I get the 'lightheartedness' of the original post.
You'll frequently see me set my gear on the ground/floor while I am working a shot.
I am not afraid to set any piece of my gear on the ground with the exception of my 500D. That I always put in the case first just because it is all glass and I don't want to have to clean it off.
This stuff is built a lot tougher than folks realize. Setting a body or lens on grass is a nice soft place for it.
Whether or not people 'idolize' their gear, it's a tool, meant to be used.
Call me crazy but I like to see a lens looking like that. It shows that is was used and used hard. I'm not saying you should beat your gear up but if the glass is still sharp who cares what it looks like :-) . When I was a working pro I dropped my 100mm USM 2.0 on to the parking lot at a football game. Dented the barrel of the lens and made the MF really rough but 9+ years later it still is my favorite lens in my bag. Ok well next to by beloved 70-200 2.8 :-)
I say use it for what it is a tool not a glass collectible.
:-)
I treat my 200 and 300mm as careful as possible. I'm thankful that I have never dropped either one. Personally, I think taking care of your equipment is part of being a professional...especially when you have potential clients standing right beside you. Also, I'd probably forget about the item if it were left on the ground like that. That happened to me with my lightmeter at a race track.
I paid for all my lenses and sometimes set them on the ground. I dont lay them in a puddle or the sand, but on some nice grass isnt going to hurt anything.
I paid the L money to have lenses I dont have to worry needlessly about. I can always go and buy another lenses or repair one but I cant reshoot those magic moments.
When I shoot my 300 2.8 I have no real choice but to lay it on the ground when I use a different lenses. I set it down easily and a towel or something is nice if I have one, but just try holding a 6lbs lens and then camera and try to shoot and you'll quickly realize the need to sometimes lay things down as well.
Anyone own a 4x4 vechical ? If so do you take it off road in the dirt where it gets all muddy ? If not, why buy something with four wheel drive, big tires, lots of ground clearance etc ?
I know L lenses have become the must have accessory on alot of these forums these days, but one of the design criteria for the L glass is that its made to withstand professional use and take the abuse.
Why make it weather sealed if its not supposed to be taken into the elements after all ? Why make it out out sturdy metal if its supposed to be treated as if it were made of crystal and kept in bubble wrap ?
If these same lenses can survive desert war zones, the artic, the amazon and everything in between Im sure that the sideline at the local sport stadium certainly isnt going to hurt anything
