Is this a safe setup for a strap's anchor points?

[Ever]

In regards to the photo below, is that an ok arrangement when it comes to concerns about potentially damaging the lens mount?

For some background, I'd previously been using a PeakDesign slide arranged with one PD QD attached to the body's strap mounts, and the other PD QD end attached to the the lens's foot mount. However I just got my first tripod, so I added the Hejnar foot. This means I lost the second anchor point for the strap. I purchased an RRS QD to use on the Hejnar as the second anchor point. But while installing it, it dawned on me that I could simply use the camera body's tripod mount instead

It's simpler and cheaper than the QD setup, so I'm curious if it's somehow markedly less safe than just anchoring to the tripod foot. I'm still pretty new here, but I can't see how this would put added stress on the mount since it would just be dangling downward from the body without any lateral pull on the lens.

Thanks for any guidance.

 

[SoCalRick]

If it were me, I would be using the lens foot as the main attachment point for the strap, and potentially run a safety tether to the the camera body. A lot of times, I will just attach the strap to the lens foot with a QD connector, and add a safety tether to another attachment point on the lens, and not even have a connection (or safety tether) to the camera body itself. YMMV of course.

The basic rule of thumb is; if a lens comes with a lens foot mount, then you should use it as the primary mounting / weight bearing point (whether it be attaching it to a tripod, gimbal head, strap, etc.). Sure, for limited durations of time, it probably doesn't put a lot of strain on the lens mount just to carry the camera by your side with the lens mounted on it pointed down towards the ground. But that is a lot of weight swinging off of your camera body, and it won't always be in such a neutral weighted position as you carry it around and raise it up to a shooting position as needed.

I put a Hejnar foot on my 500 PF lens, and use a QD connector on it as the main way to carry my camera and lens combo (along with either my BlackRapid, or PeakDesign shoulder straps).

It sounds like you already have a compatible QD connector, so there shouldn't be any additional cost involved for you to go ahead and put it to good use.

 

[ajrmd]

With your set up, all of the stress is on the camera and mount. My preference is to minimize those forces when possible with heavier lenses. A QD to the foot with an additional safety leash is my preferred approach.

 

[Ever]

Thanks all. I'll make the change.

Out of curiosity I'm trying to figure out how hanging the camera and lens off the foot doesn't actually increase stress on the mount mount. It seems it puts lateral pressure on the camera body as they hang horizontally towards the ground. Meaning more leverage against the mount. And that hanging the kit vertically from the body could cause less leverage. Though I guess the swinging around as it hangs downward could also increase leverage...

Perhaps there's more to it than that. Just thinking out loud.

 

[DRwyoming]

Thanks all. I'll make the change.

Out of curiosity I'm trying to figure out how hanging the camera and lens off the foot doesn't actually increase stress on the mount mount. It seems it puts lateral pressure on the camera body as they hang horizontally towards the ground. Meaning more leverage against the mount. And that hanging the kit vertically from the body could cause less leverage. Though I guess the swinging around as it hangs downward could also increase leverage...

Perhaps there's more to it than that. Just thinking out loud.

Think of it as the amount of torque on the lens mount. A long heavy lens puts a lot more torque on the lens mount when the camera is the support than the camera that might be heavy but has that weight distributed across a relatively short length when the lens is the support point. Even though something like a 500mm PF isn’t crazy heavy, it is long with that weight across a long distance which increases torque.

It’s easiest to visualize this when the camera or lens is fixed to a hard support like a tripod but applies to hanging the rig from a strap as well.

 

[Ever]

Thanks DRWyoming, makes sense.

The reason I've been drawn to the other setup is to minimize swinging. I'm usually on hikes while shooting, so having two distinct anchor points can help.

IIRC I saw a video about a lens foot that had two QD connectors instead of one. It's not much, but it could possibly limit swinging a little more than just one.

 

[DavidT]

I wouldn't do that. I would put the strap on the lens.

 

[wotan1]

Thanks DRWyoming, makes sense.

The reason I've been drawn to the other setup is to minimize swinging. I'm usually on hikes while shooting, so having two distinct anchor points can help.

IIRC I saw a video about a lens foot that had two QD connectors instead of one. It's not much, but it could possibly limit swinging a little more than just one.

A better way to control swinging is to anchor the camera strap to your belt.

I use Holdfast straps and they have belt anchor hooks you can attach to the camera slide strap. This allows you to secure the camera to your hip so it has limited swing.
When you are where you want to shoot you cn release the belt hook by releasing a hook and the camera is free for you to use as you like.

With this system I commonly carry two Z9's with two long lenses one on each side. I can walk significant distances this way in reasonable comfort. I try to tuck the cameras a bit behind my hip to minimize risk of collision with nearby objects but I do have to pay attention to the fact that I have a wide load. I do like those belt anchors.

I actually use my Holdfast straps double duty as a dog walking harness. That allows me to walk two big and sometimes unruly dogs pretty much hands free. Both human leash ends are tethered close to the belt. Of course I have to deal with derision from She Who Must Be Obeyed who calls that behavior dorky.

 

[Calson]

For the past 5 years I have been using the Kirk SS-1 Security Strap sold by BH Photo. I can clamp it to any Arca-Swiss compatible foot or bracket and have 100% security. I can use this with all my lens and camera mounts and no need to buy a special QD type which I would never trust. If a strap connection breaks free I could lose the use of my camera and lens for weeks or months and if it happened while traveling it could end my use of the lens and camera. I don't like to put at risk when I do not need to do so and when the consequences could be dire.

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

 

[dabhand16]

@Ever

I tried carrying a camera with the strap attached to the lens foot and one neck strap lug but discovered that this puts more strain on the lens mount, so I reverted to attaching the strap to the lens foot only. The Z mount on my Z6ii is only rated to 1400 grams so anything heavier will have the potential to rip the mount out.

Out of curiosity I'm trying to figure out how hanging the camera and lens off the foot doesn't actually increase stress on the mount mount.

Simples. The camera will only weigh around 12/1300 grams max so is well inside the 1400 gms capacity of the Z lens mount.

 

[AlanB313]

@Ever ...I have both of my PD slide strap attached to my camera body. But, I hook my Hejnar foot like yours into my backpack belt or regular belt while the camera isn't in use. It works well for hiking and standing in one location. I'm an avid hiker and only sometimes need to steady the camera with my left hand over rough terrain.

This puts the camera and lens in a vertical position as you mentioned. There's no tension on the strap at all; it's slack. This works well for my d500 with a 500mm pf. I do it as well with my 300mm pf with a kirk foot I bought from a fellow forum member (great experience, I'd do so again!). The kirk foot is tighter to the camera body so it doesn't work as well carrying the 300mm d500 combo as the 500PF. I might machine an aluminum spacer block to put more room between the kirk foot and the lens. (I have access to a milling machine). Or use a PD belt clip.

I'll add that my lens mount got bent from carrying it with the PD strap attached to the lens foot and camera body, with the setup hanging horizontal. The previous owner of the 500PF may have as well.

@DRwyoming is correct about the torque issue. I learned the hard way...
Good luck.

 

[tbone1004]

Thanks all. I'll make the change.

Out of curiosity I'm trying to figure out how hanging the camera and lens off the foot doesn't actually increase stress on the mount mount. It seems it puts lateral pressure on the camera body as they hang horizontally towards the ground. Meaning more leverage against the mount. And that hanging the kit vertically from the body could cause less leverage. Though I guess the swinging around as it hangs downward could also increase leverage...

Perhaps there's more to it than that. Just thinking out loud.

Think about it like a seesaw, it's all about the moment arm and even if the lens isn't swinging, it's still bouncing which is a high dynamic load. The camera is much lighter than the lens and it also has a very short moment arm away from the mount so the torque multiplier is very small compared to the front element which has a long moment arm. I'm in an airport lounge so can't do a quick drawing with the math, but it's a thing from an engineering perspective.

IME the single point QD works well enough, but you could always get a bit creative with something like the PeakDesign Cuff and use it as a leash to keep the body swinging. The weight will still be held by the QD on the lens foot where it should be, but the cuff would be loose on the main strap and minimize the swing. That would give you the two points at the QD from the strap and a third point which is not carrying any appreciable weight, but providing stability.

 

[Woody Meristem]

It just makes sense to put the strap on the the heavier part of the lens/camera combination to minimize stress on the mount. Since the mounts on both the camera ans lens are relatively easy to replace, on most brands of cameras and lenses they're designed to give way under stress -- but why put extra stress on them by hanging a heavy lens from the camera and increase the need for repair.

 

[wotan1]

For the past 5 years I have been using the Kirk SS-1 Security Strap sold by BH Photo. I can clamp it to any Arca-Swiss compatible foot or bracket and have 100% security. I can use this with all my lens and camera mounts and no need to buy a special QD type which I would never trust. If a strap connection breaks free I could lose the use of my camera and lens for weeks or months and if it happened while traveling it could end my use of the lens and camera. I don't like to put at risk when I do not need to do so and when the consequences could be dire.View attachment 101451

I would have a problem with this setup, a single strap across my neck would result in significant back pain for me.

The Holdfast straps use wide straps across both shoulders forming an X in the back. They follow the strong muscles of the upper back and shoulders. I find carrying a lot of weight this way is much more comfortable and I do not get back pain. I also found that this sort of strap handles lopsided weight (heavy camera/lens on one side only) quite well and I do not feel unbalanced carrying the camera that way with the dual strap.

You can do the same thing with Blackrapid straps however they are not as comfortable for me as the Holdfast. Also the dual Blackrapid straps do not handle lopsided loads well in my experience.

Whatever strap you use, strengthening exercises and frequent use helps make it easier. In the physical therapy world they call it work hardening.

 

[mathjak107]

i had the four screws holding the base on my 600pf f6.3 come lose just a few weeks after buying it .

luckily i felt the motion .

i used loctite and so far so good but i would love a tether attached to the lens itself as a back up but i see no where on the lens to mount a tether