Camera Body Stress

EWS

EWS

Active member
Just a quick question about mounting Nikon lenses.
I already own a fair amount of Nikon lenses from my SLR days, but yesterday day my brother loaded me up with a bunch more. The lens in question is a Nikon, Nikkor ED 300mm F 4.5, and is quite heavy. Since this lens has its own mounting bracket, is it safe with the GH1 and the 4/3rds or 4/3rds-micro - 4/3rds stacked adapters to hang the camera body off of the lens. Will this create too much stress on the mounts or camera body.
I figure this might be a good lens for scenics/wildlife due to the 2x factor.
Thanks to all
ES
 
This is an issue with all heavy lenses on lighter bodies. I know of someone receiving damage from mounting a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L on a cheaper Rebel body and not holding it correctly.

As with any heavy lens, you will need to hold it via its heaviest component. One way or the other, using manual focus you should be holding the camera with two hands for all your shots.

As far as adapters go, the biggest issue with adapters are usually experienced with thin adapters. Such as the F-mount-> Pentax or Eos systems; which are a few millimeters thick. Depending on the weight of the lens there is a risk of damaging the mount or getting the adapter stuck on the lens itself. For the u4/3rds system there is a large focal flange distance difference, so adapters are usually thicker and sturdier and these concerns are reduced.

You will need to use your common sense with this. If it feels that the lens is too heavy, or the adapter is too weak, you will need to handle it accordingly,
 
Thanks Steve and I concur with the common sense rule. I think what I was trying to ask would be in regards to the camera body weight itself. In other words mounting the lens to a tripod and then hanging the body off of the lens, would the cameras body weight cause too much stress on the adapters and the camera itself? I will probably eventually get some type of DSLR rig and I am sure there must be some lens supports systems out there and could always go that route.
Thanks
 
EWS said:
Thanks Steve and I concur with the common sense rule. I think what I was trying to ask would be in regards to the camera body weight itself. In other words mounting the lens to a tripod and then hanging the body off of the lens, would the cameras body weight cause too much stress on the adapters and the camera itself? I will probably eventually get some type of DSLR rig and I am sure there must be some lens supports systems out there and could always go that route.
Thanks
Click to expand...

The camera weighs 385 grams (0.8 pounds) - which is slightly lighter then a Canon Rebel. If you mount the lens to the tripod you should have no problem with the adapters. Given the distance the µ43rds system affords for adapters, they are fairly sturdy and aren't like the ultra-thin Nikon-adapters for the the EOS systems. Even with those thin-adapters there really aren't that many issues other then what I've put on my previous post.
 
EWS said:
In other words mounting the lens to a tripod and then hanging the body off of the lens, would the cameras body weight cause too much stress on the adapters and the camera itself?
Click to expand...

I doubt it. The GH1 is a very light body. I wouldn't worry about it even with heavier bodies. I'm sure the camera mounts and adapters are designed to be able to support the camera's own weigth. As long as you attach the lens to the tripod so the camera doesn't have to support the lens you should be fine.

Edit: oops. Too slow.
 
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