Expensive Camera Mistake (Page 3): How hard would it be for Canon to re-engineer the lens release on their next month's new camera? Airplanes have flip covers over critical switches to...

riskot Loc: Texas

How hard would it be for Canon to re-engineer the lens release on their next month's new camera? Airplanes have flip covers over critical switches to prevent mistakes. Guns have very simple safety devices to prevent misfires. I've been using Nikon SLR's for over 50 years but I can't remember ever giving any thought to picking up a camera at the body with a long lens mounted. Most times be when I wasn't even looking at it. I can't believe how lucky I've been.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

WesNolan wrote:

I've handled 35 mm and medium format cameras for y... (show quote)

I've been using Canon gear for years and try as I might I was unable to simulate a circumstance in which I could accidentally push the lens release and rotate the lens the almost 45 degrees needs to detach it from the camera. I feel badly for you, but I can figure out how you could do this even accidentally unless you're in the habit of holding your bodies in unusual ways.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

riskot wrote:

How hard would it be for Canon to re-engineer the lens release on their next month's new camera? Airplanes have flip covers over critical switches to prevent mistakes. Guns have very simple safety devices to prevent misfires. I've been using Nikon SLR's for over 50 years but I can't remember ever giving any thought to picking up a camera at the body with a long lens mounted. Most times be when I wasn't even looking at it. I can't believe how lucky I've been.

You are suggesting a solution for what I believe is a non problem. What usually happens is people unlock a lens to change it and then get distracted and a few minutes later the lens hits the ground. I have never heard of a situation when the release was accidentally triggered to begin with resulting in the lens detaching.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

WesNolan wrote:

I've handled 35 mm and medium format cameras for y... (show quote)

Wes, welcome to the Hog!
Yes, it's too bad that, that happened to you. I've got two solutions for you.
One, the only time that I've had my Canon lens start to come of in my hand, I found I had not put the lens on properly and it was NOT fully locked into place! Always check that it's locked in.
Secondly, as a forced habit, the strap does NOT leave my neck. I understand that the lens would have come off regardless but you would NOT have lost the body as well.
I cringe when people use a camera with no strap. I'm not saying the strap was not on the camera, but it certainly was not around your neck!
Anyway, we each have our own styles, but some styles are more prone to damage than others!
Did you join just to share that with us? LoL
Thanks for posting that, and again, welcome to the Hog!!
SS

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

mwsilvers wrote:

I've been using Canon gear for years and try as I might I was unable to simulate a circumstance in which I could accidentally push the lens release and rotate the lens the almost 45 degrees needs to detach it from the camera. I feel badly for you, but I can figure out how you could do this even accidentally unless you're in the habit of holding your bodies in unusual ways.

You forget that thieves use how easy it is to detach the lense from camera body in what appears to be less that 5 seconds. I didn't think that was possible with a seasoned reporter - but the video of him being ripped off was hard to dispute.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

WesNolan wrote:

I've handled 35 mm and medium format cameras for y... (show quote)

Speed kills.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

WesNolan wrote:

...the release button to the left of the lens mount should have a raised, protective ring, higher than the height of the button...

Good point. Whenever I make a mistake, I assure myself that it's not because I am on my way to 73. I still have the mind and body of a 37-year-old. I'll take it out of the closet when I need it.

leftj Loc: Texas

twowindsbear wrote:

That's all it takes to remove a Canon lens? Press a button and it comes right off? Don't'cha have to give the lens a twist of some sort, too???

Yes you do have to twist counter clockwise after depressing the button so the lens must have been recently changed on the camera but properly seated by turning clockwise.

cthahn

You mentioned nothing about how old you have had the camera. It it were me, I would have sent the camera and lens back to Canon. Was the lens Canon or of some manufacturer. If it were not Canon, not much they would do.

brianmen Loc: Sydney Australia

It's happened to me twice, the first time ended in a $600+ camera body repair because I had my strap on the lens. I was walking over boulders climbing up a valley in Kakadu national Park. I don't know how it occurred. Camera 5D mkiii lens 70-200
The second occasion was the other day I was sitting in the drivers seat and picked the camera up from the floor of the passengers side floor of the car and the lens dropped off. Camera 1DX Mk ii Lens 24-70.
A simple design modification as you suggested to Canon would solve this I'm sure.

dzynrab

Sorry for your loss. Hope you are insured!

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

Thank you for sharing this unpleasant experience. Hopefully it will help someone avoid a similar accident.

nikon_jon Loc: Northeast Arkansas

I have to wonder if the lens was fully mounted thus making an accidental removal possible. Were you near the camera at all times or away from it where someone could have been twiddling with it.

Many years ago, I lost a whole wedding using a Rolleiflex. It had a little lever to switch from bulb flash to strobe. They sync at different times. If you are set on bulb and are using a strobe, you will get nothing because the flash has already gone off before the shutter opens. What happened was someone was curious about the camera when I had put it down to deal with the wedding party about a shot. They switched the lever, accidentally I am sure, and I got nothing from that wedding except some timed exposures I had done. I don't think there was any malicious intent, but the result was the same never the less. Since I never used flash bulbs, I glued a little wedge of wood under the lever so it couldn't happen again.

Lesson learned. Never leave your equipment out of site when you are busy with a shoot. Don't know if something like this happened to your camera. I also use Nikons, so I am not familiar with the characteristics of Canon lens mounts.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

I have nothing to add about the lens releasing, but as to camera dropping, I always have the strap around my neck.

brianmen Loc: Sydney Australia

In my case it was never out of my sight. The lenses were firmly attached. I cannot understand why or how it happened.