Lens sharpness.

I shared your initial concern John, but I think the camera/lens is supported on the lens tripod mount, so as long as the DA* 300 can withstand 16lbs pressing down on it with no ill effects it should be fine. The lens mount is only supporting the camera.

John - when you say lens mount, do you mean the interface between the lens and the tripod or the interface between the lens and the body?

If the former, although I am not recommending this to people, I was happy that the metal foot on the lens was up to the job.

If the latter, have another look at the photograph.

I will have another look and I did mean the interface between lens and camera body - when these rip apart it's not a pretty sight.

Having said that, it's not a pretty sight when a tripod bush gives way either!

I wonder if anyone has ever mounted a camera body on a tripod and then tried to put a 1000mm lens(or similar)on it. Some assistant somewhere will have I'm sure. Anyone have anything like that to confess?

Spot on Mongoose. The photographic evidence suggests that it does support 16lbs. The only element I had any concern about was the tripod itself, so I lowered the weight on with one hand while holding the camera with the other.

As an engineer, the thought of the stresses which the lens and body tripod mount would be subject to makes me wince.