100-400L too heavy for DRebel?

[otlip]

I'm curious, my local camera shop advised me to carry the 100-400l and DRebel by the lense. He said that there is a god chance to break the mount if you just support the camera. The weight of the lense is too much for the frame. Any thoughts or experiences?

Rich

[EoSD30fReAk]

i won't break the mount very fast but with those heavy lenses it's always better to hold it by the lens.

[Adam Hicks]

I'll be interested to hear comments here... I don't think it would break the camera, but you would certainly want to carry the thing and hold it by the lens anyways... I certainly do with my 20D. Whether it would break or not, why put undue stress on the camera body.

I found the rebel with the battery grip was the only way I could stand using large lenses. The rebel itself (esp the new one!) is just too small and light for any reasonable balance.

Adam

[HKFEVER]

No. The Drebel is too light for the 100-400L:p

[pradeep1]

Even if you did carry the combination by the body, I don't think you'd harm the camera much. With a steel mount, it will be okay. But I think it will be awkward to carry it that way, and your hands would get tired support the torque induced by the heavy lens. Easier and more comfortable I would think to carry by the lens. When mounting on a tripod, do consider using the lens tripod collar, as this will add stability to the setup. Mounting a heavier lens on a light body and then mounting the body to the tripod will make your setup unstable and may even topple your tripod over if you've got one of those cheap deals.

[cmM]

you won't break the mount that easy. Even though the rebel's body is plastic, underneath it there's a metal frame, which is quite solid. It's recommended to hold the camera&lens by the combo's center of weight in either case, whether it's a 300D or a 1DsMkII, if you want to avoid stress on the mount.
Trust me though, it won't be very confortable holding a camera + long heavy lens by the camera body :)

[CyberDyneSystems]

With a heavy lens,. you just carry it by the lens..
Doesn't mean that you can't use it.

[LouDawg]

I don't think its even possible to hold even a 70-200 by just the camera, your hand is going to supporting the lens anyway (for zooming and/or focusing).

[griff2]

I don't think you would break the camera or lens mounting plates, but they would certainly be under some stress.

It would be most advisable, and comfortable, to hold the camera/lens by the lens at the balancing point of the two.

[Longwatcher]

I don't think its even possible to hold even a 70-200 by just the camera, your hand is going to supporting the lens anyway (for zooming and/or focusing).

I have taken pictures with a 10D w/BG-ED3 and a 70-200/2.8L IS one handed, can't do it for long, but I can do it. I have big hands though.
Stangely despite being heavier, it is even easier with the 1DsMkII. I think it a balance thing. Something I learned playing with swords, A properly balanced sword can be three or four times heavier then an improperly balanced one and still easier to hold. I suspect same for camera/lens combos. It is easier to hold 10D with telephotos if I have the BG-ED3 on then it is without.

That and I use a hand strap, that probable also helps a lot. What I can't do is hold a 100-400 with both the 1.4 and 2x extenders on with one hand and still take a picture.

All that said, I prefer taking pictures with the lens resting on my left hand. Much better that way.

Just my experience,

[Jon, The Elder]

I shot all last year with the 100/400L and the Rebel - try to support the lens first, but sometimes I was ducking away from running horses. Never had a problem.

This year it is the 20D and a 70/200 with wrist strap - no problems there either. Much ado about nothing !

[DavidEB]

How about hanging the camera around my neck & shoulders with a strap and walking around? Is there a metal frame inside the DRebel connecting the strap mounts to the frame & lens mount, or is the weight carried by plastic parts anywhere along the line?

thanks

David

[johneo]

I would imagine any heavy lens atached to any body would, over time, cause some sort of stress to the mount. Common sense says to carry the camera in what would be comfortable position to the user.

I find when I carry my 10D with the 100-400L on it I always carry it by the lens. If the strap is around my neck I still hold the camera by the lens simply because it hurts as it smashes into your chest as you walk :)

Also, there's a reason the 100-400 comes with a tripod mount ON the lens as opposed to using the camera tripod mount. That is the center of balance for the lens with most bodies on it.

[C.S.I.]

.........hold it by the lens when same = more than the mass of camera :p

[robertwgross]

I don't use a Digital Rebel, but a 20D. There are many times when I carry the 100-400 lens around on the camera. However, I do not just let the lens dangle from the camera body.

The 100-400 lens has a tripod ring with a foot. I have a shoulder harness that goes around my shoulders and neck and attaches in the front of my chest. The foot of the tripod ring hangs on that. In this fashion, the camera body is supported above the lens, so there isn't any stress on the mount from the weight of the lens. Supported this way, the lens is ready for quick action.

---Bob Gross---