Can a big lens damage a camera body hanging from a strap? Saw somewhere on a camera site that a large lens may damage a camera body when hanging from a strap. I have a Sony A7c and...

kenpayne53 Loc: Tacoma, Wa.

Saw somewhere on a camera site that a large lens may damage a camera body when hanging from a strap. I have a Sony A7c and attach a Canon 400 mm lens plus an adapter. Using a Joby cross body strap. I like to walk with the camera hanging from the strap in the middle of my back. Also ride a mtn bike same way. Too much stress on camera body?

BlackRipleyDog

kenpayne53 wrote:

Saw somewhere on a camera site that a large lens may damage a camera body when hanging from a strap. I have a Sony A7c and attach a Canon 400 mm lens plus an adapter. Using a Joby cross body strap. I like to walk with the camera hanging from the strap in the middle of my back. Also ride a mtn bike same way. Too much stress on camera body?

I bought a used Tamron 150-600 from a dealer in Japan. The first images showed a weird top and bottom out-of-focus look. Upon closer inspection, the mounting ring on the back of the lens was sloppy. At least two of the screws were loose allowing the lens do droop down. Tightening those screws brought the lens up into proper vertical alignment with the centerline of the camera. I assume that this issue is what prompted the original owner to get rid of the lens. He may have also have had a corresponding issue with the lens mount on the body. When I use this lens, I maintain positive support handholding the lens or using the lens foot on a tripod or monopod. Never with the tripod hole on the camera.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Heavy lenses are usually carried with a strap mounted to the tripod collar's shoe. The camera body itself is usually not heavy enough to cause damage. Or use a carrier that has a pouch or sling to support the lens.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Any lens I have over 135mm is hand carried. I know a Nikor 400mm f/2.8 has strap fittings on the lens. I guess that's a suggestion that hanging it on the camera body is not a great idea.
--Bob

kenpayne53 wrote:

Saw somewhere on a camera site that a large lens may damage a camera body when hanging from a strap. I have a Sony A7c and attach a Canon 400 mm lens plus an adapter. Using a Joby cross body strap. I like to walk with the camera hanging from the strap in the middle of my back. Also ride a mtn bike same way. Too much stress on camera body?

kenpayne53 Loc: Tacoma, Wa.

Great tip, maybe I can attach the strap to the lens, thanks

jim quist Loc: Missouri

I shoot with a Canon 500 f4. This is a heavy lens and more so when I add the 2x extender. When I hold it I am often holding the camera body with the lens aiming down. Or with the camera strap over my shoulder and the lens hanging down. Camera is a Canon 1dx3.
My wife shoots with a Canon 400 f4 DO and does the same. Camera is a Canon 5d4.
Although we have never had a problem with the camera/lens mount I wouldn’t recommend that others follow our example.

Grahame Loc: Fiji

kenpayne53 wrote:

Saw somewhere on a camera site that a large lens may damage a camera body when hanging from a strap. I have a Sony A7c and attach a Canon 400 mm lens plus an adapter. Using a Joby cross body strap. I like to walk with the camera hanging from the strap in the middle of my back. Also ride a mtn bike same way. Too much stress on camera body?

More than likely quite safe until an 'unplanned' shock loading places an increased stress on the mounts. Better to be safe and be prepared for those occasions, they do happen.

kenpayne53 Loc: Tacoma, Wa.

all great information, thanks for the input.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

kenpayne53 wrote:

Saw somewhere on a camera site that a large lens may damage a camera body when hanging from a strap. I have a Sony A7c and attach a Canon 400 mm lens plus an adapter. Using a Joby cross body strap. I like to walk with the camera hanging from the strap in the middle of my back. Also ride a mtn bike same way. Too much stress on camera body?

If you use the tripod ring to attach the lens to the strap, you should have no issues. If you plan on attaching the camera, best of luck with that . . .

NormanTheGr8 Loc: Racine, Wisconsin

When I hike with the 100-400 on my Sony the Black Rapid strap is attached to the lenses tripod collar. In this way the lens hangs horizontally with the lens end facing behind me (the lens stays cleaner and allows me to kneel down without driving the lens into the dirt )

Canisdirus

I'd say...ditch the camera body straps...I find they get in the way...straps on both sides of you.
Attaching to a tripod means either taking off the strap or leaving it to hang down onto the tripod...more things in the way.
Usually...if a lens comes with a tripod collar...they intend for you to use that point of attachment.

old poet

I carry my 200-500 Nikon lens with the strap attached to the tripod foot ring on the lens. It puts minimal stress on the D500 lens mount. Works great.

John Maher Loc: Northern Virginia

rmalarz wrote:

Any lens I have over 135mm is hand carried. I know a Nikor 400mm f/2.8 has strap fittings on the lens. I guess that's a suggestion that hanging it on the camera body is not a great idea.
--Bob

This makes sense -- especially with the lighter, cropped cameras (e.g., D3XXX, D5XXX, D7XXX) and heavier lenses. The lens may weigh more than the camera so the stress will be on the camera mount. The plastic lenses would be lighter than the metal ones.

I carry mine in a sling bag so the camera is on top of or resting next to the camera (depending on orientation).

JBRIII

I did not see any mention of the biking, that's where I'd really be concerned. The amount of force exerted in sports can be amazing. I was far from a great skier, but liked sped and bend pieces in Look bindings from stopping from 50-60 mph. I loved the bindings, but after twice bending metal rods, I got rid of them. Even stopping quickly on a street, much less any real mountain terran, could send the camera flying and exert considerable forces I would think.

rwm283main Loc: Terryville, CT

I had the same problem with the 100-400mm lens I bought on eBay for my Fujifilm camera. The first time I mounted the lens to my camera I noticed considerable wobble between the lens and camera mount. I checked the lens mount screws and they were very lose. After tightening everything was fine. I never support the lens from the camera tripod mount when using a camera strap with this lens, the lens is just too heavy for those small screws that keep everything together. I attach the strap to the lens tripod mount. I haven’t had the problem since I’ve tightened the screws and use the above carrying technique.