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Can heavy lens cause mounting brackets to sag or warp?
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Sep 26, 2014 01:07:07   #
cetaft Loc: The Big Apple
 
Back in the 70's and 80's, we were always told not to mount a heavy telephoto lens on a camera (mine were FEs and then FE-2s) & then carry it unsupported (i.e., hanging down on a shoulder strap) for any length of time 'cause the lens weight would bend/warp/etc. the camera-to-lens mounting brackets & cause part of each photo to look out of focus.

OK, I now have a D610 & just picked up a Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-D zoom. (This thing is a freakin' rock!!!)

Will the D610 body handle the weight of this lens unsupported (i.e., only a strap over my shoulder and the lens hanging free on the camera) when not in use without damaging either camera or lens mount, or do I still have to carry it always with one hand supporting the lens?

Thanks!

Reply
Sep 26, 2014 01:14:28   #
lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode
 
cetaft wrote:
Back in the 70's and 80's we were always told not to mount a heavy telephoto lens on a camera (mine were FEs and then FE-2s) & then carry it unsupported (i.e., hanging down on a shoulder strap) for any length of time 'cause the lens weight would bend/warp/etc. the camera-to-lens mounting brackets & cause part of each photo to look out of focus.

OK, I now have a D610 & just picked up a Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-D zoom. (This thing is a freakin' rock!!!)

Will the D610 body handle the weight of this lens unsupported (i.e., only a strap over my shoulder and the lens hanging free on the camera) when not in use without damaging either camera or lens mount, or do I still have to carry it always with one hand supporting the lens?

Thanks!
Back in the 70's and 80's we were always told not ... (show quote)


Put the lens on the camera, hold the camera in your right hand by the grip, extend your right arm out straight beside your body at 90 degrees to the way you face, parallel to the ground, lens also straight out, parallel to the ground.
Hold it like that for one minute.

What does that tell you?

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Sep 26, 2014 01:48:05   #
Rongnongno Loc: FL
 
Yes*, your lens? No.

---
* This the reason for the lens tripod mount.

Reply
 
 
Sep 26, 2014 02:27:57   #
cetaft Loc: The Big Apple
 
Thanks, but I still don't see it. If I were to hold the camera at a 90-degree angle, I'd put my other hand on the lens for support.

If I'm just walking along with my camera down at a 180-degree angle (e.g., from my shoulder)... are y'all saying I should keep a hand on it, then, too?

Rongnongno wrote:
Yes*, your lens? No.

---
* This the reason for the lens tripod mount.

Reply
Sep 26, 2014 03:01:09   #
Rongnongno Loc: FL
 
cetaft wrote:
Thanks, but I still don't see it. If I were to hold the camera at a 90-degree angle, I'd put my other hand on the lens for support.
Force of habit, I always use two hands when holding a camera. One on the body one on the lens this adds to stability* not to 'manage the lens weight against the mount'.
cetaft wrote:
If I'm just walking along with my camera down at a 180-degree angle (e.g., from my shoulder)... are y'all saying I should keep a hand on it, then, too?
WHY?

I really do not understand where the problem is other than you may experience a 'lens creep' (when it extends w/o your intervention)

----
* Needed anyway to manual focus and at times (depending on lens) adjust the aperture ring.

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Sep 26, 2014 03:14:54   #
cetaft Loc: The Big Apple
 
Agreed, if I'm aiming at something. I'm just asking if there's a possibility of damage to the mounts "dangling" while I'm walking around before I see something to capture.

Rongnongno wrote:
Force of habit, I always use two hands when holding a camera. One on the body one on the lens this adds to stability* not to 'manage the lens weight against the mount'.

I really do not understand where the understanding problem is.

----
* Needed anyway to manual focus and at times (depending on lens) adjust the aperture ring.

Reply
Sep 26, 2014 03:35:11   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
cetaft wrote:
Back in the 70's and 80's, we were always told not to mount a heavy telephoto lens on a camera (mine were FEs and then FE-2s) & then carry it unsupported (i.e., hanging down on a shoulder strap) for any length of time 'cause the lens weight would bend/warp/etc. the camera-to-lens mounting brackets & cause part of each photo to look out of focus.

OK, I now have a D610 & just picked up a Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-D zoom. (This thing is a freakin' rock!!!)

Will the D610 body handle the weight of this lens unsupported (i.e., only a strap over my shoulder and the lens hanging free on the camera) when not in use without damaging either camera or lens mount, or do I still have to carry it always with one hand supporting the lens?

Thanks!
Back in the 70's and 80's, we were always told not... (show quote)


With the old cameras it was more about the fragility of the camera strap mounting lugs than it was about putting stress on the lens mount, as far as carrying the lens was concerned. An 80-200 AF-D is not a particularly heavy lens, with the two ring version coming in at just under 3 lbs. In fact, some versions of this lens had no tripod collar. I wouldn't be concerned. I've used mine with everything from a D70S to a D800 with no issues.

Putting this camera and lens on a tripod is another story, though. General rule - if the lens has a tripod collar, use it for tripod or monopod use. I have three lenses - the 80-200, 180 3.5 macro and a 150 F2.8 macro where I do not hesitate to use the lens without the collar, but these are all relatively light weight, and will not put too much stress on a camera with a full internal metal frame. The D610 only has metal on its top and bottom plates, and no internal metal behind its lens mount, so I would not not feel as comfortable using a lighter collared lens on a tripod with the camera, attached by the camera's tripod socket.

Reply
 
 
Sep 26, 2014 03:42:33   #
cetaft Loc: The Big Apple
 
Thank you. All good advice.

(Now, if I can just find our very dusty and trusty Slik 212 in one of the closets...)

Charles

Gene51 wrote:
With the old cameras it was more about the fragility of the camera strap mounting lugs than it was about putting stress on the lens mount, as far as carrying the lens was concerned. An 80-200 AF-D is not a particularly heavy lens, with the two ring version coming in at just under 3 lbs. In fact, some versions of this lens had no tripod collar. I wouldn't be concerned. I've used mine with everything from a D70S to a D800 with no issues.

Putting this camera and lens on a tripod is another story, though. General rule - if the lens has a tripod collar, use it for tripod or monopod use. I have three lenses - the 80-200, 180 3.5 macro and a 150 F2.8 macro where I do not hesitate to use the lens without the collar, but these are all relatively light weight, and will not put too much stress on a camera with a full internal metal frame. The D610 only has metal on its top and bottom plates, and no internal metal behind its lens mount, so I would not not feel as comfortable using a lighter collared lens on a tripod with the camera, attached by the camera's tripod socket.
With the old cameras it was more about the fragili... (show quote)

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Sep 26, 2014 06:35:49   #
juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida
 
Personally, when I mount my 70-200 on camera, I hold it by the lens, not the camera body. Maybe paranoid, but just seems to be a safer mode while out shooting.

Reply
Sep 27, 2014 07:09:19   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
cetaft wrote:
Back in the 70's and 80's, we were always told not to mount a heavy telephoto lens on a camera (mine were FEs and then FE-2s) & then carry it unsupported (i.e., hanging down on a shoulder strap) for any length of time 'cause the lens weight would bend/warp/etc. the camera-to-lens mounting brackets & cause part of each photo to look out of focus.

OK, I now have a D610 & just picked up a Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-D zoom. (This thing is a freakin' rock!!!)

Will the D610 body handle the weight of this lens unsupported (i.e., only a strap over my shoulder and the lens hanging free on the camera) when not in use without damaging either camera or lens mount, or do I still have to carry it always with one hand supporting the lens?

Thanks!
Back in the 70's and 80's, we were always told not... (show quote)

In a situation like this, you have to trust Nikon. They made the camera, and they made the lens. Hundreds of thousands of people carry heavy lenses on cameras, and they don't break off. Still, I am hands on when I have my 28-300mm on a camera.

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Sep 27, 2014 07:42:05   #
Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC
 
I use these http://optechusa.com/lens-loops.html which fits around the lower part of the lens to carry heavy lenses.

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Sep 27, 2014 11:11:22   #
Rathyatra Loc: Southport, United Kingdom
 
cetaft wrote:
Back in the 70's and 80's, we were always told not to mount a heavy telephoto lens on a camera (mine were FEs and then FE-2s) & then carry it unsupported (i.e., hanging down on a shoulder strap) for any length of time 'cause the lens weight would bend/warp/etc. the camera-to-lens mounting brackets & cause part of each photo to look out of focus.

OK, I now have a D610 & just picked up a Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-D zoom. (This thing is a freakin' rock!!!)

Will the D610 body handle the weight of this lens unsupported (i.e., only a strap over my shoulder and the lens hanging free on the camera) when not in use without damaging either camera or lens mount, or do I still have to carry it always with one hand supporting the lens?

Thanks!
Back in the 70's and 80's, we were always told not... (show quote)


Interesting point you have raised. I used to carry the Sigma 150-500 and was really careful not to let the camera take the weight of the lens - which weighs about 4 lbs - as Sigma advised it may damage the camera mount. I religiously used the strap that came with the lens over my shoulder and held also the lens or the tripod mount.
But recently seen a video in which Tony Northrup, an experienced photographer, walked around with a large lens and it was hanging from the camera with no additional support - he was also lifting the camera body and swinging the lens up to photograph.
I was quite taken aback and wondered if I had been too cautious and the advice from Sigma was given merely to cover them in case the weight of the lens unsupported damaged the camera mount and they were blamed for not giving proper advice.
I still feel it is sensible to support the lens and not rely on the camera mount to take the strain but given the actions of a top photographer like Tony Northrup it makes me wonder.

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Sep 27, 2014 11:35:41   #
amehta Loc: Boston
 
Rathyatra wrote:
Interesting point you have raised. I used to carry the Sigma 150-500 and was really careful not to let the camera take the weight of the lens - which weighs about 4 lbs - as Sigma advised it may damage the camera mount. I religiously used the strap that came with the lens over my shoulder and held also the lens or the tripod mount.
But recently seen a video in which Tony Northrup, an experienced photographer, walked around with a large lens and it was hanging from the camera with no additional support - he was also lifting the camera body and swinging the lens up to photograph.
I was quite taken aback and wondered if I had been too cautious and the advice from Sigma was given merely to cover them in case the weight of the lens unsupported damaged the camera mount and they were blamed for not giving proper advice.
I still feel it is sensible to support the lens and not rely on the camera mount to take the strain but given the actions of a top photographer like Tony Northrup it makes me wonder.
Interesting point you have raised. I used to carry... (show quote)

Tony Northrup is a professional photographer, and the financial value of the lens/camera is in the photographs they create and how quickly he can shoot. I am an amateur photographer and the financial value of the lens/camera is in the resale value they may have. I'll use a hand to support the lens to keep my equipment in good condition, the pros do not generally care about the condition of the gear, only the utility.

This is also where the question of "build quality" comes in. There is a difference between the D610 and the D4s, and a big part of that is how much "abuse" can it take.

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Sep 27, 2014 11:39:25   #
lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode
 
amehta wrote:
Tony Northrup is a professional photographer, and the financial value of the lens/camera is in the photographs they create and how quickly he can shoot. I am an amateur photographer and the financial value of the lens/camera is in the resale value they may have. I'll use a hand to support the lens to keep my equipment in good condition, the pros do not generally care about the condition of the gear, only the utility.

This is also where the question of "build quality" comes in. There is a difference between the D610 and the D4s, and a big part of that is how much "abuse" can it take.
Tony Northrup is a professional photographer, and ... (show quote)


:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

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Sep 27, 2014 11:43:48   #
Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC
 
As I mentioned above these inexpensive straps hold the heavy lens and camera around a neck sling protecting the camera and lens at the mount.

amehta wrote:
Tony Northrup is a professional photographer, and the financial value of the lens/camera is in the photographs they create and how quickly he can shoot. I am an amateur photographer and the financial value of the lens/camera is in the resale value they may have. I'll use a hand to support the lens to keep my equipment in good condition, the pros do not generally care about the condition of the gear, only the utility.

This is also where the question of "build quality" comes in. There is a difference between the D610 and the D4s, and a big part of that is how much "abuse" can it take.
Tony Northrup is a professional photographer, and ... (show quote)

Reply
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