Accidental Lens Release

[michaelgirman]

  My 24-105L just fell off my 5D mkIII and rolled into the Seine.  The lens release button is way too sensitive and it is so easy to accidentally unlock without realizing it.  I went to twist the zoom ring and the lens rotated and dropped off.  Blogs are full of compaints of this occurance on mkii's.  

  This is definitely a design flaw.  It's not user error.  The button should be relocated or made to require more force to release  or have a detent position.  

  It's a shame that you have to gaffer tape a $2300 lens to a $2000 camera.  Be forewarned.  

[RobertTheFat]

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@FloydSpellman wrote:

"I'll be surprised if any of my lenses ever come loose when I don't mean them to."

You certainly will be.  Take it from me.

Floyd S

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Touché. 

[suemoto]

I've been reading the many replies to the problem that I and many other have had and those who have not.

For the later, I would say, thank your lucky stars! Yes, hand position and how you carry the camera is critical to prevent

accidental lens release. But why should that be, if not the case of the release button?

I'll look to see if Nikon users have same problem on their forum.

I also shoot with a Hasselblad H4-50 and I've attached a image of the Hasselblad design to show where the release button is located and how the lens release button is designed to be depressed from the side.

If the Canon lens release button were to be pushed in from the side and not down from the lens mount, that would alleviate the problem.

Fellow readers can decide/judge for themselves.

I'd like to thank all of  you for your valuable contribuions to this inquiry.

[ebiggs1]

I have never even touched a Hasselblad H4-50 but just looking at your photo, that seems to be the absolute worst place I can think of to put it.

I don't have my 5d3 anymore and I can't remember exactly how the button is placed but on my 1D Mk IV the lens release is below the surface of the surrounding body.  How it can be "accidentally" pushed and the lens rotated, simultaneously, is doubtful.

[SportsPro]

I shoot pro games and big sporting events like the world cup and the olympics for a living and I've gotten rid of my 5D's for the same reason - lenses accidentally come loose.  I am in full agreement with the others who say the release button is too big and too soft.

I'll spare you the sad stories but trust me - it does happen.  

A little background I put together in about 15 minutes:

https://disqus.com/home/discussion/pps/canon_lenses_are_falling_off_5d_mk2_more_updated/

http://blog.planet5d.com/2009/05/is-there-a-problem-with-the-lens-mount/

http://www.prophotoshow.net/2009/05/18/canon-5d-mk2-lens-falling-off-problem/

http://community.usa.canon.com/t5/EOS/Is-there-a-way-to-lock-the-lens-change-button-on-5D-Mark-III/m...

https://www.flickr.com/groups/24-70l/discuss/72157624323516926/

https://www.flickr.com/groups/24-70l/discuss/72157624323516926/

http://forums.steves-digicams.com/canon-eos-dslr/198227-lens-keeps-falling-off.html#b

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=961169

http://www.hoothollow.com/Canon%20Problems.html

[SportsPro]

One more link worth checking out but it's a big one:

http://www.prophotoshow.net/2009/05/18/canon-5d-mk2-lens-falling-off-problem/

[Edward]

Since my original post addressing this issue, I had the same situation happened to me twice while using a 400 mm on a tripod.  Fortunately the camera strap was over the lens to prevent wind from shaking it and prevented the camera from falling into the ground,  In both ocassions I was was rotating the gear from landscape to portrait positions.

And was is Canon doing about this?  They just came out with two new versions of 5DIII high megapixels cameras and no fix to this problem.  Maybe changing the release button from a push to sliding one may solve the problem.

[Ron2]

I was taking pictures of markings on the ground for work. With camer facing down and the same time using the zoom

It is very easy for your largest knuckle as it turns past the lens release button while zooming to push it in

The button unlike the marke 2 and mark 1 is exposed no housing around it

The lens screwing off has a very smooth and similar feel as the zoom rotation

I realised it was not zooming through the view finder but before I knew what was happening the lens fell off and out of my hand 24-70 1:2.8

I have the 5d1 the 5d2 and the 5d3

The problem is on the 5d3 the button is totally exposed where as on the 5d2 and 5d1 is is partly built into the lens holder on the camera body tucking it effectively away from a rotating knuckle

With a lense release button not protected, so close to the zoom ring it is quite possible for you knuckle to come in contact and depress the release button while zooming. Hence why so many people have expereinced problems

The motion can change from 'zoom' to 'undo lense' in an instance and before you know what is happening the lense will be either lose in your hand or worse on the ground

Design floor in my opinion

[bobthetog]

I have had the 10-400mm detach from a 20D and a 7D. I have also had teleconverters detach. It just happened 4 times in 5 minutes on the 7D. I always give the lens a good tug to make sure its engaged. I notice on the lens the hole where the body pin engages is somewhat oval not sure if that is a contributing factor?

[FoxTalbot]

Never had an accidental release with a 20D over many years. Never with a 70D for over one year then 3 or 4 times within 6 months with a 100-400mm II lens. Kind of surprising when it happens and difficult to reconstruct the cause.

I am a long-time (since 1972) user of Canon SLRs and DSLRs.

This is a design flaw.

Anyone who thinks those who have this happen are somehow careless can be sure that is not so in my case.

[RobertTheFat]

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@FoxTalbot wrote:

Never had an accidental release with a 20D over many years. Never with a 70D for over one year then 3 or 4 times within 6 months with a 100-400mm II lens. Kind of surprising when it happens and difficult to reconstruct the cause.

I am a long-time (since 1972) user of Canon SLRs and DSLRs.

This is a design flaw.

Anyone who thinks those who have this happen are somehow careless can be sure that is not so in my case.

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The Canon manuals all seem to suggest that one grip the lens with the palm underneath and the thumb on the side. If you follow that recommendation, I can almost see how your hand might sometimes hit the release button. But I find that position awkward anyway, and I think I'd have difficulty holding the camera steady. (Maybe it's the shape of my hand; I don't know.) The way I do hold it, with my fingers above and my thumb underneath the lens, I can't conceive of accidentally hitting the release button. Maybe you should try it; it might help solve your problem.