How to carry your camera with the big lens

Hi folks,

If the title of the post doesn't scream NooB I don't know what does. I have a Canon EOS camera and I rented the 100-400mm 4.5/5.6 L lens to check it out. I usually carry my camera around one-handed using the grip when I have the small lens attached. I don't have the strap attached because I find that it gets in my way and I don't trust it slung over my shoulder hanging there.

So my question is... since this 100-400 lens is so heavy, is it OK to carry it like I normally do just using the grip OR do I need to hold it by the lens as well to give it some support there as well? I'm afraid that the big heavy lens is going to break the mount or something on my new camera.

Thanks for answering a stupid noob question.

Hold it by the lens...especially if you have even longer/heavier lens or else the mount could warp.

Swing it over your shoulder and carry it like a cannon (no pun intended).

If you have a tripod ring on the lens, swing it up so it's on top/ It makes a dandy handle. I've been thinking about making a quick release handle or strap yo make it more secure.

Buy a Cotton Carrier. Best thing for carrying gear in my opinion. I carry a gripped body/Sigma 150-500mm OS on the CC and it's great. Don't have to worry about straps, don't have to worry about gear swinging around, don't get any strain or stress from carrying heavy gear.

I carried the Canon 28-300mm IS L (which is pretty much the same size and weight of the 100-400mm IS L) on the vest and never had a single problem doing it. The only thing I had to do was make sure I either locked the zoom ring or zoomed it out all the way or it's smack out when I hung it on the CC. But, I loved carrying it around on the CC, gave me instant access to it, never had to worry about juggling straps, never got a sore back.


In fact, I would carry the 28-300mm IS L on a gripped body on the vest, the Sig 150-500mm OS on another gripped body on the holster, and a backpack, and not feel any strain or fatigue on my back or shoulders, even after carrying all of that for hours at a time. Here's the thread for the CC, it's a long but very worthwhile read.

I don't own the 100-400mm, but if you use the tripod ring look into getting a Black Rapid R-Strap...
I use my RS-4 strap to carry my 70-200mm 2.8 IS with a gripped body and can carry it all day with this strap, no problem..

I use an R-strap http://www.blackrapid.​com/ to carry my camera and Sigma. Alternately I attach a monopod to the lens mount and carry it over my shoulder.

The strap doesn't get in the way with bigger lenses. It'll naturally drape over the lens.

I have had the 100-400 for 5 years and never worried about how I handle the camera with it on. I also have owned a 300 f/2.8 IS for about 3 years, which is a much bigger and heavier lens and don't worry about that either.

They both get carried just slung over my shoulder, hanging down. When I am doing a shoot with both lenses, mounted on different bodies, they are either hanging from my shoulder or sat on the floor, resting on the lens hoods (i.e. bodies up high) and I switch by just grabbing the grip and swinging it up then putting my hand on the lens for support when actually shooting.

So both lenses are frequently just hanging there with all the weight on the mount and being swung around and up by the grip with no additional support on the lens. I have never had any sign of a warped mount, all 3 of my bodies are still as tight as when I bought them (and my 20D has had 5 years of this treatment, my 5D over 3 years).

By all means use a carrier, if you want the comfort, as suggested by some above. Don't worry about it breaking / warping the mount though, these cameras are built pretty tough and take a lot of mistreatment (at least mine do anyway ).

Many people treat them with kid gloves, never let them get wet etc., and tell others that you have to do this or they will break. Looking after your gear never hurts, obviously, but they are tools built to do a job and they can do it pretty well if you let them and don't worry about them being 'fragile', because they aren't.

I always leave the neck strap on and around my neck when I'm out shooting as I'm walking, no matter which lens. A lot of the time while I'm shooting, mostly in one area, I will remove it from around my neck and wrap the strap around my hand/wrist to keep it out of the way and granted, the strap does get in the way even then but the option is perhaps dropping the camera / lens. That to me is far worse than a little inconvienience of the strap being in the way. Also, slinging the strap over the shoulder is a nice way to carry the camera. Just hold the strap as you walk.

With my 100-400 on the body, I'll hold it by the lens when the strap is around my neck. Try walking fast without holding the lens ... OUCH!!! That dang lens will pound the heck out of your chest

I occassionally will spend a day walking around some place like Hong Kong or Dubai with the 100-400, a sharp lens with a very good reach. Mounted on a 5D MKII or a 7D it is a weighty combination. Moving in and out of street crowds etc having it not get in the way is essential. I carry it hanging over a shoulder on a broad padded strap, with the friction enough such that the barrel will not extend on it's own while I am walking. If I am somewhere where I will use it right away I'll hold it by the barrel or cradle it in my elbow. Keeping it low and at my side it is not always obvious or threatening to possible subjects.

Cheers: T

katodog wrote in post #10106436
Buy a Cotton Carrier.
*snip*

hahaha... convenient as hell i'm sure... but damn, i thought it was something i've seen out of a japanese anime...

i think i'll pass on this... imagine if a dad goes to a kid's even in something like this...

but i'm sure there's many professional uses...

thanks for thread... i think i'll go take a look at the Black Rapid...

Before I bought the Blackrapid RS-4, I was using the Canon Strap to carry a 1D MII and Canon 70-200 2.8. This combo is fairly heavy and I could not walk with these for a few hours without hurting my shoulder . I am glad I made the switch to the Black Rapid. Now my shoulder is thanking me . I carry the RS-4, attached to the foot of the 70-200 lens with the 1D , carrying it like a messenger bag. The camera and the lens hangs on my right side near my hip with the lens parallel to the ground and pointing backwards. While walking especially on a crowded place, I have my right hand bracing the lens so it does not swing outwards. I am glad I made the switch ( thanks to the suggestion on this forum) to the RS-4 as I can walk for hours without any shoulder fatigue.

kinghong1970 wrote in post #10106573
hahaha... convenient as hell i'm sure... but damn, i thought it was something i've seen out of a japanese anime...

i think i'll pass on this... imagine if a dad goes to a kid's even in something like this...

but i'm sure there's many professional uses...

thanks for thread... i think i'll go take a look at the Black Rapid...

Not just events, when you go hiking, the CC is a godsend. After the first few miles, it is very hard to even think of dropping the pack to get to a lens and simply hanging it on your neck is a recipe for disaster everytime you need to clamber down, bend to retie your laces etc.

You can always wear a small light jacket on top of it and heave the zip half-undone till the camera mount. Not overly conspicuous that way.

I'm not going to spout off about the benefits of the CC over straps, my opinion has been given many times over. all I'm gonna say is that it's a worthwhile piece of equipment to check out and at least try once.