mongoose777 Loc: Frisco Texas

Well, Im kind of half way joking, the same thing happened to me before
while shooting with Canon gear, but the 24-70 lens snapped into as several players hit
the glass extremely hard. Luckily it just feel apart outside and away from the ice.
A close buddy of mine had his 70-200 snap at the bayonet area.
I saw a MK IV sheer off from a 400 lens by a football player hit photographer, but he never dropped
the lens & body.
Ive always question the strength of the lens mount for Canon.

AS A PROFESSIONAL: NEVER EVER LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU.
Because its very embarrassing as well as possibly creating a temp ban from the heads of the NHL.
That one unfortunate incident can change the way sports are shot and viewed.

If your remember what happened last year during the NBA finals in Cleveland.
Last year LeBron James ran into a video guy who was sitting on the floor under the basket, cutting his head as it required several stitches.
This season they cut back about 1/2 of the photographers on the floor.
They even eliminated the video guy who used to be placed on the floor at mid court, this took away the
low level views as players shot from the 3-point line as well as close and low shots of the benches.

Click on link below for more details and a video link of hockey player slapping the lens as it kind of looks like a puck.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/hockey-lens-fell-ice-stanley-cup/#:dkDO4nzuZQYLnA

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

I shoot Nikon, so you can see where any bias would be.

Making the mount the weak point is good engineering. Smart move by Canon (and others, as Canon is not alone in that design characteristic).

The mount is cheap and easy to repair. Making it strong means something more expensive and harder to repair is going to be what breaks.

Bravo for the sports leagues that make changes to protect the health of players!

Haydon

You would need more statistical data than just a few cases to be able to make a educated opinion.

A couple of years ago my Nikon friend had his 70-300 roll off his bed and fall 18 inches onto a carpet. The same year my 70-300L slid out of my fanny pack and fell 3 feet onto asphalt. My Canon lens did not require repair and never received any damage, scratches or chipped paint. His went back to Nikon for repair. It all depends on the hit.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Evaluate what happened, and what you now have though!

You dropped a $1300 professional quality lens. Part of the high price is the high build quality. It now may or may not meet factory alignment specs, and you won't know until you get around to sending it in for CLA.

Your friend dropped a $500 consumer quality lens. Part of the lower price is that it is not built like a battleship. I'm sure his repair cost far less than the $800 difference in original price, and his lens is now known to meet factory alignment specs...

It's really hard to say who has the better deal... :-)

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

In 2014, an Oklahoma College Football player was leaping to catch a football after running at full speed, and collided with a photographer shooting a Canon DSLR and a $10,000 400mm F/2.8 lens. Completely ripped the lens in two. Part of the lens was still locked in the mount. Player was slightly injured. Photographer apologized to the football player for not moving the lens away in time. I'm sure the photographer had insurance.

shagbat Loc: London

Excellent point Apaflo, I shoot Nikon too, but from an engineering point of view, totally agree, the equivalent of a fuse wire.

Haydon

My example holds no more validity than yours. It's just a matter of what can happen. It's the conditions that dictate the event. I'm sorry but your rebuttal further illustrates faulty logic. Anyways maybe there are more Canon casualties because they dominate sporting events in many parts of the world.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I saw that article last night, but I assumed it was an old story. I can't imagine that happening very often.

Jim Bob

Still waiting for the "proof". Anecdotes are all you provided.

mongoose777 Loc: Frisco Texas

I call BS on that one.
There is no way in hell your gonna tell me that a 42oz lens falls 3-ft onto the concrete and not receive one scratch or chipped paint, much less make a dent?
Either this never happened or you thought it happened.
I had my 70-200 canon come loose by accidentally depressing the lens release knob and it cause major damage, like about $650 to be exact.

mongoose777 Loc: Frisco Texas

I believe my personal experience/knowledge from witnessing many accidents might trump your one isolated experience.
Ive been shooting for over 22 years and have seen my share of accidents as well as many before me while covering numerous sporting events.
I cover about 3 plus events per week and see about 10 to 20 fellow photojournalist during those times, often times 30 to 100 depending on the event.
I have witnessed many dropped lens, especially when Ive seen many who stand them up to save space. IMO it is a terrible thing to do bc of what I have seen that can happen.
My experiences are from real world events often times of overcrowded photogs in such small spaces from the media rooms to the rush of getting back out to field/court
while covering the events.

You want some Logic??
Canon does NOT dominate the world bc as you claim.
Look around and I guarantee you will see a lot more Nikon shooters than you realize.
The D4s and D5 along with many great sharp long lens, like the 400 FL 2.8 are reasons why you see more and more Nikons.
BTW, you do know that many of the major sporting events have CPS out giving loaners to whomever wants to try one out without recourse.
Ive tried the D1x with the newest 400 lens bc I wanted to see what it does, also several colleagues tried to get me to switch back.
Great setup as to be expected, but still prefer my nikon.
Finally, you do know that AP, Getty and most news agencies have an exclusive contract setup with Canon. Right?
Canon is prob 100x bigger than Nikon and have aways done a great job of Marketing.
Canon also depends more on their Office Products income when compared to the camera gear.
Bottom Line: I have nothing against Canon, in fact they make great camera gear as they were happy to take over $60k from me while I used
their product.
Nikon has been great to me as I have been very fortunate to make a comfortable living shooting sports.

Now what qualifies your logic?
Your turn.