Camera straps

[mknittle]

Mark,

I'm referring to the camera quick release plate. I almost always have an arca-swiss compatible plate on my camera, but I have to remove it and replace it with the Cotton Carrier one. One of the cotton carrier plates combines their connection and an arca-swiss dovetail, one could leave that on, but it would be a bit awkward for regular use.

I was wrong about OpTech. It turns out they do offer straps with connectors both at the camera and padded strap end, so you can detach the strap and have only small connectors dangling: http://optechusa.com/system-connecto...ptor-loop.html

Thanks Dan,

[Manfred M]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I've looked into a number of them and for various reasons, none seem to be what I am looking for. The ones with the mounting blocks are not going to work because these devices will not work with the Arca-Swiss style brackets and plates I'm planning to use in conjunction with the straps.

The others, I just don't like the design of. I know the quick release buckles quite well (a lot of my dive gear is equipped with them) and I know that they are less secure than I would like. I suspect I may have to come up with something on my own here.

[ajohnw]

I'm going to stress test some of these and some split rings to go with them. They are made out of stainless steel.



The Olivon tripod head is as expected. Lovely and smooth and easy to lock firmly in position. Weight is about the same as a manfrotto 3 section steel monopod. The handle is used to lock the tilt. There is a stop on the landscape portrait switch over that looks to be exactly 90 degrees. That might be a problem in some cases but there is a screw that could be removed. Amazing considering what can be paid for others that actually may not be as good eg the Manfrotto plastic equivalent and others even in metal.

John
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[Bill Yeung]

actually, with the many different availability of the D rings, Hangers, we even don't need a sewing machine. They have the plastic fitting that let the belt go around and back and lock it in place. and the good thing is we also got different width of the belt too.
enjoy your creativity.

[Bill Yeung]

I found the marine boat shop carry the most of these rings, hook, accessories and good thing is they are all in quality stainless steel and yet must be strong for sea, boat usage.

[Bobobird]

I use 2 straps - the RS and a hand strap for the camera body. The hand strap to provide some tension so that it is more stable when shooting especially with the heavier lens.

[Colin Southern]

I'm too tired to read through all of the above (sorry), so all I can say is that personally,

1. I gave up on neck straps years ago - they hurt my neck, balance the camera horribly, and cover the viewfinder when shooting vertically.

2. I always have an L-Bracket attached

3. I always have a hand-strap attached (goes from top right to bottom right of the body) (no problem with RRS L-Bracket attached as that runs along the bottom and up the left hand side of the body). To carry the camera I need only put hand/palm through the hand strap and curl my fingers around the front of the body grip so that the camera just hands from my arm (or if I've got a long lens on I can support the lens by "cradling it like a baby" with my left arm/elbow).

4. For longer treks (and for carrying the camera and other gear that's "too heavy" for my daughter/assistant), I just break out the Spider Holster (which is VERY comfortable, and works VERY well) (even if I do feel more like a shooter from the wild west!).

Hope that helps!

[Bobobird]

Just to add - the most important thing one can/should do is have your hand on some part of the gear at all times. Most straps loosen over time and a couple of feet drop is not going to be nice. Therefore my hand is always on the camera through the hand strap. Walking gear is cradled like Colin. For longer walks or when terrain is not smooth, one hand on camera, other on the tripod foot. Worst case, eg steep terrain, the RS is shortened and camera/lens brought forward so that it is flush with the chest much like those carrier vests.

[Colin Southern]

Just to add - the most important thing one can/should do is have your hand on some part of the gear at all times.

Except for the times what the camera is on a tripod - controlled by a intervalometer and I'm back in the car - in a sleeping bag - with a hot water bottle in the bottom - all at 3:30am!

[Donald]

1. I gave up on neck straps years ago - they hurt my neck, balance the camera horribly, and cover the viewfinder when shooting vertically.

Ditto

3. I always have a hand-strap attached (goes from top right to bottom right of the body) ... curl my fingers around the front of the body grip so that the camera just hands from my arm (or if I've got a long lens on I can support the lens by "cradling it like a baby" with my left arm/elbow).

Ditto

For longer treks ... I just break out the Spider Holster (which is VERY comfortable, and works VERY well) (even if I do feel more like a shooter from the wild west!).

Ditto

[steve norris]

I have a D800 with a grip and generally with a 70-200 2.8 fitted and I've tried a lot of straps in the past as I don't tend to like the standard supplied ones. I found a niche company called Wapiti and they make the strongest, most comfortable straps I've ever used. I won't go into detail - just Google them and they're there with lots of testimonials - but I own two, one for the D800 and one for the D7000 which are both different lengths so they don't get in each others way. I carry them cross shoulder style on opposing shoulders and I can easily swing up whichever camera I need quickly.

I know all these comments are very subjective but these work amazingly well for me.

[DanK]

Now that we are at the practical what-do-I-actually-do part of the thread, for what it is worth, here is my compromise. I don't think there is a full solution.

First, context: I have a bad back, so balance is very important if I am going to carry much weight for a long time. I generally have a flat plate on my camera but don't leave an L-bracket on all the time.

For short distances, I do use a strap, but generally diagonally, not dangling from my neck. I don't like to do that for long periods because it is unbalanced--particularly a concern now that I recently switched to heavier FF gear.

For hiking, unless I need the camera accessible all the time, I almost always use a camera backpack. It allows me to carry a lot of stuff, including a tripod, without real back strain. However, finding a good one is very hard. My requirements are a good way to fasten a tripod, an external holder for at least one water bottle, waterproof fabric or a rain cover, and a separate component for non-camera gear. (I don't want peanut butter sandwiches in the same compartment as my equipment.) In addition, I want serious straps, of the sort you would get on real backpacking gear. Almost no bags I have seen have all of this. The one I use now is a LowePro that is no longer sold.

If I want the camera accessible during a hike, particularly if I have a heavy lens on, I sometimes use a cotton carrier. It's a bit cumbersome to put on, and it requires that you switch plates, but it centers the camera and unlike a belt holster, it doesn't get in the way of your arms when you are hiking. It works very well in conjunction with a backpack, which offsets the weight hanging in front of you.

[Adrian]

May I recommend this backpack, currently available:

http://www.davidclapp.co.uk/blog/vie...t-200aw-review
(This is not me, bout it is a sensible review).

I use this for serious trips when we are in the arctic or somewhere inhospitable and I am just carrying photo gear and some snacks. It is not suitable if you want to take a lot of lenses, but it will take my 5D3 and a long lens (70-200 2.8L usually) and a couple of shorter lenses. Tripod goes on fine but is best with a lightweight carbon one. It will also happy carry a Mac Air or similar in the sleeve at the back. It straps on well and is comfortable to carry - I have done an all night trek with it in the arctic to do northern lights and wild animals at the edge of a frozen lake.

It is not a frame type bag that suspends it with an air gap, but as long as it is not overloaded there is no disadvantage.

The only thing that really beats this in my experience for lugging expensive camera gear about is carbon framed mountaineering sacks, but then you are getting into serious money.

[mknittle]

May I recommend this backpack, currently available:

http://www.davidclapp.co.uk/blog/vie...t-200aw-review
(This is not me, bout it is a sensible review).

I use this for serious trips when we are in the arctic or somewhere inhospitable and I am just carrying photo gear and some snacks. It is not suitable if you want to take a lot of lenses, but it will take my 5D3 and a long lens (70-200 2.8L usually) and a couple of shorter lenses. Tripod goes on fine but is best with a lightweight carbon one. It will also happy carry a Mac Air or similar in the sleeve at the back. It straps on well and is comfortable to carry - I have done an all night trek with it in the arctic to do northern lights and wild animals at the edge of a frozen lake.

It is not a frame type bag that suspends it with an air gap, but as long as it is not overloaded there is no disadvantage.

The only thing that really beats this in my experience for lugging expensive camera gear about is carbon framed mountaineering sacks, but then you are getting into serious money.

That would be good for landscape work where you hike to a place and set up. The problem I have with the two backpacks I have (one small and the other bigger) is on the way to where I am going I miss shots because camera is in the pack.

I do think the one you linked to is light enough to work with the cotton carrier or other system though. Thanks for the link


Mark,

[Adrian]

I agree, but the advantage of this bag is that the camera compartment is at the bottom and you unzip it from the side. So you can reach round and whip the camera out pretty easily. Not sure I would use it in somewhere like Rome: pickpocket central!

[Manfred M]

Thanks for the ideas everyone. Nothing suggested really meets my needs, so I went out and bought two stainless steel double-S caribiners (rated at 5lb / 2.3kg each) combined with a Leica camera strap (really the only OEM strap I've ever owned that I've liked; none of the camra manufacturer's advertising screaming out your camera model on it in blazing yellow or white on black either). Strong, sturdy, won't slip off your shoulder or neck. A bit narrow for the D800, but then I'm only looking at using it to sling around my neck or a piece of equipment while I am getting set up. The Cotton Carrier and Kata Backpack are used for serious carrying of the gear.




Initial results - perfect, for a total investment of $2.85. Had I bought the strap, that would have added about $45 to the costs. If the caribiners prove to be a bit light duty, I can upgrade to the 4.6kg / 10 lb each variety. The split rings are where the Cotton Carrier tether straps attach.

Again, that you all for the suggestions.

[DanK]

I agree, but the advantage of this bag is that the camera compartment is at the bottom and you unzip it from the side. So you can reach round and whip the camera out pretty easily. Not sure I would use it in somewhere like Rome: pickpocket central!

I agree, speed vs. security is one of the main issues.

I looked at the specs for this one on the LowePro site because I would like to replace my current one with something larger. This one seems to lack one of my essentials: provision for a tripod. YOu could stick one in the water bottle pocket and cinch it down somehow at the top, but then it is offcenter, and I don't know how secure that would be. Also, unless the hydration pack pocket is something different, this would leave you with no place to hold water. Do you carry a tripod, and if so, how? And is the hydration-pack pocket separate from the water bottle pocket on the side?

[ajohnw]

Thanks for the ideas everyone. Nothing suggested really meets my needs, so I went out and bought two stainless steel double-S caribiners (rated at 5lb / 2.3kg each) combined with a Leica camera strap (really the only OEM strap I've ever owned that I've liked; none of the camra manufacturer's advertising screaming out your camera model on it in blazing yellow or white on black either). Strong, sturdy, won't slip off your shoulder or neck. A bit narrow for the D800, but then I'm only looking at using it to sling around my neck or a piece of equipment while I am getting set up. The Cotton Carrier and Kata Backpack are used for serious carrying of the gear.




Initial results - perfect, for a total investment of $2.85. Had I bought the strap, that would have added about $45 to the costs. If the caribiners prove to be a bit light duty, I can upgrade to the 4.6kg / 10 lb each variety. The split rings are where the Cotton Carrier tether straps attach.

Again, that you all for the suggestions.

Thanks for that suggestion Manfred. I will go that way if I have problems with the jewellery type I posted a shot of. Those show slight signs of springiness at about 4kg or more and might have opened slightly with a 7kg load. I bounced a 3kg motor vigorously about on one and that did open it up a little. I would rather they were a little bigger for ease of use but I don't fit a strap very often. I work out of one of these bags.

http://www.trooplondon.com/epages/es...s/TRP0270-0006

I bought several bags and wasn't very happy with them and then found a comment on Amazon - at last a bag that is sensible and can take a dslr and a couple of lenses etc. The flap folds over the main compartment. so there is no need to zip it up. When in the bag the camera plus lens slips into a suitably sized rather thick woolly hat. I'm thinking of learning to knit as some very small hats are still too big for some M 4/3 lenses. Far more convenient than what the camera people offer. Only downsides to the bag really are that I reckon it weighs over 1kg really and the brolley pocket on the end is a bit tight. Can't complain about the weight really - heavy canvas - well it's heavy.

Often as I use M 4/3 I just use this one. Takes camera 12-50mm,40-150mm and the 75-300mm. A little bit tight with all of them in and the strap could usefully be wider. Same woolly hat(s).

http://www.trooplondon.com/epages/es...s/TRP0272-0006

One nice aspect of using bags like this for me is that they don't attract unwanted attention even left on view in the car. So far! Camera bags often do.

John
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[Andrew1]

When you have as much equipment as some do this option offers an extra level of security as well.

http://safaritalk.net/uploads/124828..._152_62710.jpg

Seriously, your question got me thinking and I really can't remember the last time I put the camera around my neck. I use a http://www.camdapter.com/ with the strap wrapped around my wrist when it's in use and when not actively shooting it's in a very accessible http://www.kata-bags.ca/product/8374...lenses%2Bflash

[mknittle]

Lots of good ideas I don't think any one system is perfect for everyone. The enviorment and type of shooting makes a huge difference in what will work. Urban and open areas needs will be far different than what will work in mountains where use of both hands is a necessity.

Where I live I have access to mountains, cities and the Pacific Ocean all within 100 miles so I think a well though out easily adaptable system is the key to comfortable easy access to gear.