cam body damage when using harnesses?

Many of the camera carrying harness systems on the market use the tripod mount on the bottom of the camera body. I was wondering if suspending the weight of the camera and a long, heavy lense at that one point could damage the camera body, by torque twisting or whatever.

The other choices for mounting points would be one of the usual strap mounts on the upper corners, and the tripod/monopod mounting point on the bottom of the lens. But in both cases, the camera and lens might not hang in the right position.

Any thoughts?

very good question, i was wondering the same thing.
Anyone ... any thoughts > ?

When I have a large lens on my camera, I use the tripod mount on the lens for the strap mount. That point is a good balance point for the lens & camera on the tripod and it's also a good balance point for the strap too.

Mark

Never thought of usinhg anything else but the lugs provided my the manufacturer for carrying the camera around on a strap, surely if you use the tripod bush there is the potential for the camera (especially with a big lens) to spin around whilst your walking which could lead to it being knocked more easily, also of course there is a risk of the securing bolt/screw loosening and your precious camera being part of an involountary impact test!

Thanks for the replies. Good stuff there.

Since most harness makers include either a tripod screw plate or small lug meant to be attached to the bottom of the camera body, and usually include product photos that include a large lens, I would have thought the question about potential damage to the camera body would have been researched.

The comments about using either the strap connection points, or the lens tripod attachment point, make the most sense. The only difference when using the tripod point is that the camera and lense will be horizontal when carried, which might be a problem in an area crowded with other shooters. To solve that issue, I may try using a secondary strap, attached at the camera tripod mount, but loose enough to not carry all the weight - which would be carried by the lens tripod mount - but simply to pull the lens into vertical. Hope that makes sense.

I recently purchased one of the Opteka MCH-25 chest holsters, which solves most of that problem by carrying one or two cameras and zooms close to the body, but I haven't had a chance to field test it yet. That, too, uses the camera tripod lug as a mounting point, though the lens lug can be used, though that raises the body higher in the holster, which puts a lot of torque on the holster lug itself. Since the camera and lens are carried right next to the body, the MCH-25 would probably prevent some of the torque twisting of the camera at the lug.

Maybe it's time to hire a small assistant with a strong back who works cheap?

And to all those who are reading these posts ten or twenty years from now, with your state-of-the-art mini-camera that has a perfect 10mm-800mm zoom built into your full-frame, 3D, 1000fps camera body, which is the same size - and weighing less - than a cell phone, please stop laughing at us relics.

Chuck Lantz said:

Many of the camera carrying harness systems on the market use the tripod mount on the bottom of the camera body. I was wondering if suspending the weight of the camera and a long, heavy lense at that one point could damage the camera body, by torque twisting or whatever.

The other choices for mounting points would be one of the usual strap mounts on the upper corners, and the tripod/monopod mounting point on the bottom of the lens. But in both cases, the camera and lens might not hang in the right position.

Any thoughts?

Click to expand...

With longer zooms, I put the mounting lug for my Black Rapid strap on the tripod collar of the lens rather than the camera. I don't find this to be a problem at all.

Mark

Boxbrownie said:

Never thought of usinhg anything else but the lugs provided my the manufacturer for carrying the camera around on a strap, surely if you use the tripod bush there is the potential for the camera (especially with a big lens) to spin around whilst your walking which could lead to it being knocked more easily, also of course there is a risk of the securing bolt/screw loosening and your precious camera being part of an involountary impact test!

Click to expand...

The mounting clip on the Black Rapid strap I use has a swivel so it can't loosen the mounting lug. I've never had a problem.

Chuck Lantz said:

Many of the camera carrying harness systems on the market use the tripod mount on the bottom of the camera body. I was wondering if suspending the weight of the camera and a long, heavy lense at that one point could damage the camera body, by torque twisting or whatever.

The other choices for mounting points would be one of the usual strap mounts on the upper corners, and the tripod/monopod mounting point on the bottom of the lens. But in both cases, the camera and lens might not hang in the right position.

Any thoughts?

Click to expand...

I wouldn't mount anything bigger than a 70-200f/2.8 on a pro body via body mount in a harness system. I can't imagine having a 500f/4 mounted on my chest. It would be in the way most of the time, sort of like a monkey humping a football.

I don't shoot hand held with anything larger than a 300f/2.8 anymore. I put a lens strap on the the 300. My 500 goes on a monopod, and that I carry over my shoulder. I don't use both of those lenses at the same time though. The guys I see that do have two long lenses have them on straps. I usually only see smaller zoom lenses in harnesses. Small sampling of what is out there though. I only attend motorsports at one track, or go out in the wild on my own.

So how did the MotoGP go at Laguna Seca?

Schwany said:

So how did the MotoGP go at Laguna Seca?

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It went great. The weather was perfect, and the light even cooperated, going from a slight overcast in the early practice session to full sunlight in the second practice (I only went for the Friday practice sessions). Those are the two conditions I like shooting in, especially when shooting the bikes.

Since I was limited in time and didn't need a lot of variety, I shot everything from Turn 11, on the outside. That turn has always been my fave at Laguna Seca, since it's got everything I need; ... a good background; hard braking; a knees down moderate speed corner, with "faces', leading onto a full-bore straight. What more could I ask?

Here's a direct link to the online gallery with some of the MotoGP shots. I'll be loading more soon, with a couple of the support classes, too. Let me know what you think.

http://www.pbase.com/chucklantz/motogp_2012

I was behind the short fence over by the oak at Turn 11 for a couple of hours Friday afternoon, trying to shoot through that open space where emergency vehicles can get on the track. I was testing a 300f/2.8 with a 2X extender on it shooting slow shutter. Not the best idea in hindsight. No faces in the helmets of the MotoGP guys though. They had the dark face shields on for that afternoon practice.

Since you had creds, what window in the fence were you shooting from?

I was there Friday and Saturday. I hung around most of the day Friday, but bailed out Saturday afternoon. Saturday morning was a bust by the way. Too foggy, and nobody wanted to practice until about 10:30am. The MotoGP guys only went out for about 15 minutes for morning practice.

I'll check out your shots later. Gonna run over to the track now.

If your in the bay area and not doing anything, you ought to get over to that Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca all this week, and through the weekend. Incredible amount of cars to look at if you like vintage race cars. Many of them are pristine and in better shape than when they were built.

Schwany said:

I was behind the short fence over by the oak at Turn 11 for a couple of hours Friday afternoon, trying to shoot through that open space where emergency vehicles can get on the track. I was testing a 300f/2.8 with a 2X extender on it shooting slow shutter. Not the best idea in hindsight. No faces in the helmets of the MotoGP guys though. They had the dark face shields on for that afternoon practice.

Since you had creds, what window in the fence were you shooting from?

I was there Friday and Saturday. I hung around most of the day Friday, but bailed out Saturday afternoon. Saturday morning was a bust by the way. Too foggy, and nobody wanted to practice until about 10:30am. The MotoGP guys only went out for about 15 minutes for morning practice.

I'll check out your shots later. Gonna run over to the track now.

If your in the bay area and not doing anything, you ought to get over to that Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca all this week, and through the weekend. Incredible amount of cars to look at if you like vintage race cars. Many of them are pristine and in better shape than when they were built.

Click to expand...

Were you wearing a tan baseball cap with "Acme" something on it? If so, I took a shot of you while checking focus. I shot just across from the Repsol pits, and around to the TV camera platform position looking up the short straight to T-10, shooting both from the platform and just below it (shooting from TV platforms is easy if you bring a bag of cookies. Those people rarely get a food break)

I may try to get to at least one day of the Reunion, but, as usual, everything happens at once. Boats and cars and baseball, all in the same week. Oh, life is SO hard.

It weren't me. I was behind the short spectator fence over by the ice plant and probably hidden by the big oak. I wear an unusual hat (looks like a camo colored Easter bonnet) and have a large roughly hewn mustache. I don't think you could see where I was at from near that TV platform. Too much emergency equipment and fencing in the way.

Some other info on the Reunion. Yesterday was a nobody on track day, but there are a lot of cars to look at in the paddock anyway. Today, Wednesday, drivers that have never been on the track will get some time. There is no charge to watch and wander around, but you might have to pay the county park entry fee. Thursday practice starts again in earnest for all the classes, still might have to pay the park entry fee, but the track will be very busy and you won't have to cough up $75 bucks admission. Friday through Sunday it's all pay, and no parking unless you bought a parking pass 4 months ago.

Sounds like you might be a bit too busy though. Enjoy the boats on the bay.

Chuck Lantz said:

Were you wearing a tan baseball cap with "Acme" something on it? If so, I took a shot of you while checking focus. I shot just across from the Repsol pits, and around to the TV camera platform position looking up the short straight to T-10, shooting both from the platform and just below it (shooting from TV platforms is easy if you bring a bag of cookies. Those people rarely get a food break)

I may try to get to at least one day of the Reunion, but, as usual, everything happens at once. Boats and cars and baseball, all in the same week. Oh, life is SO hard.

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The hat!!

I did see you then, but I don't think I got a photo of you. I was admiring the sun protection that hat must give, and I almost walked over and asked where you bought it. I sometimes wear a 'Foreign legion' type of baseball cap, with a sun cover on the back, but the one you were wearing offers much wider protection, from the back and sides.

What type of support does the hat have that keeps the neck shade shaped like that?

And where can I buy one? It looks like the perfect alternative to slathering sun-block on my face and neck, ... and then trying to clean my hands afterwards, before getting it all over the camera and lens.

I should blackmail you for this vital professional outdoor photographer info and insist you to pass me your media card through the fence next year so I can get past those kids that watch that gate, but I'm easy. he he

I got das hat at Longs Drugs when it was called Longs Drugs. It's CVS now. It was in the gardening section. It has a Black label on it that says "Sunday Afternoons". I think it has a flexible piece of very durable rubber in the brim that helps it stay sort of fanned out. It could be folded into a ball and shoved in a pocket without damaging it. I painted mine funny with fabric paint. It was beige or khaki colored originally. It could use a fresh coat of paint.

The brim gets in the way shooting portrait orientation and I have to flip it up. That makes me look like Yosemite Sam, and generally gets a few chuckles.

Anywho, do a search on that Sunday Afternoons name and see if they are still around and if anyone carries them. It will protect the back of your neck and shade your viewfinder and LCD a bit better than the foreign legion hats, but it does look funny.

Schwany said:

I should blackmail you for this vital professional outdoor photographer info and insist you to pass me your media card through the fence next year so I can get past those kids that watch that gate, but I'm easy. he he

I got das hat at Longs Drugs when it was called Longs Drugs. It's CVS now. It was in the gardening section. It has a Black label on it that says "Sunday Afternoons". I think it has a flexible piece of very durable rubber in the brim that helps it stay sort of fanned out. It could be folded into a ball and shoved in a pocket without damaging it. I painted mine funny with fabric paint. It was beige or khaki colored originally. It could use a fresh coat of paint.

The brim gets in the way shooting portrait orientation and I have to flip it up. That makes me look like Yosemite Sam, and generally gets a few chuckles.

Anywho, do a search on that Sunday Afternoons name and see if they are still around and if anyone carries them. It will protect the back of your neck and shade your viewfinder and LCD a bit better than the foreign legion hats, but it does look funny.

Click to expand...

Well, I did find the website for the Sunday Afternoons hat company, and they owe you a commission, since I bought two sun hats, including one of the types you were wearing, plus a micro fiber t-shirt. They've got some great sun protection hats there, the best I've ever seen, with full neck and face protection. Better to look funny than get a grim look from your dermatologist at the end of a visit.

Most of us in these forums work in the sun a lot, so spreading the word about good sun protection products can't hurt. Here's the link, and thanks for the info!

http://www.sundayafternoons.com/?esvt=GOUSE18&esvadt=999999-0-1-1&esvid=1&gclid=CKO9-u7k-rECFWWCQgodeT8AOA

And while I would love to be able to slip a credential to you when no one is looking, after considering the deadly serious way Dorna conducts its credentialing processing, what with all the cornea recognition tests, DNA cross-checks, blood typing and family background investigations that are now required to even get near the door, I'm afraid they'd hunt me down and lop off some body parts if I loaned you my card.

I'd suggest tunneling under the fence next time. It's much easier.

--
"I'm hooked on The Look"

"If they're not screaming at you to get out of the way, you're not close enough" - I thought this was original, but it's very close to what someone else said. Oh, well.

"Not to compete whole-heartedly, with a will to win, degrades the sport and insults the competition" - anonymous Olympic long-distance runner

"Mongo not know ... Mongo just pawn in game of life." - Mongo

http://www.ChuckLantz.com