Large lens owners please read

Stuart Philpott

Stuart Philpott

Messages
4,494
Name
Stu
Edit My Images
Yes
Guys I came across this recently,would you please have a look at the link. I am fairly new and mainly shoot wildlife my only motivation for posting this is too make all you guys aware of the dangers of carrying big lenses over the shoulder mounted on a tripod. It would break my heart to read of somebody here having a large lens damaged or worse just for the sake of one screw coming loose. Let me say i have never used a gitzo or a lens larger than my 300/2.8. This is UTTERLY not the voice of experience talking,but I see big lenses carried over the shoulder by far more experienced folks, this is just me trying to give a bit back for all the help I have had here. I'm a fairly practical guy ,so some of the innovations to remove this worry seem worth implimenting,but i must stress the lack of experience i'm just concerned tis all. I have no beef with gitzo I have been musing a big strong tripod and obviously gitzo is up there as one of the best high end makes which is how I found this. check those screws for me please guys,you probably all do,but one drop is too many!!!!!

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=193413

take care and have the best new year

Stu
 
Very surprised at this, you would have thought that a Tripod of this quality would have built in safety features that would prevent this happening
 
Stuart Philpott said:
Guys I came across this recently,would you please have a look at the link. I am fairly new and mainly shoot wildlife my only motivation for posting this is too make all you guys aware of the dangers of carrying big lenses over the shoulder mounted on a tripod. It would break my heart to read of somebody here having a large lens damaged or worse just for the sake of one screw coming loose. Let me say i have never used a gitzo or a lens larger than my 300/2.8. This is UTTERLY not the voice of experience talking,but I see big lenses carried over the shoulder by far more experienced folks, this is just me trying to give a bit back for all the help I have had here. I'm a fairly practical guy ,so some of the innovations to remove this worry seem worth implimenting,but i must stress the lack of experience i'm just concerned tis all. I have no beef with gitzo I have been musing a big strong tripod and obviously gitzo is up there as one of the best high end makes which is how I found this. check those screws for me please guys,you probably all do,but one drop is too many!!!!!

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=193413

take care and have the best new year

Stu
Click to expand...

Morning Stu

Thanks - I have the same tripod and gimbal - I will now check it .......... never checked it before
 
Morning all,filled me with horror,we were watching a famed wildlife film guy carry his film rig over the shoulder, or what very much seemed a similar tripod on the box in the last few days,which is probably even heavier than a still guy uses. Bill/David this was my exact concern,I don't know of exact costs of these tripods,but it's so easy to trust something when you have paid for the best(for me spending alot on a tripod would be utterly for that security). It might be very easy to overlook checking that screwI think it would be something I would overlook too. As I say I'm not up to speed with all this but some of the measures either those roll pins or maybe the other plate they are referring to might be a very sound investment. I just feel for that poor guy and the others on that thread and wanted to try and prevent anyone here getting caught aswell.

take care all

Stu
 
When I was a student I nearly got castrated with a blunt rusty spoon by my tutor for carrying a camera attached to a tripod over my shoulder.
(It was a Sinar 5x4 monorail camera)
Never done it since.
Expensive tripod or not, I wouldn't sling a £x,000 lens/camera combo over my shoulder.
 
Only an idiot would carry a large lens in such a manner and trust in the mount/head not failing. I carry my 500 f/4 over my shoulder when on a gimbal attached to a tripod or monopod but ALWAYS have a strap securely over my shoulder too so if it fails I have that safety net.
 
I have a Gitzo tripod with the same fitting, no problem at all, there again I use it with the legs on the ground and not as a carrying device.
 
This isn't the first time I've read something like this, if my memory serves me correctly I believe there is a plate that goes under neath the cup part of the tripod to give a little extra security, but I can't for the life of me think who makes it..! It was for this reason I didn't go the Gitzo route..!
 
Some early Gitzo Systematic tripods had a design issue with the retaining mech on the top plate. Unforgiveable, and almost unbelievable for Gitzo, but there we are. The design was later modified.
 
NSN Safety Plate bit pricey ,i will chat with local engineer to knock one up for me
 
I try to carry mine in a way that I have one hand on the lens foot and one on the tripod lungs. I've never got on well with straps so I don't use it as they seem to get in the way. I find I have more chance of pulling the tripod over accidentally by the hanging strap. I may have to rethink that idea.

Would this way of carrying on be better (with strap on the lens for added protection)?

http://www.carolinawildphoto.com/TripodPad-2.htm
 
That looks like a Gitzo plate prior to the modified ones they started fitting which have a groove machined in the plate with a spring loaded retainer that engages in the ring. I guess not impossible for it to come out still but you'd not only have to have the clamp slack but also press the button to release it.

On the very rare occasions that I carry the camera and lens over my shoulder I always wrap the strap attached to the lens around my hand.
 
Always been a fear of mine but ime belt and braces,long strap on the camera round my neck,if it fails i guess i get whiplash but thats cheaper than a new lens.
 
Cheffievrs said:
This isn't the first time I've read something like this, if my memory serves me correctly I believe there is a plate that goes under neath the cup part of the tripod to give a little extra security, but I can't for the life of me think who makes it..! It was for this reason I didn't go the Gitzo route..!
Click to expand...

As Jason
Says it has been reported before Stu but it is worth reminding people. I have had my 600mm come off my Gimbal due to me not fixing it properly this was in the early days a quick bit of juggling saved me from disaster. As Brash says a strap is a great idea I always have one fitted.
My Gitzo has never let me down neither did my Manfrotto before it. You just have to use due diligence and check everything.
Regards
Richard
 
I guess that anything that tightens on a camera/tripod set up can come loose. I've always been more concerned about the Arca Swiss plate coming loose on the gimbal head. Fitting one with the stops has given me a bit more piece of mind.

I generally remove the lens and camera and carry them on my shoulder with the strap attached to the lens with a car seat belt cushion pad on the strap for comfort. Even then I check the strap regularly for fraying where it mounts to the lens attachments and I make sure that the ends of the straps where they go through the buckles come out the other side by at least 3 inches to minimise the chance of them pulling through.
 
I very rarely use a tripod, but then again mi 150-500 sigma isn't a 500 prime :D

I'll tag Dave @Dave Semmens , I think he has something similar?, might be worth him knowing, thanks for posting :)
 
Personally I think there are two things more important to learn from this guy's experience:-
  1. Regularly check your equipment.
  2. Always have proper insurance.
Most of the time when walking around my 500 f4 is in my backpack but I do carry it over my shoulder fixed to my tripod and gimbal, (though not at the angle Moose does in the video) and find it a convenient method of moving between short distances. I don't know anything about this particular Gitzo fault but I would imagine that it would have been observable if checked ... I always test my kit is properly secured before moving it in this way, it just seems the obvious thing to do before slinging it around!
 
gramps said:
I don't know anything about this particular Gitzo fault but I would imagine that it would have been observable if checked ... I always test my kit is properly secured before moving it in this way, it just seems the obvious thing to do before slinging it around!
Click to expand...

I've been at plenty of race meetings with photographers carry huge lenses over their shoulder attached to monopods without issue. At times it's the easiest and most convenient way to move kit. I've done the same but then to hold the camera/lens rather than the supporting device (monopod/tripod). As Gramps rightly says, insurance and kits checks are important.
 
lost said:
As Jason
Says it has been reported before Stu but it is worth reminding people. I have had my 600mm come off my Gimbal due to me not fixing it properly this was in the early days a quick bit of juggling saved me from disaster. As Brash says a strap is a great idea I always have one fitted.
My Gitzo has never let me down neither did my Manfrotto before it. You just have to use due diligence and check everything.
Regards
Richard
Click to expand...
Hiya Rich,have the best new year mate and thanks for everything. Exactly why I posted,i'm new haven't a big lens or tripod as yet,no experience what so ever of this senario, and i'm sure it has been covered before. But if that bit of time to start this prevents one mishap it was worth doing. I didn't really want this to turn into a bash gitzo thread,which it hasn't, just not to read of someone here having a disaster. Mind the posts from the more experienced guys have meant I'm learning a bit too for the future. Gaz above with the arca with stops has been duly noted

Rob I don't oft frequent places where there are many togs just one I guess so haven't seen this in the field often. But as someone new i've seen that type of image many many times on the web, as Brash says no strap,it's always worried me mate. It does bother me that some experienced guys recommend this as per the vid,without that safety net of the strap,not good for newer guys who aren't so paranoid as moi.
cheers all

Stu
 
Hi Stu
Happy New Year to you mate.
I didn't think you were bashing Gitzo when you invest a lot of money you should always be checking your gear when it comes to tripods people in the most case don't take the same care and trouble as they do with the rest of their gear. It is always a good idea just to raise the subject every so often
Regards
Richard
 
I think that Gitzo made some changes in the past while to try and prevent this from happening with a safe lock type of base. I have the 5541LS which is effected though due to its age. I check monthly or before a big outing but i also try not to carry my lens at that sort of angle just in case. This type of accident has been gong on for years now and there are a few different plates on the market now to help prevent issues.
 
I always have a strap from the lens in my hand. If the tripod failed it wouldn't fall to the ground. Common sense really.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top