Hello all, I have ordered a 600mm f4 lens for my Canon and am very excited to try it out. I am currently using a 100-500mm lens which is much smaller and one thing that annoys me about the strap it comes with is how poor / non existent the padding is for my shoulder. I imagine the same will be true of the strap that comes with the large prime. I am ideally looking for something thick, soft and squishy that will feel robust yet comfortable - does anyone use these and if so, what brand and where did you get it from? There are loads on amazon but felt I'd get a better steer here.
After market shoulder pads for heavy lenses
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hunnymonster
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I generally eschew the strap that comes with anything & use a PD slide - including for items as small as binoculars.
I use the Op-Tech Dual Harness, this transfers the weight to your shoulders rather than neck, and is much more comfortable than a standard strap when using a heavy lens, or having the camera out for extended periods (It can be used with 1 or 2 cameras attached, I have connectors on both camera and my 200-600 lens, so can attach via the big lens when using that, or camera when using smaller lenses).
Peak Design and BackRapid 'sling' style straps are also very popular (they didn't exist when I got my Op-Tech, so I've not tried them).
Peak Design and BackRapid 'sling' style straps are also very popular (they didn't exist when I got my Op-Tech, so I've not tried them).
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Hi
Sorry to jump in on the OP thread, please may I ask if you have any additional protection in place when using the OP tech dual harness?
I use one too with the PD anchors and loops, but not sure if it is worth locking some of the Optech plastic connectors with a cable tie for added protection?
Thank you
I've been using mine for ~15 years, never had an issue with it - I have the Op-Tec Pro strap as well, and sometimes have 2 bodies with the harness, and the connectors are just as good as when I first got them, no sign of any degradation in the plastic. With the dual harness you have the added protection that if one connector did fail the camera is still attached via the other connector.
sep9001
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Thank you, the largest lens I have is the Nikon 70-200 so I think should be fine as I assume you use your with lenses that are a lot bigger and heavier.
I have a 70-200 f/2.8 as well as my Sony 200-600, previously used it with a Sony A900 + Grip + Tamron 150-600 (about 3kg all in).
the black fox
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I have a mix of straps from peak designs , a custom leather one with pd fixings , and a couple of really right stuff ones which are ideal in that they have a slideable shoulder pad, magnetic quick release clips and are a lot longer than other brands,and cheaper to
DemiLion
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A Canon 600/4 is two to three times heavier than your lens and probably the same prive differential (if not more).
I wouldn't have one anywhere close to an OPTech strap.
Google puts the 600 f/4 at a shade over 3kg, which is the same as the Sony A900, VG and Tamron 150-600 combination I mentioned - so just how heavy is the camera, for the combined weight to be 6-9 kg?
The OpTech connectors have a tensile strength of 66kgs, and the max recommended total load for the dual harness is 7kg each side for comfort - easily capable of handling a 600 f/4.
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Is that mk1? If so do not even dream about carrying it on the strap or handholding. Unless you want snap the wrist or get any sort of different accidents. It really needs to live on tripod or monopod Even mk2 will still be a good workout.
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Why? I have carried an older Nikon 400/2.8 on pro Nikon bodies for years using Op/Tech straps (approaching 15lbs with camera mount/monopod/etc); my old favorite was the Op/Tech utility sling. I also find it is more comfortable than most other straps. But I have shredding lesser Op/Tech (and other brand) straps carrying the same kit.
The Dual Harness 3/8 will shred with heavy kit after a while, mine didn't make it 2 yrs. The Dual Harness Uni-Loop model has much heavier/stronger neoprene strap sections; I don't know why (it might have been a change made over time as well, IDK). It is the basis for my patent pending Self Equalizing Sling Harness; which has been my favorite way to carry heavy kit any distance/time for the last few years.
I have tried/used many different straps over the years. For particularly heavy kit I have a few I like.
- Op/Tech Utility Sling- most comfortable standard sling style strap for weight IMO.
- Peak Design Slide- less comfortable but heavier construction. I also like it's easy and quick length adjustment better than Op-tech's. That comes in handy when you need to limit the strap length/swing/movement when scrambling through stuff. (Op/tech's quick adjustment tends to slip a little sometimes with heavy kit).
- My Self Equalizing Sling Harness- but any harness is more fiddly and more of a hassle to put on than a basic strap is. So if I'm not going far at all, or for long, I'll usually use the PD strap.
Another strap that is worth considering for heavy kit is the Magpul MS3 or MS4 type QD sling if you are into the QD attachment system (a lot of long lens arca plates and replacement feet have QD sockets these days). I'd put them generally about equal to the PD Slide strap in comfort/build. Perhaps a bit heavier duty and a bit less comfortable (narrower). You do have to be careful with QD components as they are not all standardized and may not mate up correctly (particular if mixing in cheaper chinese components).
No strap is going to make carrying 8+ lbs "comfortable" for extended time/distance (nor is carrying it on a monopod/tripod over your shoulder); especially if the hiking is rougher. The saner way is to carry it in a backpack and setup when you get to where you're going, if that suits the situation.
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Graham W
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Just checked the specs of that lens and it's 100 g over the weight of my Nikon 400mm f2.8.
I don't think I'd consider carrying that, with or without a body, any distance on a shoulder strap...I'm sure the strap could take the weight , not sure about my shoulder though.
I did try it once and it was so clumsy and uncomfortable hanging at my side.
I now carry it attached to a monopod (Padded handle) over my shoulder.
I don't think I'd consider carrying that, with or without a body, any distance on a shoulder strap...I'm sure the strap could take the weight , not sure about my shoulder though.
I did try it once and it was so clumsy and uncomfortable hanging at my side.
I now carry it attached to a monopod (Padded handle) over my shoulder.
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Perhaps you should have mentioned that in your original post, looking at the current version of a lens when no version is specified seems a realistic thing to me.
DemiLion
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Why, as someone who is not a Canon user, would I have had reason to think "I wonder if there's an old version of this lens" ?
I Googled the lens, and went to the Canon website with the information on it.
If you are writing about an old version, then it's your responsibility to state that, not for the reader to guess that's what you're referring to.
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I use the straps that came with my Nikon 400mm f/2.8 and 500mm f/4 as they are well padded and spread the weight quite well. I shoot motorsport so I'm moving from one vantage point to another all day and a case is just out of the question as it would justb get in the way. The lens is always attached to the monopod so it's either carried by the strap (comfy) or slung over the shoulder and it does me fine. I've seen guys carrying 600's etc along wih other gear on a harness and I'm sadly too short to try that 
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I never got on with a strap carrying the Nikon 200-400 f4 (I’ve probably got a couple of different straps laying around in a cupboard somewhere). As weight made it difficult to handhold for long periods I ended up using a monopod or tripod. D810 + 200-400 f4 weighed in at circa 4.5kg. Once I added a monopod it was 5.5kg and tripod took it to 7.5kg. I used a cushion/pad a bit like this to make carrying a bit easier (not saying this is one to purchase as pretty of others out there or you can use a beanbag as a cheaper option if you already have one (which is what I did):
It’s not perfect but it was more comfortable to carry. You do have to think about the lens/camera parting from the monopod/tripod.
In the end I shopped it all in for mirrorless as weight became an issue for me (I wasn’t enjoying carrying all that weight around). I’ve now ended up with the much lighter z8 and 400 f4.5.
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It’s not perfect but it was more comfortable to carry. You do have to think about the lens/camera parting from the monopod/tripod.
In the end I shopped it all in for mirrorless as weight became an issue for me (I wasn’t enjoying carrying all that weight around). I’ve now ended up with the much lighter z8 and 400 f4.5.
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DemiLion
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If you are giving advice to someone about looking after a rather expensive bit of kit, it sort of helps if you know what you are talking about.
My advice to the OP was not ambiguous about what I was referring to - and included the weight of the kit I had been using, it was your post that failed to distinguish between a 3kg lens and an older, much heavier lens.
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I use a cheaper amazon copy of a peak design 'slide' strap on my 500 f4 / r1 combo and it works brilliantly. I've attached the strap to the lens not the body and it's almost perfectly balanced, so it'll hang horizontally or vertically around my neck - horizontal is easier for walking, vertical for 'ready to use quickly when I see a bird'.
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I've tried a lot of straps and pads, and I find myself coming back to either the original supplied strap, or a holdfast harness. Mabe it's just me but I never find the extra pads comfortable.
LCPete
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I have been using the optech dual harness for many years now and it’s excellent and completely reliable
I don’t have a 600 F4 like the OP a Canon 300 2.8 but its still quite heavy
The optech straps attach to the loops on the lens
On holiday I use 2 cameras attached to the Optech harness it works well
I have seen strap systems that attach to the tripod screw at the bottom of the camera, I may be wrong but that doesn’t seem very secure to me
I don’t have a 600 F4 like the OP a Canon 300 2.8 but its still quite heavy
The optech straps attach to the loops on the lens
On holiday I use 2 cameras attached to the Optech harness it works well
I have seen strap systems that attach to the tripod screw at the bottom of the camera, I may be wrong but that doesn’t seem very secure to me