Weight limit for third party lenses (E-mount)

[Bille]

I received two Leitz R lenses today. First is a (very solid) Leitz Elmarit 135/2.8. Second is a first gen Elmarit 180/2.8. This is a behemoth of a lens weighing in about 1.3 kg (!), way more than I expected. Anyway... Would you consider that within specs for the e-mount?

[ForenSeil]

1,3kg should be managable on A7/r or similar sized camera but on small NEX like NEX-3 and NEX-5 series it will get tricky I think. Tele lenses are generally hard to handle on a small body without large grip and viewfinder, even when they are not that heavy.
The second generation of the 180/2.8 Elmarit is supposed to be much lighter and optically better btw.

I used the Elmarit-R 135/2.8 (I think 2cond version) on A7 for a few days and loved it... Leica build quality, very creamy bokeh, good wide open performance, perfect colors, but like most of these lenses some OOF fringing which did sometimes annoy me. For my taste it was even better than the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135/2.8 (Contax)

[CBokeh]

[Basilisk]

I have used my monster Sigma 150-500 on my NEX 5N which looks a bit ridiculous, but is fine. Just always hold the lens not the camera.
The NEX tripod plate is a bit pathetic anyway, so I would always prefer a long lens with its own tripod collar for tripod use.

I certainly would not use the regular neck strap with a heavy lens attached.

[Tedat]

biggest lens I had on the A7 was my Tamron 05a (a 2,2kg 4.5/70-350mm Zoom). Since I hold such huge lenses with my left hand and the camera on the right.. I wouldn't worry about any specs for the mount. On the other side.. this Tamron is a tripod lens.. not build for handheld use and so I use it most time with a tripod anyway.

[Lloydy]

some of the NEX range have alloy chassis, my NEX 5 has and I have used some heavy old lenses on it and the NEX seemed fine. But I would prefer a tripod mount on heavy lenses, and failing that something like the Manfrotto Telephoto Lens Support

http://www.manfrotto.co.uk/telephoto-lens-support

There are other types, and cheaper ones.

[calvin83]

[Lloydy]

That's exactly the one I want. Does it need the lens holding down on the rollers? I'd have thought the weight would be enough.

[calvin83]

This is the exact one http://www.hkdex.com/Product.asp?CategoryID=47&id=6998&language=en I bought which cost me about $50 without shipping from China. The high of the roller can be adjusted with the nob on the front to fit the lens. It is designed to use with long AF lens with a tripod collar but I found it can be work with some manual lens too. You can Similar product in eBay.

[philslizzy]

If the lens is heavy hang the camera off the lens not vice versa.

[Attila]

+1 about lens weight and cemara, NEX has tripod mount adapters I use them and I will take I think this Manfrotto telephoto support.

Click here to see on Ebay

[raay04]