Lens mount stress: fact or fiction

[IronMaskDuval]

So, when I carry around the 70-200, I always hold my kit by the lens just because it's better balanced, but what about smaller but still heavy lens? I just got this 17-55 for my Nikon, and although when the camera is in my hands, I'll hold it my the lens. But while it's dangling from my shoulder strap, should I worry about stressing the lens mount on the D7100, or am I just being fluffy?

 

[Braineack]

I'm not a physician, but I'd say picking it up from whatever side is heavier will stress the mount the least.

 

[IronMaskDuval]

I'm more curious as to if the weight stresses the mount at all in regards to its physical integrity. Will it damage the mount?

 

[fjrabon]

you'll be fine as long as you aren't bouncing the camera around heavily (like running with it). Regular walking with it hanging and the strap attached to the regular side rings should be fine because typically the lens is hanging downward, and thus it's not directly stressing the mount.

What's really bad is if you have a heavy lens and you mount it to a monopod by way of the body's screw in base. Because then the lens is pointed outward, putting all the weight of the lens downward on the mount. If you're shooting a heavy lens on a monopod or tripod, either be very careful about supporting the lens with your hand or mounting it via the screw foot of the lens.

There used to be parents on the sidelines shooting football with big lenses mounting their monopods to the body, and you could see the lens bouncing on the mount and I would cringe every single time.

 

[Braineack]

well, the longer the lens, and the more weight at the far end, the easier it will be to bend the mount if you hold by the camera.

rule of thumb: if the lens has a mount, carry by the lens. then dont drop the camera [impact damage will kill a mount ezpz].

 

[Derrel]

I think the smaller lenses, 24-70 and 28-70/2.8, 85/1.4, all those kind of lenses in the roughly 48 ounce and under class are all fine when the camera is held by the body or mounted on a tripod using the camera's tripod socket...buuuut...if the lens is heavy, and the lens has its own tripod collar...that tells you that the manufacturer thinks the lens is "heavy", and is best supported at the lens...I would not worry one but about a lens as light as a 17-55/2.8 being carried by the camera strap slung over your shoulder.

 

[Overread18 6]

I would say most camera bodies should be fine held by the body for anything up to and including a typical 70-200mm f2.8 lens in weight. Myself I've used my 400D and 7D held body side only with a 70-200mm without problems - note that is when walking when the camera is typically in a downward facing direction so the lens mount isn't taking much pressure side to side. When bringing the camera and lens up to shoot one uses a hand on the lens to help - its not only reducing the strain on the mount its also saving your right hand wrist because whilst its a manageable weight its silly to lift it one-handed.

Anything heavier and I tend to carry it by the tripod collar if holding it in one hand simply because the weight distribution becomes a lot easier to carry that way.


Note if you get one of the Kirk plates for a lens with a tripod collar there are handles which will fit the kirk/Really Right stuff quick release system which means you can clip a handle onto your lens tripod collar