DSLR stressed fingers: when does it go away?

[Cadenza]

After a week of heavy shooting with my new toy
(10D w/ battery grip; mostly the 17-40L and/or
85mm 1.8, plus the 420EX) my right hand fingers
are complaining sore and achey. When does this
feeling go away? How do handholding pros deal
with this? Do photogs geet carpal tunnel syndrom?

In my case, the gripping fingers are more stressed
than the arm. I'm expecting it will go away, but the
difference is significant since I'm used to to the
ease and compactness of the G3/Pro1, my main
cameras for the past 3 years. And don't have weak
fingers; I can type 75 wpm and am a classically
trained piano player. But my previous SLR (Elan IIe)
now feels so light as to seem hollow. Is prolonged
use of DSLR going to mess up my piano playing?

-- Cadenza

[ohenry]

You're too tense. Relax your grip and let the force be with you. :)

[Bruce Hamilton]

Is prolonged use of DSLR going to mess up my piano playing?

Yes! You must ship all your camera equipment to me at once! :mrgreen:

[maderito]

One of my first posts on the forum was my similar experience with this problem:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=20397

As a noob, I got the usual mix of useful and less-than-helpful replies.

I'm pretty sure the problem is the BG-ED3 grip and your hand position (cocked back) while carrying your camera around. The resulting strain injury probably falls into the class of repetitive strain injuries that can affect fingers, wrists, forearm and/or elbow. You're possibly also using your computer mouse more often than previously - which might add to the injury.

I did some forearm strengthening exercises for awhile (as recommended by forum members). I bought some heavier L lenses (to intensify the exercises :lol: ). Expensive therapy. Maybe helpful. :?

I've shot about 10,000 pics since then. Definitely helped. :)

Read up on repetitive strain injuries.

[angst911]

did you get the hand strap also ;) ?

[defordphoto]

I just put the hand strap on my cameras this season and it's amazing the difference it makes. I highly recommend them.

[Belmondo]

Oh yes. Hand straps are an absolute necessity. If your hand is securely 'stuffed' into the hand strap, you really don't have to grip the body at all, and your fingers will be free to roam over the various controls without fear of dropping the whole works.

The only tricky part about the hand strap is figuring out how to install it without directions.

[blinking8s]

what is a good handstrap for a 300d, i havent bought a toy in 2 weeks now, a hand strap sounds like an awesome idea...

[Belmondo]

To use the Canon hand strap, you have to have the batter grip on the camera. :cry:

[blinking8s]

well, i have the grip...now just to find me a strap :roll:

[ron chappel]

I'm abit surprised at the orriginal post to be honest,this is something i can't ever remember having to deal with.
Perhaps,as the others say it's mostly a bad grip position you have your hand in.
Mind you i have a setup that generally weighs about half what yours does....i can imagine that it may take awile to get used to that kind of weight
If it's a simple case of having to build up very specific muscles,that will happen in stages and should all be well and trully acheived in a month or two(?)
I put a question mark there because it is extemely variable and some days you go fine,others are all pain

One absolute sure fire hint though-if you do alot before the aches have quite recovered from the last outing,you will really force the muscles to build up at their best rate.Yes it's not fun but damn it works well :shock: :wink: