Horrible noob question: Do you always have a lens attached?

I've only had my camera for a couple weeks, but I never have it stored without a lens on it. Are you "supposed to" take the lenses off when toting it around? Maybe I'm just lazy, but to me, it seems like a hassle to have to put a lens on every time I want to take a picture. Is this bad? Can it harm the camera in any way?

Thanks, and sorry for this question if ya think it's stupid.

~Steve

Not really - depends how it is stored. I need room in my pelican so I separate everything. When its out I usually leave my 24mm on it for grab and use purposes.

Some storage solutions are designed to hold a body with a lens on it, some aren't.

A lens is always attached to the camera. It is either the one i used last, or the one I am going to shoot.

Its more in how you treat it, than weather it is attatched or not.

I allways stored/traveled with a lens attatched for almost 30 years. This includes air travel and a safari. The only reason I stopped and now take it off, is my bag can be a lot better organized if I seperate the lens and body.

Keep in mind the engineers have most likely considered this when designing the camera. And designed it accordingly.

If you take the lens off, do it in a calm, non-dusty environment, and then put the cap on it that came with it.

Don't do it in a dust storm.

Usually have lenses on. Occasionally carry the 20D with a body cap fitted to save space, but really not often at all.

When I store things, I take off the lens. When I'm out with gear, I always have a lens on each body.

Even in the film era I always kept a lens mounted. It's a lot easier to grab a shot if the camera is ready to go.

Lbsimon wrote in post #13992683
A lens is always attached to the camera. It is either the one i used last, or the one I am going to shoot.

Same here. I never remove lenses unless there's a specific reason to do so (cleaning, lens change, etc.)

I always leave a lens on my bodies, I dont want to swap lenses more than I have to because I dont want to raise the chance of more dust getting on my mirror and sensor.

I always have one on it, usually my 17-55. I don't want to expose the camera to more dust than I have to, and removing the lens just to put it back on opens the camera up another time.

Ace and Deuce wrote in post #13992610
I've only had my camera for a couple weeks, but I never have it stored without a lens on it. Are you "supposed to" take the lenses off when toting it around? Maybe I'm just lazy, but to me, it seems like a hassle to have to put a lens on every time I want to take a picture. Is this bad? Can it harm the camera in any way?

Thanks, and sorry for this question if ya think it's stupid.

~Steve

In my opinion is better to have a lens attached to a camera. Usually, in my setup, I have the 5D2 with a Tamron 28-75 f2.8 (or the Samyang 14 f2.8). The 7D takes the Canon 70-200 f4L IS, while the 50D carries the Canon 100 f2.8L IS and the 400D carries the Canon 85 f1.8.

Miguel

I have the lens installed at all time

If anything it's generally much better to store a body with a lens attached in my opinion.

i asked this question when i was being an assistant my photography teacher when i noticed that he was carrying his camera and lens unattached. his answer was simple, have you lens attached to the camera, especially the lens you use the most. the only reason he had to carry them unattached was in order to maximize the space of his camera bag if he had a lot of things to carry.