Best Lens Switching method

[mikolaj]

I'm having trouble switching lenses -- I'm afraid I'll drop one, or scratch the other (I don't normally use a tripod).
What's your advice for the fastest/most effective way for switching lenses?

[Todd Jacobsen]

Zoom lens...

[pcasciola]

It sounds like such a simple concept, and I never really paid it any mind until I had to clean a ton of dust off my sensor.

Now I always do it this way:



Turn the camera off to avoid any static charge attracting dust
Cap the lens
Have the new lens on a table or in my bag ready with the front element down
Unmount the old lens and put it next to the new lens
Switch rear caps from one lens to the other
Mount the new lens
I do this while keeping the front of the camera pointed down the entire time to minimize how much dust can get in.

Some people might consider this a severe case of OCD. :D

[who me?]

It sounds like such a simple concept, and I never really paid it any mind until I had to clean a ton of dust off my sensor.

Now I always do it this way:



Turn the camera off to avoid any static charge attracting dust
Cap the lens
Have the new lens on a table or in my bag ready with the front element down
Unmount the old lens and put it next to the new lens
Switch rear caps from one lens to the other
Mount the new lens
I do this while keeping the front of the camera pointed down the entire time to minimize how much dust can get in.

Some people might consider this a severe case of OCD. :D

That is about what I do but I like your method on the lenses. I got in the habit of keeping the camera pointing down in my film days. Then it was not because of dust but reducing the possibility of stray light accidentally exposing film.
As far as the OCD, not really, whatever you can do to minimize dust is always a good thing.

[Harry Settle]

It sounds like such a simple concept, and I never really paid it any mind until I had to clean a ton of dust off my sensor.

Now I always do it this way:



Turn the camera off to avoid any static charge attracting dust
Cap the lens
Have the new lens on a table or in my bag ready with the front element down
Unmount the old lens and put it next to the new lens
Switch rear caps from one lens to the other
Mount the new lens
I do this while keeping the front of the camera pointed down the entire time to minimize how much dust can get in.

Some people might consider this a severe case of OCD. :D

I use the same method.

[markubig]

I haven't done it, but is it bad to blow into the front sensor area before mounting the new lens?

[mikolaj]

I guess the other solutions is to have multiple bodies, minizing the lens switch.
Anyone have a spare Mark II? :cool:

[tim]

I haven't done it, but is it bad to blow into the front sensor area before mounting the new lens?

You'll be adding condensation if you do that, you're better off using a blower or not bothering IMHO.

[pcasciola]

I haven't done it, but is it bad to blow into the front sensor area before mounting the new lens?That's REALLY bad. There was a guy recently who posted some pictures after trying that, and it was probably the dirtiest sensor I had every seen.

[symes]

It sounds like such a simple concept, and I never really paid it any mind until I had to clean a ton of dust off my sensor.

Now I always do it this way:




Turn the camera off to avoid any static charge attracting dust
Cap the lens
Have the new lens on a table or in my bag ready with the front element down
Unmount the old lens and put it next to the new lens
Switch rear caps from one lens to the other
Mount the new lens
I do this while keeping the front of the camera pointed down the entire time to minimize how much dust can get in.

Some people might consider this a severe case of OCD. :D




I use the same method, but I find it damn hard to keep the camera pointed downwards...hopefully that will come with practice...

[RDKirk]

I'm having trouble switching lenses -- I'm afraid I'll drop one, or scratch the other (I don't normally use a tripod).
What's your advice for the fastest/most effective way for switching lenses?

I use a Domke F2 bag, which allows me to remove and replace lenses without moving anything out of the way--in fact, without even looking at it. Each lens has its own vertical pocket in the bag, and the pockets are wide and deep enough to fully accomodate each lens with its hood mounted.

When I prepare to leave the "staging area" (my car, say, or hotel room), I remove the front lens caps, attach the hoods, and put each lens into its pocket front-end downward (yes, each lens has its own pocket that it always occupies--so I can reach in and grab the lens I want without looking). I leave the rear lens cap on. With the hoods attached, the front elements don't touch the bottoms of the pockets.

I may be wearing one or two cameras. They will have lenses mounted, which means that the pockets for those lenses in the bag will be empty. Also, one outside pocket of the bag has nothing in it but rear lens caps and a couple of other necessities (like a pocket torch).

When I want to change the lens on a camera, I remove the lens from the camera (I don't turn the camera off first), turn the lens front-down and slip it into its pocket. I pull a rear cap out of the cap pocket and attach it to the rear of the lens. Then I remove the rear cap from the next lens, drop the cap into the cap pocket, pull the lens out of the pocket and attach it to my camera. I can do all this without taking my eyes off the subject, and in fact, while jogging toward a subject.

[RDKirk]

I haven't done it, but is it bad to blow into the front sensor area before mounting the new lens?

Yes, unless you're sitting at home at your desk.

If you're outside, you want to get another lens back on as quickly as possible. I presume you're not talking about blowing into the mirror box with your mouth, of course. With a blower, you're not actually getting any dust out of the box, you're just swirling it around. Better to let it lie, if it will.

[neil_r]

I just "do it" without thinking, I am a frequent lens changer, one tip though, the wife can come in very handy when yoiu need that third hand.

N

[Marshall]

Thanks Neil, I wondered what wives were for, can't afford one again especially since this forum got me !

[ijohnson]

My strategy varies slightly, to expose the inside of the camera for the shortest time possible.

1) New lens, rear cap off, on the table
2) power off the camera
3) remove lens and place it front lens cap down on the table
4) put the new lens on immediately
5) cap the old lens with the other rear cap

Done.

The inside of the camera is exposed for only about 2-3 seconds. I always point the body down while changing lenses as well. The lens always gets second consideration. Its easier to clean a rear element than a sensor.

Not sure if this is too much, but my sensor is still perfectly clean after about a year +.

[neil_r]

1) New lens, rear cap off, on the table
2) power off the camera
3) remove lens and place it front lens cap down on the table

I change lenses all the time (not unusual for 20+ in the course of a days shooting), the only thing thing for sure is that there is never a table anywhere near where I want to change lenses. :D

N

[PacAce]

I haven't done it, but is it bad to blow into the front sensor area before mounting the new lens?
Contrary to what others have said, I don't see any problem with doing that, unless you happen to be out where it's really dusty or wind is blowing. I wouldn't be doing this all the time, though. If you think about it, you really aren't blowing onto the front sensor area because there's a mirror in the way and behind that is the shutter curtain. And I'm sure you didn't mean to say that you were really considering cleaning the sensor (using the "Clean Sensor" menu option) before each lens change. :mrgreen:

[ijohnson]

I change lenses all the time (not unusual for 20+ in the course of a days shooting), the only thing thing for sure is that there is never a table anywhere near where I want to change lenses. :D

N

Yeah, I was hoping that the table would be seen as an example. The same applies to the grass, the dirt road, the dock, the canoe, the floor, the bus, whatever.

[SkipD]

Contrary to what others have said, I don't see any problem with doing that, unless you happen to be out where it's really dusty or wind is blowing. I wouldn't be doing this all the time, though. If you think about it, you really aren't blowing onto the front sensor area because there's a mirror in the way and behind that is the shutter curtain. And I'm sure you didn't mean to say that you were really considering cleaning the sensor (using the "Clean Sensor" menu option) before each lens change. :mrgreen:I certainly wouldn't blow into the camera body. The possiblity of getting droplets of spit and possibly small pieces of the hamburger you just ate is too great to even consider the benefit of blowing a little dust out of the camera body. Use a large squeeze bulb if you must, but please don't put any yuk into your camera.

[PacAce]

It sounds like such a simple concept, and I never really paid it any mind until I had to clean a ton of dust off my sensor.

Now I always do it this way:



Turn the camera off to avoid any static charge attracting dust
Cap the lens
Have the new lens on a table or in my bag ready with the front element down
Unmount the old lens and put it next to the new lens
Switch rear caps from one lens to the other
Mount the new lens
I do this while keeping the front of the camera pointed down the entire time to minimize how much dust can get in.

Some people might consider this a severe case of OCD. :D
Same thing here except that, before unmounting the old lens, I first loosen the end cap from the new lens so that I won't have to fiddle with that after removing the old lens. After removing the old lens, I just lift the end cap from the new one to the old one, then mount the new lens.

I personally don't think this is a severe case of OCD. However, when you put in a couple of steps where in you take the time to wipe the lens free of all dust, finger prints, etc. plus a buff or two with the polishing cloth, then I think we'd be treading into OCD territory. :mrgreen:

[SkipD]

What is "OCD"? This is a new one to me....

[neil_r]

Yeah, I was hoping that the table would be seen as an example. The same applies to the grass, the dirt road, the dock, the canoe, the floor, the bus, whatever.

And the wife ;)

N

[markubig]

What is "OCD"? This is a new one to me....

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. one who suffers from OCD worries "compulsively" about specific things such as cleanliness, order, or how to switch lenses (sorry, phil . . . not cracking on youhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/tongue3.gifhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_redface.gifhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/tongue3.gifhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif). If anything varies from what they are used to, they tend to suffer mental breakdowns.

Did you ever see the movie, "As Good As It Gets"? Jackson Nicholson plays a man who is obsessive-compulsive. He washes his hands with a new bar of soap all the time and throws it out after one use. He has to turn the locks on his door a certain amount of times before he's sure it's locked. He avoids walking on the cracks on city sidewalks. He eats the same thing everyday for breakfast, served by the same waitress and always eats with plastic utensils. pretty interesting movie . . . . no photography in it, though . . . http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gifhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_wink.gifhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif

[Oculus Sinister]

What finger do you use to press the lens release button? As a lefty, I don't like to switch lenses using my right hand. What I do is to hold the lens with the left hand as if taking a picture. Press the lens release button with the side of my left thumb and either twist the lens clockwise (or twist the camera body counter-clockwise with the right hand,which is of course on the grip). Is this what right handed persons also do?:)

[SkipD]

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. one who suffers from OCD worries "compulsively" about specific things such as cleanliness, order, or how to switch lenses......

Did you ever see the movie, "As Good As It Gets"? Thanks, Mark. I figured it was something like that but couldn't put the words to the abbreviation. BTW - the movie was really funny.

[ijohnson]

What finger do you use to press the lens release button? As a lefty, I don't like to switch lenses using my right hand. What I do is to hold the lens with the left hand as if taking a picture. Press the lens release button with the side of my left thumb and either twist the lens clockwise (or twist the camera body counter-clockwise with the right hand,which is of course on the grip). Is this what right handed persons also do?:)


I press the camera into my body with my left hand and then push the button with my pointer finger. I think Canon should sell a "lens changing grip" so that I have a better handle on the camera when pushing the button. I know many of us would buy it just to make the camera bigger.

Just out of curiosity, does the vertical grip piss you off because its made for right handed folks. If so, on behalf of Canon, I'm sorry.

[PacAce]

I certainly wouldn't blow into the camera body. The possiblity of getting droplets of spit and possibly small pieces of the hamburger you just ate is too great to even consider the benefit of blowing a little dust out of the camera body. Use a large squeeze bulb if you must, but please don't put any yuk into your camera.
Oops! Good point, Skip. I didn't even think about him meaning that he was going to blow into the camera with his mouth. :shock: :shock: I had assumed he meant blowing by using a blower like that huge rocket blower. :confused:

[markubig]

Oops! Good point, Skip. I didn't even think about him meaning that he was going to blow into the camera with his mouth. :shock: :shock: I had assumed he meant blowing by using a blower like that huge rocket blower. :confused:

yeah, i realized how stupid that thought was after i asked it . . .

[PacAce]

yeah, i realized how stupid that thought was after i asked it . . .
Don't sweat it, Mark. We know you've been sick and not feeling too well lately. ;)

[markubig]

Ha! my avatar isn't showing it, but I am now only a slight tint of purple . . .http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[22littlereasons]

Well, I get 2 assistants to hold the lens while I turn the camera body... *s*

[Oculus Sinister]

Just out of curiosity, does the vertical grip piss you off because its made for right handed folks. If so, on behalf of Canon, I'm sorry.

Nothing I can do about that, we just learn to adapt to a right handed world ;) I'm sure there would be a market for an add on grip for leftys, not so sure if it would be profitable though. As we all know, in business, profit is King:rolleyes:

[I Simonius]

holding lens in left hand, I loosen cap on new lens,
remove old lens with right hand keeping thumb and forefinger free to remove cap off new lens
attach new lens with left hand
swap old lens to left hand attaching cap with right hand

you did ask!

[PacAce]

Just out of curiosity, does the vertical grip piss you off because its made for right handed folks. If so, on behalf of Canon, I'm sorry.
Heck, the whole darn camera is made for right handed people, not just the vertical grip. :confused:

[mikolaj]

Go here:
http://www.stevemccurry.com/web/video/index.html

download "Art and Minds" and skip to about 1:48 to see how Steve shoots left-handed.

[FlyingPete]

Turn the camera off to avoid any static charge attracting dust

Now I know this is an older thread, but I have been away for a number of days. Now anyway my point. It the above necessary when changing lenses. Firstly the CMOS sensor does not have a lot of static charge in the first place (unlike CCD), and second, then sensor is protected by both the shutter and mirror, so no stray dust entering the lens opening is going to get anywhere near the sensor until the mirror moves and the shutter opens.

I for one don't power off when I change lenses, and have not noticed to be a serious issue. I worked in an incredibly dusty environment for a couple of days earlier in the year, and yes I had a few grains of dust but no where near as bad as the poor n*kon users!