lens weighs 4.55 lbs. A lens weighing 4 times more than the camera creates too much stress on the camera mount.
I have my strap attached to the two lens eyelets. I don't attach to the tripod mount of the lens as it is more inconvenient to remove it from there every time I want to mount the lens on a tripod.
If the lens has strap lugs, that's what I use; otherwise, it's on the camera. The largest (heaviest) lenses I use with on-camera straps are the EF 70-200/2.8L IS II and EF 100-400L IS II. The smallest (lightest) lenses I've used with lens-lug straps are the EF 200/1.8L and EF 300/2.8L IS.
gdanmitchell wrote:
With a large lens, I would not generally be hanging the camera/lens around my neck. I’d likely have the combo in a case/bag or else in my hands.
I agree with the statements made, and while I don't have a large lens that weighs 4.55 lbs, I do have an understanding of physics. With a lens/body so large, would the primary method of carry be a strap?? I'd think you would use a bag/case or mount, and have the strap as.back-up drop insurance. Also, with such a large lens, would you be mostly stationary when using? And agreed, i would probably not attach a strap to the camera body in this situation.
Geez, many of us shooting wildlife walk many miles each time we go out and we want our cameras ready to shoot in a few seconds because that is often all the time we have before the subject is gone. Hardly the same as shooting landscapes. One does not have to have the strap only around their neck. It can go around your neck and over one shoulder, so all the weight is not on your neck.
Canon, Nikon, and Sony all include lens straps with their super telephotos lenses for a reason.
Xysterz wrote:
I agree with the statements made, and while I don't have a large lens that weighs 4.55 lbs, I do have an understanding of physics. With a lens/body so large, would the primary method of carry be a strap?? I'd think you would use a bag/case or mount, and have the strap as.back-up drop insurance. Also, with such a large lens, would you be mostly stationary when using? And agreed, i would probably not attach a strap to the camera body in this situation.
I guess you have not shot much wildlife with telephoto lenses.
Imagemaster wrote:
Geez, many of us shooting wildlife walk many miles each time we go out and we want our cameras ready to shoot in a few seconds because that is often all the time we have before the subject is gone. Hardly the same as shooting landscapes. One does not have to have the strap only around their neck. It can go around your neck and over one shoulder, so all the weight is not on your neck.
Canon, Nikon, and Sony all include lens straps with their super telephotos lenses for a reason.
For sure that is one method for wildlife, but hardly the only one.
It used to be you would see the sports photographers on the sidelines and running around with a big tele lens on a strap.
~4lbs isn't anything I worry about. Strap on the camera, tripod collar inverted for easy carrying off shoulder, and holding bottom of lens hood while walking to take some weight off.
Imagemaster wrote:
Yeah, putting a strap on a lens is really complicated.
It's not complicated, but I find that the strap on the camera and the strap on the lens can get tangled, and then on a tripod that's all just a big mess of spaghetti when moving it around, vertical, etc. I suppose you use the same type of blackened Rapids QR disconnects for both types?
EB-1 wrote:
It's not complicated, but I find that the strap on the camera and the strap on the lens can get tangled, and then on a tripod that's all just a big mess of spaghetti when moving it around, vertical, etc. I suppose you use the same type of blackened Rapids QR disconnects for both types?
EBH
I guess the sarcasm and emojis went over your head.
There is nothing complicated about putting a strap on a lens.
I don't put a strap on the lens and one on the body. I put a strap on a heavy lens. I put a strap on the body when using lighter lenses.
I use Peak Design strap quick-connectors on my straps.
If telephoto with strap lugs I use the lugs. If heavy lens with a tripod foot I use the tripod foot with strap lug in arca plate or arca clamp with strap or QD with magpul strap. Trying to move to QD where I need a detachable strap.
I don't use straps anymore. Straps hurt my shoulders and back after an extended use.
I use my Cotton Carrier G3 Harness for all my lenses. Sony 100-400. Sony 24-105. Viltrox 16mm f1.8.
