How should I set down a DSLR with a battery grip and a longer zoom lens?
Asked 5/13/2012
3 views
2 answers
0
I added a battery grip to my Canon T3i with an 18-135mm lens and hood. The grip makes the camera taller, so when I set it down, the lens hood seems to take more of the weight. Could resting the camera this way harm the lens, hood, or mount? What resting position is safest for a camera with a battery grip and a relatively long lens?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
3
Before setting the camera down I often do a quick check to see that the hood is on tightly and correctly, and retract the zoom. That is, the lens should be in its shortest position because the weight is least likely to cause any undue pressure.
I don't know how tough the hood on your lens might be. Modern Nikon hoods all seem to be about the same, which is to say heavy plastic that doesn't buckle under some weight. I have used an old 80-200(?) that had a lighter-weight hood that would flex with a little pressure. Anyway, with the quality of the hoods on the lenses that I have, I don't hesitate to set the camera down with weight on them. I often stand the lens on-end with the hood on the table/ground/whatever, supporting the full weight of the lens; when a body is attached to a lens, I set it on its side.
Originally by user8473. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user8473
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For a setup like a T3i with an 18-135mm, resting some weight on the lens hood is generally not a problem if the hood is firmly attached and sturdy. A good habit is to retract the zoom to its shortest length before setting the camera down, since that reduces leverage on the lens and mount.
For larger true telephoto lenses, the lens usually has its own tripod collar because the lens, not the camera body, should support the balance. But your 18-135mm is not in that class.
A simple practical option is to lay the camera on its side, opposite the shutter-release side, which often gives a stable resting angle similar to what you're used to without the grip.
So: collapse the zoom, make sure the hood is secure, and set it down in a stable position. With a normal zoom and a solid hood, this should not harm the camera or lens in normal use.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI14y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Is a battery grip worth it for a Canon 600D, and should I choose Canon or third-party?
Why do DSLR battery grips usually use proprietary batteries instead of AA cells, and are there D3100 options?
Is there a hand strap setup that works in both landscape and portrait orientation on an R6 Mark II with battery grip?
What AA batteries work best in a DSLR battery grip?
Can you turn the focus ring while a DSLR lens is in autofocus mode?