Lens weight, quality and the "wife approval factor"...

Hi all,

I just recently purchased a EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 lens that I'm loving a lot! However, even though my wife has only used it a couple of times (we share the camera, even though I take the majority of pictures with it currently) she's noticed / complained about how heavy it is.

With a 70-200mm on the horizon in the next year, I'm starting I have this fear that the weight of the lens is going to negatively factor into the "wife approval factor" for some of the lenses I'm going to want to buy in the future.

It also makes me wonder whether I'm going to wind up needing to buy lighter (and lower quality) lenses for her use so she doesn't feel like shooting is a chore (since we'd like to share photography as a hobby).

My question is this: for those of you who have wives who use your camera gear, how have you dealt with this issue?

Any thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated, as always!

It might just be something she will get used to. I actually like the weight on the lenses I have, and one is the 70-200. Either that or...she might like to have her own camera so you two can shoot together and not have to take turns.

Karen

Mine complained before but not anymore. Now she uses an XT w/ grip, 70-200 f/4 L w/ hood and 430EX flash.

FearlessFoto wrote in post #3420419
It might just be something she will get used to. I actually like the weight on the lenses I have, and one is the 70-200. Either that or...she might like to have her own camera so you two can shoot together and not have to take turns.

Karen

Good, point, Karen. I'll just keep having her use it and see. She's definitely not a weakling (she runs marathons), so I think she is reacting to the differential more than anything...

In2Photos wrote in post #3420422
Mine complained before but not anymore. Now she uses an XT w/ grip, 70-200 f/4 L w/ hood and 430EX flash.

Wow! How did she get over her initial concerns?

GregH wrote in post #3420440
Wow! How did she get over her initial concerns?

We first started with the XT and Tamron 28-75. Eventually I wanted a grip and she didn't like it at first, but eventually just got used to it. Then I bought a longer lens and she rarely used that. Then I added the flash and she really went running. But eventually she got tired of not having me in any of the pictures and started using the camera more. When I upgraded to the 70-200 L she told me she actually thought it was lighter then our 70-210.

I second the having another camera idea. My husband gave up taking pics because I am constantly using the 30D. So he never takes pics anymore. Kind of a bummer b/c it would be fun to do it together. As for the weight, if she wants quality, she'll get used to it. Otherwise, I'd say she needs her own camera and her own lenses. Don't jeapordize your picture-taking needs because it doesn't suit someone else's. I'm sure she'd agree with me on that.

My wife normally uses a AE1 (film) and used to complain that my XTi with grip was just to big and heavy. She complained about the wieght of some lens for a while. Recently she begun to use my camera more and more. We just talked last night and now she also wants a XTi with grip. Just give her time after a bit the weight is not noticable as much.

Weight is very relative. Get a 600/4 and put it on a MKIIN and let her hold that for a while. Of course, after spending all that money you may not have a wife.

A good point and shoot is always useful as a backup to a D-SLR.

Why not get something like a G7 although not cheap, or a A710 IS which is suprisingly good for what it is. No complaints on the size and weight for these 2 cameras.

I went from an A1 which is super light to my 30D and didn't like the weight! It only took me a few days to start loving it. Currently the heaviest lens I have is my 200 with the TC and even as ext tube on it sometimes as well. At first my arm hurt all the time, now I'm used to it and can hold it for longer periods of time.

If she can't handle the weight, ask if she'd like a lighter set up just for her. You can both share the lenses, but get her another rebel and a nice light lens to use. That way you can both shoot at the same time as well. But as others have said if she wants great shots she'll have to put up with the weight.

MONOPOD! I got this insane idea that the 70-200 2.8 IS was the lens I needed for sports and indoor close-ups. It is heavy. I have a walking-stick monopod that works great, but am getting a much better one this summer. I know that holding the 5D with 70-200 caused me to be in significant back pain at the end of the school year. I shot about 2000 pictures in 1 week handholding the set-up. Almost couldn't walk after that, my back is still sore. If I had my monopod, that would have saved me.

If your wife likes the quality of the DSLR pictures, it's really not her fault the lenses are so heavy. Get her a nice monopod to encourage her and if that doesn't work, the S3 or G7 are amazing cameras. She would be very happy with either.

What a joy it must be to share the hobby. It will never interest my other half whatsoever. I rarely discuss it, but she does look at the pics on the monitor and leaves me to get on with it.

Hopefully if her interest is strong enough, she will learn to appreciate the benefits, dispite the weight. Other than that, she should get down the gym

Graham

blue_max wrote in post #3420660
What a joy it must be to share the hobby. It will never interest my other half whatsoever. I rarely discuss it, but she does look at the pics on the monitor and leaves me to get on with it.

Just made me laugh. My ex wife was like that. No interest what so ever in photography and always give me grief when I purchased an expensive camera equipment (35mm days) and always taking pictures, mostly the kids growing up.

When we got divorced, she wouldn't let me have any of the pictures I had taken over the last 10 years!! She did let me keep the camera though....

Gave her the Xt with the 10-22 and got the 30D with the 24-105 and 70-200IS 2.8.... Win win....or I guess a weight set would be cheaper...