Lens harness

[cyrus]

So while using a 360mm lens on my old Deardorff with the fiddly little tabs that keep the lensboard in place, I figured that some sort of harness consisting of a cord that goes around the lens and attaches to the camera body would make me feel much more relaxed. (Yes I feel a pang of concern when I put the lensboard on that it may simply fall off one day.)

Other, much smarter people must already do this -- where do you attach the other end of the harness? I don't want to damage the camera by screwing some sort of anchor into it.

[David A. Goldfarb]

I'd look for a knob where it's not in the way.

I don't use such a harness for lenses with my LF cameras, but I did put a leash like that on the rare slip-on lens shade for my Bronica-Nikkor 40mm/4.0. It's saved it a few times.

[Jim Galli]

360mm = 44DD?

[cyrus]

DOes the lack of the usual immediate response to this particular post suggest that I am being overly anxious, and shouldn't worry about the lens and lensboard falling off the camera front?

Even so, I suppose using a harness of some sort is worth it to placate my anxiety.
We sailors have a thing for lanyards & lashing stuff down.

I guess what I should really do is find a way of replacing the fiddly little rotating lensboard-holder tabs with something more substantial & reliable which is more likely to stay in place.

360mm = 44DD. Yup. but less bouncy.

[David A. Goldfarb]

There are a lot of old lenses out there with dented filter rings, so evidently they do fall off sometimes.

[Jim Galli]

Cyrus, you know how lens boards have the 2 narrow sections of grain that oppose the wider center section? I learned the hard way one afternoon that the 2 narrower sections go up and down, not side to side. Yep, a 12" Wolly Velostigmat made it's way to the concrete floor. Ouch! I still don't have enough sense to put a lanyard around my lenses though. Maybe a slinky? Give it a nice soft descent. Probably a very good idea.

[cyrus]

Cyrus, you know how lens boards have the 2 narrow sections of grain that oppose the wider center section? I learned the hard way one afternoon that the 2 narrower sections go up and down, not side to side. Yep, a 12" Wolly Velostigmat made it's way to the concrete floor. Ouch! I still don't have enough sense to put a lanyard around my lenses though. Maybe a slinky? Give it a nice soft descent. Probably a very good idea.

So in other words, even if I get a good retaining clip, the lens could theoretically still fall off if the lensboard cracks.

Great.

Thanks for the added anxiety! LOL!

[Jim Galli]

So in other words, even if I get a good retaining clip, the lens could theoretically still fall off if the lensboard cracks.

Great.

Thanks for the added anxiety! LOL!

No, if I'd had a lanyard tied to the base of the camera it would have caught lens board and all before it hit the concrete. I suppose clattering into tripod legs is better than a nice clean fall to the concrete.

[John Schneider]

I've often thought of something like this myself. Also, because I tend to hold lenses by their front element or step-up ring, I have resisted getting any type of slip on filter holder (like the SK Grimes version) because I know that at some future time I'll thoughtlessly pick the lens up by the ring and the lens will fall off onto a large rock.

[rippo]

I use a special lens pillow. I inflate it before every set up, and place it directly below where the lensboard would be. Then when I install or remove the lens, I am protected in case the lens falls on the floor. It's less hassle because I don't have to worry about attaching/removing a tether. B&H sells them for $149 or thereabouts, and I'm sure it's made the money back countless times over.



















I'm kidding.