SOLVED 300mm F4 Tripod Mount Screw Hole question

[BDennis]

Anyone else with this lens -

Looking at the tripod mount on my 300mm F4, there is a screw hole on the base plate with no screw in it next to the rectangular recess. I wondered if this is for a detent screw to stop it sliding off a tripod mount or if a screw fell out of it at some point. Does anyone have a screw in there? I know some arca QR plates come with these odd holes for pins / screws etc so maybe something to do with that...but sometimes I find screws fall out of my Olympus gear with usage over time!

Bill

[peak4]

Re: 300mm F4 Tripod Mount Screw Hole question

Mine doesn't have anything in there either.
I also guess it's to add a small cap head to stop it sliding out of some particular Arca type clamp with a slot/groove in it

[drmarkf]

Re: 300mm F4 Tripod Mount Screw Hole question

Mine doesn't have anything in there either.
I also guess it's to add a small cap head to stop it sliding out of some particular Arca type clamp with a slot/groove in it

Mine neither.

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: 300mm F4 Tripod Mount Screw Hole question

I believe it is for an anti rotation pin that is a throw back to when big cameras were carried on tripods and they could come loose. Also to stop rotation on the tripod with rapid panning.

[BDennis]

Re: 300mm F4 Tripod Mount Screw Hole question

Thanks for replies - seems like nothing to worry about then!

Bill

[Tordan58]

Re: 300mm F4 Tripod Mount Screw Hole question

That hole is to attach the lens to a strap, carrying the camera/lens "sling style".

Note: some heavy lenses e.g. the 300 F/2.8 have several holes in the tripod foot, which allow to attach a plate e.g. Arca-Swiss or attach a sling style strap. In addition to these holes they also have a pair of eyelets, meant to attach the lens to a strap that you would carry over the shoulder.

The 300 F/4 does not have these eyelets implying you would have to attach the strap to the eyelets on the camera body, it works but a sling style strap is safer, is more comfortable to wear and offers better operational ergonomy. What I mean is you can have the camera/lens hanging rotated and pointing in the direction you prefer. This way you minimize the time from spotting a subject to having the camera turned on, viewfinder brought to eye and being ready to shoot. Quite often shaving a second or two makes the difference between a great shot and failure.

Let me know if anything is unclear.

Cheers Tord