High quality

[J. Cobble]

I was at the Daytona 200 this weekend and was watching with interest the pro photographers with the monster canon lenses on in the infield. I was blown away by the way they treated thier cameras and lenses. I saw one with 1Ds or 10D with a 100 - 400 mounted with the camera strap on the camera swinging it from his shoulder. I know for a fact that that lense weighs about 4lbs with no support other than the mount to the camera. Many others put the camera lense face down in the dirt when they were not using them. I guess that shows the durability of the L lenses.

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

Or the way the pro's see them as worktools and not precious lenses ;D.

Greetings,
Frank

[BobbyC]

My first thought is maybe they didn't have to pay for them out of their own pocket. I've never understood why a pro should purposely beat up their equipment. I know a few guys myself that just tear the stuff up and seem to be proud of it.

I played music for about 10 years, 5 as a living, and I never felt it necessary to abuse my equipment, even loading and unloading every few days, just because it was my tool. I know many a talented welders who don't abuse their welding equipment just because it's a tool. I could go on and on but I have seen plenty of abuse of things that people didn't have to pay for.

I'm not saying this to be argumentative, I just find it interesting.

[RichardtheSane]

I saw one with 1Ds or 10D with a 100 - 400 mounted with the camera strap on the camera swinging it from his shoulder. I know for a fact that that lense weighs about 4lbs with no support other than the mount to the camera.

I do that quite a lot. The camera mount on the 10D, 1D etc will be more than strong enough to hold that lens like that. Make it easier to get to the camera in the long run, may save missing a shot. It has saved me from missing a couple of shots, I know that.

[J. Cobble]

me too, it was incredible. The lenses looked massive. I think they had white lens hoods. Not like the black ones I have. It would not hold up to being put on its hood in the dirt.

[justme_dc]

Most jounalists get their equiptment from the paper that they work for the los angeles times has a great lens collection. A fair amount of freelancers rent their big glass. either way, getting the shot is more important than babying equipment. Cameras are tools, I don't worry about scratching the face of my hammer when I am driving in nails.

[J. Cobble]

moral to that story.....dont buy a used rental car and dont buy a used rental lens! :D

[LiquidMantis]

I don't worry about scratching the face of my hammer when I am driving in nails.

But then scratching the head will hardly make your hammer useless... :roll:

[Jesper]

Most jounalists get their equiptment from the paper that they work for the los angeles times has a great lens collection. A fair amount of freelancers rent their big glass. either way, getting the shot is more important than babying equipment. Cameras are tools, I don't worry about scratching the face of my hammer when I am driving in nails.

But if you are putting your lens face down in the dirt it will NOT help you to get the shot right...... :?
what if something happens, you grab the lens and it's full of dirt...... :roll:

[justme_dc]

But if you are putting your lens face down in the dirt it will NOT help you to get the shot right...... :?
what if something happens, you grab the lens and it's full of dirt...... :roll:

Go look at a 600mm lens in person or even a 400mm, 300mm or 200mm. The front element is recessed a fair amount. The hoods are solid. you can stand the 600mm on the hood all day. No sweat. There will be no dirt on the front element. :wink:

[J. Cobble]

ok, I tied my 100 - 400 L IS to the back bumper of my car with 50 ft of rope and pulled it around the block twice. Didnt affect the performance at all :lol:

In reality, I did drop my 1.4 extender on the concrete. Broke my heart and put a dent in the metal casing but did not appear to affect the perfomance at all. That was the day after I got it. Pretty tough stuff.

[sparktography]

I wish I could do that with my lenses...

I'm going to steer clear of used lenses from now on - a camera shop was offering an incredible deal for a used 100-400 the other day and I passed it up. I'm glad now that I think about how rental equipment get's treated...

[KennyG]

I saw one with 1Ds or 10D with a 100 - 400 mounted with the camera strap on the camera swinging it from his shoulder. I know for a fact that that lense weighs about 4lbs with no support other than the mount to the camera.

I do that quite a lot. The camera mount on the 10D, 1D etc will be more than strong enough to hold that lens like that. Make it easier to get to the camera in the long run, may save missing a shot. It has saved me from missing a couple of shots, I know that.

At the circuits I usually have my 100-400L on one body and the 70-200L 2.8IS on the other, hanging off my shoulders. The bodies are perfectly capable of taking the lens weight. I shy off doing the same thing with my 300L 2.8IS as that is a tad heavy. I carry that mounted on the monopod with camera attached, slung over my shoulder.

I bought a set of tools to do a job, not something to be admired on a shelf. I must stress I don't park the lens face down in the dirt as I see some others do, but I don't wrap the gear in cotton wooll either.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Even as a professional Carpenter I was allways VERY carefull with my tools.. They all cost ME money.. and they make my money for me.

When I was in a position to hire others and had to supply many of the tools (electrical tools) the care that I used with my tools was quickly adopted by those that I hired. Very rarely did I ever have to replace or fix any of my tools.

Needless to say,. I am more carefull with my Camera than I am with my woodworking tools,. but I will also say this....

I have quickly adopted the attitude that I will risk all to get the shoot. Thus.. I take care of my gear,. but I do not let my care for it prohibit me in any way when it comes time to use the gear.

[J. Cobble]

Well said mate :!:

[Ferdinand]

I wish you guys would just gimme your lenses, all I have are pencils. See signature below. Thx!

Regards,
Ferdinand

[ron chappel]

Also most of the big primes have non lens type front elements.
i.e they are just a peice of glass so risking a stone or three touching it is not quite the horror that it first seems