topic How long to adapt to heavy lens? in EF & RF Lenses

How long to adapt to heavy lens?

c1live — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 08:20:27 GMT

I just upgraded my lens from the RF 50mm f/1.8 to the RF 70-200 f/2.8 and my body’s not sure what happened.

Does one eventually adapt to the weight to the point where it’s not even noticeable? If so, how long did it take to feel manageable?

Is there a gym workout routine you’d recommend? lol!

Re: How long to adapt to heavy lens?

ebiggs1 — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 15:21:13 GMT

It never bothered me so I can't help. I got used to carrying two 1 Series cameras all day long a long time ago. One with a big tele zoom like the 150-600mm super zoom and the other with a short zoom. I still do that to this day and I am 80.

IMHO, I don't consider the 70-200mm f2.8L a heavy lens but I suppose it depends on your personal stature. I can recommend the Black Rapid shoulder strap.

Re: How long to adapt to heavy lens?

justadude — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 16:09:46 GMT

I use the older and heavier EF 70-200mm f/2.8 version of this lens, which I bought in 1996. With the adapter for mirrorless it's about 50% heavier than your version. The weight never bothered me until about two years ago after a back injury at age 67... so now it does bother me a bit if I am holding it up for 10 hours at an event. I'm usually fine for the first 6 - 8 hours, but after that, it's like holding up a bowling ball in front of your face all day.

Solutions? Ebiggs1 gave you an excellent one with the Black Rapid shoulder strap. I have had one for many years, and I still use that strap on my film cameras. For my digital bodies I like the Peak Design shoulder strap simply because it is slightly more comfortable, and I can easily switch it from one body to another. Bottom line, any shoulder strap takes the strain off of your neck compared to a neck strap. Personally I think neck straps were designed by a very sadistic person - lol.

Another tip (which I started doing after my back injury) buy a collapsible monopod. After hours of shooting with a heavy lens, I slap the monopod on... while I still have the shoulder strap on (so using both). You can hold the collapsed monopod in your hand to relieve some of the weight, and if you are going to be stationary for a few, then extend the monopod and let that support the weight. If I am going to be standing in one spot for more than a few minutes (rare, but it does happen) then I slip the shoulder strap off too.

Re: How long to adapt to heavy lens?

wq9nsc — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 17:05:34 GMT

I shoot sports with a pair of 1DX III bodies using a Sun Sniper dual shoulder harness and I think it is all relative because the 1DX III with the 70-200 f2.8 feels like a lightweight because I typically have an EF 400 f2.8 prime on the other body 🙂

A good shoulder strap like the Black Rapid Ernie described will help a lot, I bought a couple of these on his advice several years ago and use them for stuff when I am only using a single body.

How you hold/position the camera has a lot to do with how comfortable it will be so make sure you have one hand well out on the lens so you have a good weight distribution which leads to comfort and steady holding. Use the tripod foot for the mount point for the shoulder strap that you use which will provide better balance. I am not sure which body you are using but this is a case where longer lenses are generally more comfortable with a beefier body which provides a good balanced system.

I don't use a monopod because it limits my fast mobility. For football, working with the two bodies isn't tiring at all because the harness is handling all the weight much of the time. Soccer is a little different where there is seldom a break in the action but I have found that properly holding the 1DX III and EF 400 f2.8 results in very little muscle fatigue. Also check your posture, I have seen so many photographers leaning forward at the waist when shooting and that is not optimal!

And a gym workout can't hurt! I am 65 but still run several miles several times each week AND as another hobby I restore vintage ham radio gear from the 1930s onward and ANY modern Canon camera and lens combo (including a 1DX III with my EF 800 f5.6) feels pretty light compared to working on 1940s era transmitters that weigh well over 100 pounds. So you just need a second hobby that involves stuff that will make your cameras feel like feathers 🙂

Rodger

Re: How long to adapt to heavy lens?

SignifDigits — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 18:13:11 GMT

I'm nervous about dropping gear so even when I use a shoulder strap for heavier gear I always have (and use) a wrist strap as well. The one what works best for me is the Smallrig Camera Wrist Strap. There are some quality complaints and it doesn't fit everyone well, but for me it's been both comfortable and sturdy, and doesn't get in my way. And it's cheap enough that I keep a spare handy if one fails (not yet). It's saved my rig at least a couple times as I've gotten into the habit of putting it on like I do the seat belt. If I'm hauling my 200-800mm RF (50% heavier than the 70-200) then I've usually also wearing a Camelback that the whole rig fits into nicely for a break from time to time.

As I've gotten older (69 this week) I've learned the little things like walking those extra steps to stand in the shade and not holding or carrying something when I don't need to by setting it down, and taking breaks when and where I can. I keep active with yard work, build stuff, fishing, etc. and when I get desperate for activity I will do a few pushups and a knockoff set of dial-a-weight dumbbells. Yoga twice a week most weeks and stretches for trigger finger, scoliosis and arthritic toes daily.

Re: How long to adapt to heavy lens?

TomRamsey — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 22:37:57 GMT

As other have already, I also recommend Black Rapid Sling Straps for carrying and get weight off of your neck. Also make sure your camera holding technique is good, camera in right hand, left hand supporting the lens, elbows against your body. When you get a bigger lens that left hand is obviously going out a little farther from your body and has a bigger load to support, it does take a little time but not that long and you'll get there. Laughing about the gym routine, but if it feels heavy, a few curls wouldn't hurt.

Re: How long to adapt to heavy lens?

Tintype_18 — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 19:17:59 GMT

My signature shows what lenses I have. When I started about seven years ago, I invested in a monopod and tripod. Monopod is obviously more portable. Example: Getting ready to photograph the sandhill crane migration through SE Tennessee. There is a place for viewing so the tripod and the 150-600mm lens get a workout.

Re: How long to adapt to heavy lens?

ebiggs1 — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 15:17:27 GMT

"There is a place for viewing so the tripod and the 150-600mm lens get a workout."

Unless I am in a permanent situation like a blind I never use a monopod much less a tripod for outdoor wildlife especially birds and BIF. A monopod much less a tripod hinders you so much to make it all but impossible.

As a music teacher, I always try to fit the musical instrument to the person and their physical structure and features. The same can apply to photography if you find the gear difficult or impossible to use perhaps you need to select a different subject or even a different hobby.

In my musical career, I have had diminutive young ladies come in wanting to play tuba or stand up bass hardly a good fit. However, the ones that really want to do and have the fire always seem to master a way.

Re: How long to adapt to heavy lens?

waniw54328 — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 04:48:11 GMT

Hello, the best advice is to treat the lens like a new pair of hiking boots—you have to break your muscles in before they feel "custom fit." To speed that up, try to keep your left elbow tucked tight against your ribs so your torso carries the weight rather than just your wrist and shoulder. You’ll probably feel the "burn" for the first few outings, but within about a month of regular use, your muscle memory will shift and the 50mm will actually start feeling CareCredit weirdly light, like a toy. Just make sure you aren't using a basic neck strap; switching to a crossbody sling will be the single biggest "workout" shortcut you can take because it saves your neck and lets your larger back muscles handle the load.