Camera on tripod

[kram]

Have a question regarding leaving the camera on the tripod. Is it safe to leave the camera latched to the head and carry the tripod around - I like to keep the tripod at half length and put it over my shoulders with the camera hanging from the tripod behind me!!

Is this safe? Or is there a substantial risk of the camera getting free of the ballhead. My typical setup is the Drebel with the Tamron 28-75 lens.

[lostdoggy]

That depends on the strength of the tripod and head and your ability to remember you have a camera attach to the end of the tripod. If the walk is a long distance or in a narrow and/or clutter area I wouldn't.

[bolantej]

it depends on how much you value your camera. :) i wouldn't. you never know what could happen.

[ScottE]

I carry my camera on the tripod, over my shoulder fairly often when photographing wildlife. It is just too much trouble to dismount the camera and put it in the camera bag every time I want to move and it then takes too long to get it out if I want to get a quick shot. There are a few precautions I take.

I use an Acratech ball head with a safety detent in the quick release. This is a spring loaded stud that prevents the quick release plate from sliding out if the clamp happens to come loose. I only needed that feature once, but it saved an expensive lens.

I wrap the neck strap around a tripod leg so that if for whatever reason the camera comes loose it will just hang from the tripod and not fall to the ground.

If I am moving through brush or trees I carry the camera and tripod so the camera is in my hand so I can be sure it does not catch or knock on anything.

Scott

[kram]

Scott, any experience with the Manfrotto 486RC2 ballhead? Looks solid enough and also has a safety clamp so that the quick release does not come off.

Good input on wrapping the camera strap around a tripod leg.

[rent]

kram, i do it all the time with the 486 RC2 ballhead with my 300/f4 + 1.4x + 10D & grip with no problems. just remember to:

1) tighten everything and make sure the qr plate is secured, and
2) you have enough clearance around/above you so you won't knock your camera/len on some rock or trees. i had some close calls there.

-alex