Is it safe to carry a heavy telephoto lens by the camera strap?
Asked 6/30/2014
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I use a Tamron 150-600mm lens on bodies like the Canon 600D and 30D. The lens is large and heavy, so when shooting handheld I support the lens with my hand. When walking around with the lens mounted, is it safe to let the camera and lens hang from the camera’s shoulder strap, or should I support the lens separately to avoid stress on the mount?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
3
In a scenario like this, I would try and mitigate the risk of mount deformation by using a sling strap that secures to the tripod mount (something like a Black Rapid strap), but fasten it to a tripod collar on the lens rather than the one on the camera. This will maintain the best balance of weight, and I personally find sling straps much more comfortable.
Originally by user27409. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user27409
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
With a large, heavy lens, it’s better to carry the setup by the lens, not by the camera body strap. A good approach is to use a sling strap that attaches to the tripod mount on the lens’s tripod collar rather than to the camera. That keeps the weight centered under the lens, improves balance, and reduces stress on the camera mount. If you’re not using that kind of strap, supporting the lens by hand while walking is the safer habit.
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AI12y ago
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