How Do You Carry a 10D with the Bigma Attached?

[jcsorensen]

I know that question begs for a saracastic answer, but before those start coming in, please try to at least provide me with some advice I can really use.

Got my BIGMA a couple of weaks ago and my biceps and triceps have grown significantly carrying it around. I was wondering if anyone knows whether or not it is safe to carry the camera by the camera strap without supporting the lens (safe for the camera that is, not for the fool carrying it around)? Could this damage the lens mount on the camera. The Bigma has a lock to prevent lens drift from happening when carrying the lens around, so this suggest to me that people carry the camera around via the neck strap and the lens hanging freely.

Not sure if this makes sense, but I hope someone out there understands what I am asking and can answer the question.

[dn7elson]

For the really big lenses, I have seen lens straps, so that you are carrying by the lens in much the same way that you mount a big lens on the tripod vs. the camera.

[Digital Prophet]

I have no idea what something like that weighs. But I am thinking that it ain't light.

So my thought is a vest support. Something similar to this (http://www.glidecam.com/goldvest.html). Now that particular support system is high dollar. But maybe it will put you on the right track to finding something some sort of body/waist support.

That or I was thinking maybe one of those rifle camera rigs. You know, it has a rifle body and should butt. The camera mounts on the body and you run a wire to the cable remote connection to a trigger on the body.

- Digital Prophet -

[DocFrankenstein]

So my thought is a vest support. Something similar to this (http://www.glidecam.com/goldvest.html).
You've got to be kidding me. :shock: That thing is for mounting a 50 kg professional FILM cameras and shooting movies with it. No way he's gonna find one cheaper than his cam+lens combined. The other alternative is the steadycam which would not cost less AFAIK.

I'd say invest in steroids :lol: Cheaper and better for the chicks :wink:

Jokes aside. What Bigma are you referring to? 50-500? or 70-200? 70-200 isn't a Smallma either.

Ever seen war movies? You know how they put the rocket lauchers on their shoulder? That's the easiest way. :twisted: :lol:

[jcsorensen]

I was just wondering if I could damage the camera body by carrying the camera by the neck strap and not supporting the large lens (Sigma 50-500). That vest thing though is way too cool--bet I could wear it around and nobody would even notice me. ;-)

[neo_xeno]

yeah, using a steady cam or glide cam would be way overkill. i have used a glide cam before with a mini-dv camera weighing around 30 pounds and it wasn't light or easy to use. i can't imagine putting a 16mm or 35mm camera with a full magazine on it and strapping that baby on.

[DocFrankenstein]

If I can do this with my Rebel, you can carry your bigma with 10D. 8)

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=38789&highlight=

I don't know how much heavier your 50-500 is, but it would be wise to hold the whole thing at the lens where it's center of gravity is. It should be fine.

[Digital Prophet]

Alright you bunch of smartguys. When I said something similar to a glide boom I meant something like it. Not that specifically.

And look, I found someone that knew what I was talking about. This is called a GoPod (http://www.pixelagogo.com/gopod/). It distributes the weight of the camera and lens to the upper body via a should harness.

It isn't cheap but I think that if I were out in the field either waiting to take pics that this would make it a hell of alot easier to hold that camera in the ready position without your arm falling off.

- Digital Prophet -

[Belmondo]

Wow. $415.00. It looks like it actually could have some advantages with larger camera/lens combinations. I'm getting a mental image of someone sticking a monopod in their trousers, and I can only imagine serious physical harm coming to anyone who tries. On the other hand, if there was a way to support a monopod at about waist level, a similar effect might be achieved. Maybe a tool belt from the hardware store or something. :?

[Digital Prophet]

Oh well for sure that would be a much better idea for cheap people like me. I think that you are right and that something like this could be rigged at home.

But there are people out there that jsut prefer to write that check.

Personally I wasn't really sure how something like this would look. But having seen it I think that a .... a lifting belt, a ball joint, a properly sized extension tube, some threaded nipples and some black paint ought to get one of these bad boys worked up for less than $100.

Oh BTW, happy birthday.

- Digital Prophet -

[Roy NN7DX]

The BigMa comes with it's own neck/shoulder strap...Use it! When used with it's strap the lens has the lighter camera on its end instead of trying to drag that big assed lens around with the body hanging from a strap around your neck.

I wore my BigMa with the strap over my head and on one a shoulder a la an Uzi... This made the camera and lens naturally hang about a foot below the other shoulder... I used it slung like that a lot and it was comfortable for hours of use and ready to bring to my eye for shooting in a flash... When walking through brush I'd place my hand a little way into the lens shade and expand my fingers to protect the lens coating...

Oh well... BigMa lives at someone else’s house now but I'm looking for a good way of slinging my new 100-400L/IS over my shoulder in the same way...

[DianeH]

I'm getting a mental image of someone sticking a monopod in their trousers, and I can only imagine serious physical harm coming to anyone who tries. On the other hand, if there was a way to support a monopod at about waist level, a similar effect might be achieved. Maybe a tool belt from the hardware store or something. :?

Manfrotto make a monopod belt pouch for the princely sum of just under £15 in the UK. It has a channel at the top that slides over your belt and is a.... well, it's a pouch that the monopod end sits in! See here:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=5532&is=REG

I never used a monopod with my 10D + 50-500. The one I had was far too lightweight for the camera and lens. I always carried it in the backpack and attached it to my tripod when needed, due to the weight. Hence it was hardly used. I now have the Sigma 135-400 (50-500 still for sale) and can hand-hold this at a pinch, but now I use a stonger monopod and find that I can carry the camera/lens combo quite comfortably. I just sling the monopod over my shoulder, with the camera strap round my neck, just in case!

[DaveG]

I know that question begs for a saracastic answer, but before those start coming in, please try to at least provide me with some advice I can really use.

Got my BIGMA a couple of weaks ago and my biceps and triceps have grown significantly carrying it around. I was wondering if anyone knows whether or not it is safe to carry the camera by the camera strap without supporting the lens (safe for the camera that is, not for the fool carrying it around)? Could this damage the lens mount on the camera. The Bigma has a lock to prevent lens drift from happening when carrying the lens around, so this suggest to me that people carry the camera around via the neck strap and the lens hanging freely.

Not sure if this makes sense, but I hope someone out there understands what I am asking and can answer the question.

What's a BIGMA?

[Canuck]

Bigma is a contraction of Big sIGMA...usually reserved for the likes of the 120-300mm F2.8EX (which I have) and the 50-500mm F4-6.3.

When I have it and not in use but ready, I flip camera upside down and carry it with the camera in right hand and the lens on my left shoulder. The neckstrap around my neck like it should be. This most simulates the lens being on tripod. Not to mention having a 5 3/4 lb lens abound ur neck does get tiring!

[DaveG]

Bigma is a contraction of Big sIGMA...usually reserved for the likes of the 120-300mm F2.8EX (which I have) and the 50-500mm F4-6.3.

When I have it and not in use but ready, I flip camera upside down and carry it with the camera in right hand and the lens on my left shoulder. The neckstrap around my neck like it should be. This most simulates the lens being on tripod. Not to mention having a 5 3/4 lb lens abound ur neck does get tiring!

Ah, I see.

Well I used to leave my 300 f2.8 on a monopod and carry it over my shoulder. It was as comfortable a way of carrying it as I ever found.

[jimtfoto]

I've found that the most comfortable carrying position for the Bigma is tor cup the battery grip on the 10D in me left hand with the lens running up to my elbow ... just like cradling a baby ...
jim

[abel]

i would recommend getting a bg-ed3 battery grip for your cam and then getting an E1 hand strap.

i caryy my 70-200 f2.8L around on my 10d/bg-ed3 setup and the hand strap gives me a lot more support and especially makes me less likely to have it slip from my grasp...

http://www.nitrocross.com/temp/10dhand.jpg

just a thought

good luck...

[jack lumber]

Wow. $415.00. It looks like it actually could have some advantages with larger camera/lens combinations. I'm getting a mental image of someone sticking a monopod in their trousers, and I can only imagine serious physical harm coming to anyone who tries. On the other hand, if there was a way to support a monopod at about waist level, a similar effect might be achieved. Maybe a tool belt from the hardware store or something. :?


Is that a manfrotto in your pocket ,,,or are you just glad too see me?;)

[ScottE]

There are a few comfortable ways to carry the Bigma. The most obvious is to turn the tripod ring so that the food is at the top. The foot then acts like a carrying handle so you can carry it like a briefcase. There are even finger grooves to make this method more secure. Another method is to cradle it in your left arm, like you would carry a baby. A third is to hang it over your left shoulder, keeping your hand on it for balance.

Most of the time I have mine on a tripod and just carry the tripod over my shoulder with the camera and lens either hanging out back or our front. I always twist the camera strap around the tripod so that if the lens should happen to come loose it won't fall to the ground.

I don't find it very comfortable to carry by the camera stap around my neck, but occasionally hang it that way if I need both hands to change batteries or CF cards.

Sometimes I will hang the camera strap over my shoulder so that it supports some of the weight, but part of the weight is also carried by my hand.

[dpastern]

Ah, I see.

Well I used to leave my 300 f2.8 on a monopod and carry it over my shoulder. It was as comfortable a way of carrying it as I ever found.

I do the same thing with my 300mm f4 (admittedly a lighter lens than the f2.8 version). Works for me.

Dave

[Tee Why]

I use the strap, but hold onto the grip with the right and the barrel with the left. Kind of like walking with a rifel in a sense. I think it would be ok to just let it hang from the camera, but all that swinging weight isn't too comfortable on the neck in my view.

[blackviolet]

woohoo - this is an old thread...
i use my bigma pretty much every saturday all day. if it's on the monopod, i generally rest the lens on my shoulder if i'm relaxing. when i run up and down the field, i generally have body in right hand, lens in left, and monopod just dangling down.

if the monopod isn't attached, i generally just carry it by the body and occasionally by the tripod mount.
btw - the lens mount on the Bigma has come loose twice - the first time the internal screws came apart and the mount was then very loose. the second time, 2 of the external screws came loose and the bottom and right screw holes on the mount itself actually stretched/elongated under the stresses of holding the body shooting whilst on the monopd. it stretched so much the screws then stripped the holes and the mount came off. the first time it was repaired under warranty. the second time they fixed it for a small fee.

[Tee Why]

I guess it's best to not carry the lens slugn over the shoulder with a monopod or to let it just dangle from the camera by the neck strap then.

[blackviolet]

i probably should have been clearer - it wasn't from carrying it. it was from using it constantly with a monopod. i'm constantly holding onto the 1 series body, activating the shutter thousands of times, with my other hand holding the zoom ring or resting on the top. the tripod ring acts as a fulcrum so i'm applying considerable pressure over time (6 hours or more every saturday during rugby season).
carrying it over the shoulder isn't going to exert the nearly same pressure on the mount.

[lefturn99]

Bushhawk