STORING YOUR LENSES IN THE BAG

Lensflare

Lensflare

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Simon Everett
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ell, I learned a valuable lesson in France this week. Working for Yamaha on the launch of their new outboards, it was quite blowy and the sea was the Mediterranean chop that often blows up. The first morning was OK, then after lunch it blew up and continued to increase for the next several days......now, when I am working I tend to put my lenses in my bag objective end first - it makes it easy (read lazy) when changing on the fly.

Now, I tend to shoot entirely with a polariser fitted....the rough sea that we were being thrown around on meant that my polariser wouldn't come off when I went to do some eveing and late night shots - we tried everything. I stuck it in the fridge for half an hour....no filter wrench, but rubber gloves cut up, all sorts of tricks. When I got back I nipped into Nikon (gave them a ring from gatwick first to warn them) and they got it off for me in 5 minutes, but it took 2 technicians to undo it - with no damage ot the threads on either the lens or filter, it was just TIGHT onto the rubber seal.

SO, the Nikon Pro technician suggested I stow my lenses bayonet end down from now on - so the banging and crashing about in the boats will be taken on the stronger end. There was me thinking the greater surface area wouod spread the load...but on the end that isn't designed to take the load!

just a tip, store your lenses mount end downwards according to the professionals that have to fix our mistakes.
 
I've always stored my smaller lenses that way (Mount downwards), It just seems ' The right way up' to me! Good to know I've been doing it right, cant say I've ever worried about which way up they are though.
 
I have always put them the right way round, more by luck than judgement too, glad you got it fixed anyway...
 
The flipside of that is that if you stow them the other way round and forget to fully close up your bag, they're more likely to fall out of the bag - as has happened to me once.
 
Got any pics you can show us Simon? I was out on my brother in laws boat the other day trying to take photos. It's bloody hard work and when the films come back I expect most of them to be garbage. Bronica SQA+500mmF8+Small, fast boat+choppy sea = Camera Shake.
 
Front end down can also lead to fretting damage (scuff marks) from a centre-pinch lens cap.

Front end up and the front cap is more easily dislodged.

If the lens is appreciably longer than its diameter it's better if cradled horizontally, as with older cases.
 
Does anybody grease the threads on their filters to prevent this?

Had it a few times myself.

Copper grease is the usual suspect for long term prevention of things sticking together, the risk would be getting it on your fingers, then on glass...
 
Thanks for this. Will bear it in mind.
Would like to see some pictures if possible.
 
I have tried posting some pics a few times before - but mostly they get thrown out because they are the wrong size. Where would I post one or two to? I would have to go and get them off the picture computer. Nothing fancy, just as they come out of the camera.
 
http://tinypic.com

They auto-downsize large images to 1600 pixels on the longest side. That's still too big for TP. so link to the images rather than using the [ IMG ] tags provided by TinyPic.
 
Lensflare said:
I have tried posting some pics a few times before - but mostly they get thrown out because they are the wrong size. Where would I post one or two to? I would have to go and get them off the picture computer. Nothing fancy, just as they come out of the camera.
Click to expand...

Or imageshack.net gives you options for auto resizing :)
 
A few personal tips for watersports shooting:

The best thing to lubricate filter threads with is silicone grease, dive shops should stock it.

If you're going to store lenses in a bag on a boat in rough conditions then add some padding to the bottom of the compartments or bag - I use the bits of foam cut out of the inside of my Pelican cases, but a few layers of bubble wrap would probably do. It just prevents shock loading of any of the small parts of either end of the lens, and spreads the load round a bit.
 
Thmaga said:
I've always stored my smaller lenses that way (Mount downwards), It just seems ' The right way up' to me! Good to know I've been doing it right, cant say I've ever worried about which way up they are though.
Click to expand...

I'm the same, can't say I have paid too much attention tbh but now at least I know I've been doing it the right way all this time!
 
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