Lens on or off?

Marts

Marts

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Martin
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With my camera and lenses still fairly new new I am possibly not giving credit to their durability. I see other toggers and videos for bags etc storing and transporting cameras with lenses attached in the bag. I have been removing the lens to put in the bag, I have today bought a lowerpro slingshot which is designed to transport cameras with a lens attached. Just wondering what others do, is it necessary to always remove it and am I in fact increasing the risk of contamination by overdoing the removal of lens.

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Remove lens as little as possible means you are limiting possible dust contamination (and wear) - I very rarely pack my body without a lens, only exception is if everything is packed into my peli case when it fits into the foam packing.
 
Very rarely take the lens off. I do it if I am travelling on a plane and need to pack loads in one bag. I sometime also do it if I am storing my camera at home when I know I won't be using it for a while.
 
I only have one lens so :shrug:

but seriously, I don't see the point in taking the lens off. Everytime you take a lens on and off, you're shaving minute parts of the electrical contacts off. No point in it really.
 
As long as you use a rear lens and body cap there's no harm in packing the body and lens separately at all; just don't do it in the middle of a sand storm.
 
I store the body without a lens on, mainly due to having a small bag. New to upgrade to a larger one fast.
 
gramps said:
Remove lens as little as possible means you are limiting possible dust contamination (and wear) - I very rarely pack my body without a lens, only exception is if everything is packed into my peli case when it fits into the foam packing.
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In agreement with Gramps here esp regarding the dust problems... :thinking: Just make sure that you replace the body cap thou as that does help as well :lol:
 
If you take the lens off sods law says you will see that shot of a lifetime,for which the media will pay zillions and you will miss it putting your lens on!
 
troutfisher said:
If you take the lens off sods law says you will see that shot of a lifetime,for which the media will pay zillions and you will miss it putting your lens on!
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Agreed. I don't know why you would ever want to take a lens off when you're storing it. Just makes it more hassle every time you want to use the camera again.
 
Lens on all the time.

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Smeghead said:
Agreed. I don't know why you would ever want to take a lens off when you're storing it. Just makes it more hassle every time you want to use the camera again.
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...and when you take your camera out of the bag with the wrong lens on it.....
 
You would leave the house with the lens you plan on using attached. Or depending on the style of photography you do, you'd have a certain lens attached.

Or if you're well off, or actually on a shoot you'd have a second camera with the other lens on :)
 
nifty 50 always attached to mine. As long as you're not connecting an absolute monster of a lens I would think the possibility of the lens acting as a lever and thus damaging anything is extremely low - much more so than getting something horrible in the camera when taking the lens off and on all the time.
 
Bluesmachine said:
You would leave the house with the lens you plan on using attached. Or depending on the style of photography you do, you'd have a certain lens attached.

Or if you're well off, or actually on a shoot you'd have a second camera with the other lens on :)
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I'm impressed. I rarely know which lens I'm going to use until I get on location and make a decision based on subject, lighting etc.
 
fini said:
nifty 50 always attached to mine. As long as you're not connecting an absolute monster of a lens I would think the possibility of the lens acting as a lever and thus damaging anything is extremely low - much more so than getting something horrible in the camera when taking the lens off and on all the time.
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That is exactly what I was wanting to find out. Whether the risk of damage through the lens being on is greater than that of contamination . Thanks
 
I tend to leave a 'walkabout' lens attached to my main camera body - at the moment that's the Tamron 17-55 2.8 VC.
The camera and lens then sits happily in the side/main bit of a Slingshot bag. It's fine and avoids unnecessary swapping around and potential for dust to get inside.

I do sometimes store things seperated though. I tend to store my second camera body without a lens attached and if I'm packing to go abroad I'll normally break things up to make it easier to fit and avoid potential stresses on the mount in case things get thrown around.

So, simple answer... Yeah, just leave the lens attached! You'll avoid dust and make it 10 seconds quicker to take a photo!
 
I only have one lens (a 50/1.4) but if I had another lens I would fit it before leaving home as there is no way I'd want to have to faff about either:
1) Switching lenses "in the field"
2) Having to carry an extra lens as it would mean having to carry a bag as well as the camera
 
One body, 4 lenses + 1 TC, the last lens used stays on until the next foray.
 
DemiLion said:
I'm impressed. I rarely know which lens I'm going to use until I get on location and make a decision based on subject, lighting etc.
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Yes but you obviously know what you're doing. :D

I'm happy to have any lens attached given my limited capabilities. :p

I never remove the last lens that was attached though and always store the camera with this attached.

Seems to be the norm. from reading here.
 
I leave my Sigma 18-200mm attached most of the time, unless I need anything specific depending on the job requirements.
 
I don't even put the lens cap on.
 
I leave on whatever lens was attached when I last used the camera. Very rarely carry the camera without a lens on, only on the rare ocasion where space is limited in the bag.
 
DemiLion said:
...and when you take your camera out of the bag with the wrong lens on it.....
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simple solution there, just buy more cameras! :P


my bag is configured to hold a short zoom on one body, and long zoom on the other, pretty much as a default setup... :)
 
I always leave a lens on the camera - however, it is invariably the wrong lens when I next decide to use it, so I have to choose another one.
If I go for a walk in the country, then I quite often take three lenses with me - 70 - 210, 50 manual 1.8, 135 with 30mm extention tube.
Never change lenses in dusty situations, and never hold the camera/lens housing upwards, do every change as quickly as possible.
 
I am forever changing lenses, and 'yes', dust problems do occur... I combat it as much as I can by changing lenses in the open, and while the cameras are switched off to reduce static... a blower and frequent servicing takes care of what is out of your control...
 
Always leave my 24-70 on incase I need to grab a shot, I'm not sure it really matters what you choose to do, I'm changing lenses all the time, I just keep my kit cleaned regularly so no problems.
 
Very rarely transport my bodies with their lenses off, unless I'm going overseas in which case they go into flight cases that are cut to accept body only with lenses seperate, much like Gramps. Other than that the only time the lenses come off is to change glass or to do some cleaning.
 
I to pack my half photo backpack with the lens attached, but I was wondering what way you put the camera/lens in the bag?

I currently put my D5000 with the 18-55 VR attached in the bottom section of my Crumpler backpack lens first, so it is facing the bottom. Is this the correct way?
 
i normally have a lens on each of my cameras. If i go out i try and predict what i need. the full kit bag allows me to have all my lenses stored with two of them on cameras ready for a quick draw.
i change when needed. Normally a quick clean before any shoots keeps me going and try not to change in bad conditions.
 
Yeah I always keep my lens on, I was just wondering which way you all packed them?
 
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