Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
p.1 #1Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
- I tend to always camera my camera from the grip when out and about with a wrist strap on. I recently added the 50-150 and am wondering how much actual risk there is in carrying the camera normally from the grip without special treatment for heavy lenses.
- I've seen some stuff that sounds overly cautious that recommends only holding that setup by the lens when walking around.
- I don't use a neck strap; my usual setup is my camera bag over my shoulder, camera in my hand held by the grip, wrist strap on.
- I don't want to damage the body or the lens so wondering what everyone's actual practice is.
- Obviously if I use a tripod or a capture clip I'd mount the plate to the foot and not let the lens hang perpendicular to the body, but if the lens mount is parallel to the ground while walking around, am I really risking my camera body?
Curious how folks here are handling these types of setups.
Jun 04, 2026 at 03:49 PM
p.1 #2Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
I carry it in my backpack. But then again I'm a landscape shooter not interested in wildlife so I might not have the model you want...
Jun 04, 2026 at 04:36 PM
p.1 #3Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
guidostow wrote:
I carry it in my backpack. But then again I'm a landscape shooter not interested in wildlife so I might not have the model you want...
Yeah I do a lot of walking around when shooting portraits, travel, etc. I'm almost always carrying my camera rather than having it in a bag.
I carry it in my backpack. But then again I'm a landscape shooter not interested in wildlife so I might not have the model you want...
Yeah I do a lot of walking around when shooting portraits, travel, etc. I'm almost always carrying my camera rather than having it in a bag.
Jun 04, 2026 at 04:38 PM
RoamingScott
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p.1 #4Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
The 50-150 is under 1400g. I though this was a thread about heavy lenses 
Rule of thumb is, if it comes with a foot, use that for a mount/carrying point. That said, I don't bother with any lens under 1500g personally and usually leave those feet at home. If it's an actual heavy lens, the foot gets mounted upside down and used as a carrying handle.
Rule of thumb is, if it comes with a foot, use that for a mount/carrying point. That said, I don't bother with any lens under 1500g personally and usually leave those feet at home. If it's an actual heavy lens, the foot gets mounted upside down and used as a carrying handle.
Jun 04, 2026 at 04:41 PM
p.1 #5Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
As a general rule if a lens comes with a foot I carry by the foot, normally via a blackrapid strap attached to the lens foot. I have had some down right lightweight lenses that came with a foot, like the OM 40-150f2.8 and that foot never made it out of the lens box.
I don't think the Sony 50-150 will hurt your camera though if you just held it by the camera while walking around but I'd probably still use my blackrapid strap with it just because it's a very handy way to carry a camera around and that combo would be bigger than I'd want for a neck strap.
I don't think the Sony 50-150 will hurt your camera though if you just held it by the camera while walking around but I'd probably still use my blackrapid strap with it just because it's a very handy way to carry a camera around and that combo would be bigger than I'd want for a neck strap.
Jun 04, 2026 at 04:52 PM
p.1 #6Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
with a heavy lens by black rapid strap carries the weight attached to the side of the camera to a L bracket or cage, and my right hand steadies it.
Edited on Jun 04, 2026 at 05:16 PM · View previous versions
Edited on Jun 04, 2026 at 05:16 PM · View previous versions
Jun 04, 2026 at 05:13 PM
p.1 #7Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
RoamingScott wrote:
The 50-150 is under 1400g. I though this was a thread about heavy lenses
Rule of thumb is, if it comes with a foot, use that for a mount/carrying point. That said, I don't bother with any lens under 1500g personally and usually leave those feet at home. If it's an actual heavy lens, the foot gets mounted upside down and used as a carrying handle.
I do much the same as Scott, but once I find a subject, for maybe the next 5 minutes, I'll be carrying it by the grip.
Those lenses would be the 400 f2.8, the 200-600, and the 400-800.
I also did this when I shot with Canon cameras.
I haven't had any issues yet doing it this way.
The 50-150 is under 1400g. I though this was a thread about heavy lenses
Rule of thumb is, if it comes with a foot, use that for a mount/carrying point. That said, I don't bother with any lens under 1500g personally and usually leave those feet at home. If it's an actual heavy lens, the foot gets mounted upside down and used as a carrying handle.
I do much the same as Scott, but once I find a subject, for maybe the next 5 minutes, I'll be carrying it by the grip.
Those lenses would be the 400 f2.8, the 200-600, and the 400-800.
I also did this when I shot with Canon cameras.
I haven't had any issues yet doing it this way.
Jun 04, 2026 at 05:14 PM
p.1 #8Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
When walking around birding I carry my 200-600/A1 either by the aftermarket (ie longer) lens foot, with an op-tech wrist strap attached to the foot for security (by a long pigtail), or in a sling/messenger style bag (Mindshift Exposure 15). I also often swing the bag around to the front and use the top of it as a platform to rest the camera/lens between shots.
I tried using a blackrapid QD strap but hated the camera/lens banging around my hip. I'm really not a big strap person, more a small (wrist) strap person. Not sure it would be at all comfortable to try and carry my setup by the camera grip regardless of whether it's advisable or not.
I tried using a blackrapid QD strap but hated the camera/lens banging around my hip. I'm really not a big strap person, more a small (wrist) strap person. Not sure it would be at all comfortable to try and carry my setup by the camera grip regardless of whether it's advisable or not.
Jun 04, 2026 at 05:16 PM
p.1 #9Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
ArchnemeSwiss wrote:
guidostow wrote
I carry it in my backpack. But then again I'm a landscape shooter not interested in wildlife so I might not have the model you want...Likewise, my typical camera use is when I am walking/hiking. When not used actively, the camera is in a Manfrotto holster. There is a wrist strap attached to the camera. I can easily and quickly remove the camera from the holster. Any extras, e.g. a second lens, are in a backpack. I very rarely change lenses when walking. I am not bothered by the lens changes, I am simply trying to get the maximum use from the camera system at hand.
Like Scott, I normally (on a hike) wouldn't use a foot, if there is one on a lens that weighs under 1500g. I use camera systems with such heavier lenses the same as with the lighter lenses. I hold the body by the grip. My left hand is under the lens when shooting. When not shooting and still holding the system, then it is gripped with the lens pointing straight down.
Jun 04, 2026 at 05:39 PM
p.1 #10Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
The 50-150 is not a heavy lens. Its about the same weight as the 70-200GM v1.
For heavy lenses (2-6, 4-8) IMO use a strap mounted directly to the lens. Not to the lens foot
For heavy lenses (2-6, 4-8) IMO use a strap mounted directly to the lens. Not to the lens foot
Jun 05, 2026 at 06:41 AM
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p.1 #11Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
I was told by Sony Pro Services to use the foot as a carrying point and not to let the camera and lens hang perpendicular to the ground because the OS is constantly working putting a strain on the motors.
Jun 05, 2026 at 06:26 PM
p.1 #12Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
boshek wrote:
I was told by Sony Pro Services to use the foot as a carrying point and not to let the camera and lens hang perpendicular to the ground because the OS is constantly working putting a strain on the motors.
For which lens? The one I'm most interested in (the 50-150) doesn't have OS...
I was told by Sony Pro Services to use the foot as a carrying point and not to let the camera and lens hang perpendicular to the ground because the OS is constantly working putting a strain on the motors.
For which lens? The one I'm most interested in (the 50-150) doesn't have OS...
Jun 05, 2026 at 06:28 PM
p.1 #13Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
With the 50-150, I generally use a QD on a lens foot that has a QD port. But I've also carried it via the camera, facing downward. I've seen no ill effects with neither the camera, nor the lens.
Jun 05, 2026 at 08:21 PM
p.1 #14Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
A9/70-200GM2. Only long lens. Small leather strap goes around my wrist attached to the body. One hands lightly holding the camera when standing waiting around for the next shot. If I’m on the move I tend to carry by holding onto the lens barrel. Wrist strap doesn’t interfere with my movements.
Jun 05, 2026 at 09:08 PM
p.1 #15Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
The 50-150 comes with a strap and the instructions tell you to attach the strap to the lens foot so that's what I do.
I don't however use the strap that comes with the lens I use a Peak Design strap so I attach the peak design anchors to the lens foot and use those.
I don't however use the strap that comes with the lens I use a Peak Design strap so I attach the peak design anchors to the lens foot and use those.
Jun 06, 2026 at 12:25 AM
p.1 #16Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
When I still had my 100-400GM I carried it with a strap on the lens foot, worked really well. Same system used to attach as the post above
Jun 06, 2026 at 02:21 AM
p.1 #17Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
my issue was with the 70-200 gmii losing connection
Jun 06, 2026 at 10:24 AM
p.1 #18Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
Does the addition of the vertical battery grip improve the shooting experience with the 50-150mm, or is the weight/bulk a detriment?
Jun 07, 2026 at 07:01 AM
p.1 #19Carrying heavy lenses (50-150): let it hang?
Fotodiox did some research and came up with 1093g(?!) as the limit for their TLT ROKR adapter (278g, so ~1370g total). So I concur with others that for the 50-150 (1340g), secure mount to the tripod foot or hold it by the barrel. I've held the e mount metal ring separate from the camera. The metal is far softer than I originally expected (you can bend the mount with your hands). I believe this is because the mount is secured to a cast alloy backplate, and something has to give if over-stressed, so Sony rightly chose the mount metal as the sacrificial point of failure.
https://fotodiox-knowledge-base.gorgias.help/en-US/informational-tilt-rokr-weight-limit-on-lenses-(-hasselblad-v-lenses-)-199031
https://fotodiox-knowledge-base.gorgias.help/en-US/informational-tilt-rokr-weight-limit-on-lenses-(-hasselblad-v-lenses-)-199031
Jun 07, 2026 at 08:15 AM