How to carry my 20D and 100-400L

[DavoMrMac]

I posted in another thread about how to support (tripod-wise) my 20D and 100-400L.

Got a bit scared when someone mentioned that the mountings get put under a lot of stress under the weight, so fair enough, tripod mount the lens.

But what about carry it around.

Should I just hang it with a strap on the 20D (I think not)?
Mount the lens to my monopod, tripod, and get a strap for that, removing the body between shots/locations?
Just have it hanging, but make sure I support the lens weight with my hand?

I know it sounds like a simple question, but thought it best to ask someone with some experience of carrying this sort of equipment around.

[Jon]

I keep the camera strap around my neck but the lens in my hand mostly. If you're not using a tripod/monopod, you could get a short 1/4-20 eyebolt, nut and washer, mount them to the tripod socket on the lens, and secure a strap to that.

[jeffherald]

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif How to carry my 20D and 100-400L Carry it with pride! :D

[cmM]

I am very carefull with my equipment, but these things are not made out of cheese. Both the mount on the lens and the mount on the camera are pretty strongly built.

Whenever im shooting or ready to shoot I'll be holding the lens, and when Im carrying it i'll let it hang from the neck or shoulder by the neckstrap.

[Mark Kemp]

As mentioned by others. I hang the lens on the mount and the camera strap round my kneck and it will not break easily. However I find it prudent and more comfortable to hold the lens barrel in one hand most ofthe time, especially when walking about. Firstly the strain on the mount is greater when the mass of the lens is swinging about rather than just hanging and secondly the strain on me is very great when the lens bashes into some part of my body. I will also put the lens on a monopod if circumstances allow. It doesn't really do a lot to steady the camera but it does help a bit. Mostly though it takes the weight off of my arms, especially if I am going to be taking pictures for a long time. When you want to move you an hook the lens over your shoulder with the camera in front and the pod hanging down and a little forward and carry it all quiye easily. The same trick works for a tripod, but I usually need to move the lens around so much that a monopod is easier.

[yellow_belly]

Hi, I took an approx 40 inch long by 1.5 inch wide carry strap off of a holdall and made it into a loop, I then put this over my head and insert an arm through it so it is like a 'sash' across my chest. I then put the camera strap over my head and when the camera and 100-400 is not actually in my hands and being used, I slip the lens tripod attachment over the 'sash' so that this takes all the weight and the camera strap stops the whole lot from swinging. The camera and lens are still very easily and quickly raised to be used :)

Terry

[robertwgross]

There are two ways that I carry mine.

1. The lens is on the tripod, and the camera body is hanging off the back of the lens. I wind the camera strap around the head of the tripod. That way, if something should accidentally release the quick release, it will not crash to the ground. In other words, if the camera falls, it is because the tripod is falling with it (which was exactly the situation one month ago). I carry that tripod leaning against my shoulder, so the lens is hanging over my shoulder and pointed downward behind me. My tripod can be erected pretty quickly.
2. If I am expecting quick wildlife action, then sometimes I mount the lens on the camera body (without tripod) and keep it on the neck strap around my neck. All of that weight needs some support, though. I have a shoulder harness system that goes over the shoulders and fastens over my belly. Then I use the lens's tripod collar "foot" to hook over the fastening straps of the harness in front of me. It can be unhooked instantly for a shot. Normally I only do it this way for short distances, like a few miles.

---Bob Gross---

[Incomplete Pete]

If I'm using a monopod, I'll leave the whole lot on the 'pod and just sling it over my shoulder, even a 400mm f2.8 L (Assuming you've got a decent monopod). Without the 'pod, I'll just hang the camera with everything attached around my shoulder. These things are strong!!!

[ScottE]

There's another advantage of the Sigma 50-500 over the Canon 100-400. The tripod ring on the Sigma has an extended foot with finger grooves so it makes a great carrying handle.

Scott