AF-S (or Z) 70-200 f/2.8 Strap Mount Location Question

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Edward Cusick

Edward Cusick

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So was researching for a friend who has just purchased a Z6iii with a few lenses (long & short tele's) and needed advice on how to best carry her equipment safely. Of course I recommended that she look into ways to carry using the lens foot rather than camera straps on the longer/heavier lens, something that this forum has covered quite well. And in doing this it got me thinking about my current situation.

My Z9/D6 combo both use Peak Design (PD) straps with their anchor connectors used anywhere I need a connection. Using Kirk L-brackets on both bodies, each having a QD socket on bottom. When using short primes and tele's, PD strap attaches to L-bracket via Kirk QD Swivel-D and one of the camera strap attachment points. When using longer/heavier primes and zooms, I always attach directly to lens foot (Kirk) taking advantage of the QD socket on the foot. Run a safety tether as well. Pretty standard stuff and solid. Have never worried about this and works for me. I think many of us here have some sort of setup that is similar, each to their own preference.

My question is concerning one lens, my current AF-S 70-200 f/2.8FL zoom still in use, be it on the D6 or Z9 with FTZ II. More often than not I tend to hand-hold this lens so will remove foot (this has a RRS foot that easily comes off). When I shoot hand-held, I attach PD strap directly to L-bracket QD socket/body as I described above. Use good judgement in how I handle this combo since it is somewhat "long" so avoid undue stress on camera/lens mount or camera strap mounts on body. If I need to shoot with a mono/tripod the foot goes back on and I carry with PD strap attachment goes to QD on foot (if not on tripod of course).

Weight of the 70-200 2.8FL is around 3.15 pounds. Z varient comes in around 3.0 pounds.

Question: Is this safe to handle this particular lens (either one) in this fashion? With my experience with the lens/body combo (D6 and now Z9) and the way in which I handle it when shooting hand-held, IMO, this should not pose any undue risk of damaging the lens mount. That is my only concern, mount stress and potential damage.

Appreciate thoughts on this.
 
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Edward Cusick said:
Appreciate thoughts on this.
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While shooting handheld, sure I'll cradle the lens barrel with my left hand and operate the camera with my right. No problem doing that while actually shooting.

But personally I wouldn't carry this lens around on straps attached to the camera body supporting the weight. The lens weight isn't huge but with its length there's a fair amount of torque on the lens mount when the whole system is supported by camera straps and potentially bouncing or swinging as we walk around.

If I had reason to use a strap system with this lens as I have had for some event shoots I'd have the lens foot in place and attach the strap there. It's pretty easy to either cradle the lens foot itself in the left hand or spin the lens collar around to cradle the lens barrel in the left hand while shooting but having a better balance point for mounting the lens strap.
 
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DRwyoming said:
While shooting handheld, sure I'll cradle the lens barrel with my left hand and operate the camera with my right. No problem doing that while actually shooting.

But personally I wouldn't carry this lens around on straps attached to the camera body supporting the weight. The lens weight isn't huge but with its length there's a fair amount of torque on the lens mount when the whole system is supported by camera straps and potentially bouncing or swinging as we walk around.

If I had reason to use a strap system with this lens as I have had for some event shoots I'd have the lens foot in place and attach the strap there. It's pretty easy to either cradle the lens foot itself in the left hand or spin the lens collar around to cradle the lens barrel in the left hand while shooting but having a better balance point for mounting the lens strap.
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Thanks for the good info. Honestly I had just never given this particular lens that much thought. And yes, have always cradled lens barrel as you pointed out and avoided any undue stress on mount. And as you've done, I've hand-held with lens foot in place as you described.

Will have to look into a new procedure with this lens.
 
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Edward Cusick said:
So was researching for a friend who has just purchased a Z6iii with a few lenses (long & short tele's) and needed advice on how to best carry her equipment safely. Of course I recommended that she look into ways to carry using the lens foot rather than camera straps on the longer/heavier lens, something that this forum has covered quite well. And in doing this it got me thinking about my current situation.

My Z9/D6 combo both use Peak Design (PD) straps with their anchor connectors used anywhere I need a connection. Using Kirk L-brackets on both bodies, each having a QD socket on bottom. When using short primes and tele's, PD strap attaches to L-bracket via Kirk QD Swivel-D and one of the camera strap attachment points. When using longer/heavier primes and zooms, I always attach directly to lens foot (Kirk) taking advantage of the QD socket on the foot. Run a safety tether as well. Pretty standard stuff and solid. Have never worried about this and works for me. I think many of us here have some sort of setup that is similar, each to their own preference.

My question is concerning one lens, my current AF-S 70-200 f/2.8FL zoom still in use, be it on the D6 or Z9 with FTZ II. More often than not I tend to hand-hold this lens so will remove foot (this has a RRS foot that easily comes off). When I shoot hand-held, I attach PD strap directly to L-bracket QD socket/body as I described above. Use good judgement in how I handle this combo since it is somewhat "long" so avoid undue stress on camera/lens mount or camera strap mounts on body. If I need to shoot with a mono/tripod the foot goes back on and I carry with PD strap attachment goes to QD on foot (if not on tripod of course).

Weight of the 70-200 2.8FL is around 3.15 pounds. Z varient comes in around 3.0 pounds.

Question: Is this safe to handle this particular lens (either one) in this fashion? With my experience with the lens/body combo (D6 and now Z9) and the way in which I handle it when shooting hand-held, IMO, this should not pose any undue risk of damaging the lens mount. That is my only concern, mount stress and potential damage.

Appreciate thoughts on this.
Click to expand...
Edward,Totally agree with DRwyoming. I’ve carried as large as a 200-400 F4 using a camera strap attached to the lens foot, with the foot rotated up. Hangs and travels nice. When it comes time to shoot lens foot is up and out of the way, left hand fits comfortably on the barrel of the lens.
 
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I use the Cotton Carrier Skout G2 sling-style camera harness. I have no concerns using it with my Z9 and 600 PF. I bought a Blackrapid shoulder harness but have never used it since I got the Cotton Carrier. The shoulder harness allowed the camera and lens to swing far too much.

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The 500 PF is slightly heavier and 400 f4.5S distinctly lighter than a 70-200 f2.8E FL. But they all weigh 1.2-1.5kg.
I carry the 400 S by the barrel, and the 500 PF by the lens foot (extended with a long Sirui lens plate).
It's simpler to sling the 70-200 f2.8E off an eye ring screwed into the 1/4" dovetail plate of the lens collar.
Point of sling attachment on the lens collar is the best tactic to minimize stress on the lens mount, and also applies to avoid carrying the rig by the camera without support on the lens barrel.
 
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For a 70-200mm f2.8 with a tripod collar foot, I use a Black Rapid Sport Strap, for my left shoulder. That way the lens and camera are along the right side of my body. I added a Arca Swiss QR clamp to the BR strap attachment connector. This way I use the QR clamp to attach it to the arca swiss lens plate I have added to the foot of the 70-200mm f2.8. I use the same strap for my 500mm f5.6 pf and my Z mount 600mm f6.3 pf lens as both have a tripod collar fouut with arca swiss lens plates attached.
 
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First, thanks to all for the feedback.

Just a mention that I've always carried my larger lenses via the lens foot using a Peak Design strap and Kirk QD Swivel-D that works with the feet I have on those lenses.

My "concern" was really stemming from the fact that I typically had always carried my 70-200 2.8E FL using the PD strap to L-bracket/body. That lens was kind of in that grey area weight-wise.

To be safe, from now on, I'll use the QD socket on lens foot as I do with my larger lenses.

All good. Thanks again.
 
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I have both of my PD strap ends attached to my camera body with a 500pf, a tamron 150-600 g2 or my 300pf with 1.4tc. But, each of those lenses has a good quality foot (Hegnar on 500mm, Kirk on 300mm, stock foot with a long sirui plate on the tammy). I shove that foot into my backpack belt which takes all the weight off my PD strap while hiking. The strap hangs slack. When shooting, I hold the lens feet with my left hand.
This seems to be working pretty well. I changed to this after bending the mount on my 500pf having one strap end on the foot and one on the camera so I've learned my lesson.
I may try a QD point on the lens foot only as well, but one thing I like about the current method is how stable it is while hiking. It doesn't swing around.
I sometimes put a PD capture clip on the lens foot and clip it to my belt but it is harder to access quickly.
 
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I don’t remember the last time I used a foot on the 70-200 f2.8 FL. I use PD clutch hand strap on the body and just carry using the body grip, either cradled in left arm or hanging from my right arm, lens down. The benefit is that if I want to shoot quickly, I’ve already got my mitts on the camera. Never had a problem.
 
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@Edward Cusick

IIRC the Z mount weight limit is 1400 gms / 3lbs, so the 70-200 f2.8 is right on the limit. I always use the lens foot for the strap with my 70-200 f2.8. Can't you rotate the foot for hand held - or do as I do and support the lens by putting the foot into the palm of your hand?

I've also Read that using a strap and attaching it to the lens foot and a camera strap buckle puts extra strain on the lens mount.
 
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dabhand16 said:
IIRC the Z mount weight limit is 1400 gms / 3lbs, so the 70-200 f2.8 is right on the limit. I always use the lens foot for the strap with my 70-200 f2.8. Can't you rotate the foot for hand held - or do as I do and support the lens by putting the foot into the palm of your hand?
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Yes, the lens foot can be rotated so as to be above the lens body but in the past, when using the foot, I would palm the lens foot in my hand. Helps to have large hands/long fingers but it works for me.


I've also Read that using a strap and attaching it to the lens foot and a camera strap buckle puts extra strain on the lens mount.
Click to expand...
Yes. This is definitely one to avoid. Quite a bit of torque is placed on lens mount when point of attachment is split between lens foot and camera body. All my heavier lenses (prime and zoom) have always had single point of attachment (both ends of my Peak Design strap) to lens foot using the Kirk QD Swivel-D. Solid and reliable. Will use the same on my 70-200 2.8 from now on.
 
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Edward Cusick said:
Yes, the lens foot can be rotated so as to be above the lens body but in the past, when using the foot, I would palm the lens foot in my hand. Helps to have large hands/long fingers but it works for me.
Click to expand...

Great! I was replying to your "More often than not I tend to hand-hold this lens so will remove foot.....When I shoot hand-held, I attach PD strap directly to L-bracket QD socket/body as I described above. Use good judgement in how I handle this combo since it is somewhat "long" so avoid undue stress on camera/lens mount or camera strap mounts on body." in your first post.

Just flaggingg that you are right on the limit. I would not use a 70-200 f2.8 without a strap onto the foot.
 
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