Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/02/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Sunday, February 21, 1999, Rbedw51767 wrote: > would you please answer a few stupid questions for me? How do you > guys carry those heavy lenses? Do you use tripods or monopods? Do you hire > someone to carry the equipment for you? Do you use a special strap? My back > and neck hurt at the thought of it Bob, Usually when using my 400 2.8 I use a mono pod...unlike Ted's son I am not man enough to shoot that monster hand held. I mount the mono-pod into the lens and put the mono-pod over my shoulder to carry it. It helps to get a mono-pod shoulder cushion, or put foam rubber at the top of the mono-pod. Even with this my shoulder usually ends up black and blue from slinging that much weight on and off my shoulder after a day of heavy shooting. I usually only use that long of a lens for sports...football, NASCAR, Golf where the day is long with a lot of running around. Special Straps...If using a lens like a 300 2.8 or up you really ought to get a strap on the lens and carry the camera/lens by the lens strap. Just think about a lens that big being supported by only those tiny screws that hold your mount onto your camera body..... And Yes I hire someone to carry my crap IF I can get my client to pay for them. Otherwise (most of the time) I haul it around myself. Example: when I was covering The Masters golf tournament I was carrying 3 bodies(Nikon F3/80-200 2.8, Nikon F2AS/24mm, and Canon F1n/4002.8 first 2 days & Nikon N90/400 3.5 last 2 days...my 400 got water logged on Friday and I had to use an NPS loaner on Sat and Sunday; Canon was officially kicked out of the Masters several years ago and can't get back in.) I had to carry all of this junk plus lots of film, envelopes & a 2 way radio to keep in contact with my film runner, other photogs, and photo editor. Keeping warm on a cold day with a long lens is almost impossible for me. I never learned to shoot with gloves. The mono-pod is aluminum, camera metal...all very cold. My hands get very cold. Best regards, Harrison mailto:mcclary@iname.com http://people.delphi.com/hmphoto preview my book: http://www.volmania.com