Carrying the 500 mm pf lens

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HRB

HRB

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Don’t think I’ve had a better wildlife lens than the 500 pf. It’s usually attached to my Nikon D850 or the z6ii. On longer hikes with the D850, I use a Peak Design shoulder strap with the attachment buttons connected to the camera body. This leave the lens dangling off the camera lens mount. Although the lens isn’t that heavy I see no way to carry it so as to relieve pressure on the lens mount. How worried should I be about a failure or does anyone have a solution for this?
 
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On the D850 I wouldn't worry about it. Can't speak to the Z. It is a bit of a dilemma because the lens is so light it won't carry pointed down when connected at the foot. But that's still how I carry mine. I removed the foot and have a ring threaded in where the foot belongs. I use a black rapids shoulder strap and just keep a hand on the camera all the time to keep it from swinging camera end down while walking. So while walking the rig is basically parallel to the ground with the lens pointed behind me. Also when off trail I can simply lift it over brush etc. when needed. And of course with a hand on the camera all the time it's quick to lift it to the eye for a quick shot.
 
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When I recently got my 500pf I did a fair amount of research in this forum. So with the advice from several members I ditched the lens foot and got the Kirk one, which is much more robust, and a QD Quick release swivel ring, which fits snugly into it.
I attach the Peak Design Slide strap to the QD ring and sling it over my left shoulder, so that the camera and lens hang horizontally by my right hip, with the underside of the camera and lens facing forwards and the camera body at the front. There is no direct camera attachment. I can then also cradle it with my right hand while walking, just to add a bit of reassurance, and quickly swing it up to my eye if I see a bird.
If I want to use a tripod with my gimbaI I can quickly remove the QD ring and directly slot the Kirk foot into the Arca Swiss clamp on the gimbal.
 
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RRS makes a replacement foot for the lens with an integrated QD socket. They also sell a QD sling although I make my own with the heavy duty Magpul one. My l-bracket and tripod head also comes with sockets and I added a collar to the tripod head. So a couple of straps take care of all situations.
 
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I use a Sunsniper strap which attaches to the Hejnar foot. All the weight is on the foot. I usually have the foot rotated on top of the lens when walking and shooting handheld. Personally, I wouldn’t walk with the strap attached to the camera body. Even though that lens is comparably light , that is still 3lbs of stress on the lens mount. I can also cradle the lens from underneath if I need to.
 
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I usually carry by the lens foot. As much as I hate straps, if I use one it is attached to a QD quick release socket on a Kirk replacement for. I think RRS and Hejnar do something similar.. what’s interesting is that people don’t seem to worry about a 70-200 which is a similar weight hanging from the body. Maybe there is something subconsciously implied by 500 mm.
 
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I carry my 500 PF / D850 with the Black Rapid Strap attached to a Hejner Lens Foot. Between cradling the Camera in my Arm or for the most part carrying the Camera by the Lens Foot. The D850 / 500 PF balance isn’t too bad when attached to the Lens foot .
 
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HRB said:
Don’t think I’ve had a better wildlife lens than the 500 pf. It’s usually attached to my Nikon D850 or the z6ii. On longer hikes with the D850, I use a Peak Design shoulder strap with the attachment buttons connected to the camera body. This leave the lens dangling off the camera lens mount. Although the lens isn’t that heavy I see no way to carry it so as to relieve pressure on the lens mount. How worried should I be about a failure or does anyone have a solution for this?
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Quite honestly, I don't think it's an issue at all, at least on the D850 (don't have any experience with the Z). I carry my D850, loaded with the much heavier 200-500, on a peak Design shoulder strap and have never had any issue at all. In fact, I don't know anyone who has. With the lighter 500PF, I can't imagine that you'd ever have a problem, unless of course you used it as a walking stick 🥴
 
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D850 with battery grip and the big 18 series batteries (D4s, D5, D6, Z9). The 500PF is very light and lighter than the 850 with the battery grip and big battery grip and I attach my Black Rapids to the tripod mount on the battery grip. I see no problems with it on the 850.
 
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