Idea to protect big lenses

I came up with this idea many years ago. It actually happened with my wonderful 4 by 5 Cherrywood Wista view camera. That thing was just beautiful to look at! Anyway, I got out of the car, set up my tripod with a bogen hexagonal head. I set the beautiful Cherrywood Wista on it, connected with the hexagonal plate (I still feel sick about this!). I "lock" the camera in place, and double check it for sturdiness.As I lift the tripod to put on my shoulder to go take some scenic shots, the whole camera goes crashing to the pavement, splitting one corner of wood. Oh, it was terrible. I spent the whole next day at a picnic table repairing it, and pretty much got it almost to like it was, and at least perfectly functional.
Even after double checking it, as it seemed rock steady on the head, it was really lose. Afterwards, I always found some security strap to connect to the tripod head, just in case this happened again.

So, applying this concept to my big lenses ever since. I strap the lens to the tripod head in addition to the mount. All big lenses have a little aluminum slot that can accept a strap. I think this weekend I came up with the best of all, and it's cheap and very simple. I got about 3 feet of strap, you know the kind used on backpacks, about 3/4 inch with (maybe an inch, and I think it's made out of Nylon?, anyway very ssturdy stuff that you can't break)) I got a plastic snap (or clasp) connector, and put halves of it on each end of the strap. When you do this, slip the strap first into the interior portion of the clasp slot, then loop back out thru the outer slot, and then force the end back thru the first (inner) slot. I think that is very, very sturdy, plus if there are any doubts, further securing the clasp to the strap can be made anyway. (For me, my lens strap slot was only about a half inch wide, so I doulbled over the strap to slide it thru.)
Then I took that strap with the clasps on each end (all connected to the big lens and fit that around my tripod head in a way that it would hold if the lens might slip off. In my case, with the Wimberley head, a set the strap around the inner swinging bar so it will also move with rotating or moving the lens around, thus not being an obstruction to movement. Then I removed one of the clasps and fit it securely to the exact length that if would snap, yet leave no play. WIth this set up, I don't think the lens is going anywhere.

Explaining this sort of thing is tough, but is very easy to figure out, I hope others get the idea, and save their big lenses! MM

Mark - I've bought webbing (the sometimes nylon stuff you're talking about) and clasps from Strapworks. They're great, and there's no minimum purchase - you can buy as little a 1 foot of any material. I've bought some clasps, and 10 feet of poly webbing and velcro, for something like $15 including shipping.

Nice find! I checked the links and found exactly what I think works best:

http://www.strapworks.com/FNW_s/106.htm

And they're very inexpensive- I should buy a couple dozen and hand them out to my friends in the field! Thanks. MM

Thanks Mark, that's a pretty good idea. I've recently started using some longer lenses and I'm perhaps a little too trusting in my quick release system. I've damaged some lenses over the years, but it's been falling with a tripod mounted camera that did it. Maybe I should put a nylon strap around myself?

Pete D.

Funny you raise this and a little off topic, but I have been using the Bogen Hex QR system for years. And I carried all my gear attached to it over my shoulder on the tripod. But I have always had this nagging little voice telling me sooner or later . . . . . I recently changed over to the AS style dovetail clamp. So much more secure in my judgment. But I WILL look at my big lens and see if the strap hook is there. Good idea.