Carrying a camera

arclight

arclight

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I usually want my camera resting on my chest ready to use, but get irritated with 1.3kg of camera and lens hanging on a neck strap while I walk a few miles.

Anyone seen a type of harness that uses shoulder straps and allows a camera to sit at the ready?
 
Nope. Wouldn't it either ba very restrictive or hold the camera very low? I can't visualise how it would work.
 
arclight said:
I usually want my camera resting on my chest ready to use, but get irritated with 1.3kg of camera and lens hanging on a neck strap while I walk a few miles.

Anyone seen a type of harness that uses shoulder straps and allows a camera to sit at the ready?
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Wear the camera with the strap diagonally across your chest, just put your one arm, and your head through. Have the prism against your body, the lens will lie flat to your side, much more comfortable especially when you get to the real heavy stuff (3kg plus).
 
put 1 arm through the strap over your head
have the body reasting against your hip
lens facing down
works for me
 
In addition, buy and Optec strap, they really are more comfortable than the standard ones.
 
Cheers folks.
New strap plus wear it bandolier fashion as suggested sounds like the way forward.
 
I find that with the strap over one shoulder, and the lens pointing down against my buttock, keeps the camera out of harms way, is comfortable yet can be quickly raised into the shooting position when needed.
 
If you are walking with a backpack, get a D-clamp from hiking stores (make sure it's of sufficient weight capacity as your camera).

Now, hook the D-clamp in to the top handle of your backpack, and put your camera's strap through that.

I've been doing that for years, I've not once have a camera on my shoulder and it's always there right next to me.

When walking, make sure to just hold the camera to your side, otherwise it will bounce around too much.

Also, be very careful when you put down your backpack, and when sitting down. Otherwise your camera and lens will bang on the floor.
 
Oh, I am guessing - if you do use a backpack - it's one of the better brands. I'd hate to see someone put that practice into use and them come here to tell how his / her backpack's strap broke!

A good backpack is made to carry a good 10Kg of gear (or there about), so putting a 3Kg camera through its top handle should be nothing to worry about .. but that's a good backpack!
 
Get an Upstrap, and wear it on your shoulder. Those things will not slip off.
 
Wail said:
Oh, I am guessing - if you do use a backpack - it's one of the better brands. I'd hate to see someone put that practice into use and them come here to tell how his / her backpack's strap broke!

A good backpack is made to carry a good 10Kg of gear (or there about), so putting a 3Kg camera through its top handle should be nothing to worry about .. but that's a good backpack!
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Cut the top handle off, didn't I. Got sick of it poking me in the neck.
Given me an idea though. I can improvise.

Thanks everyone.
 
You might want to look up the R-strap too.
 
hyakuhei said:
You might want to look up the R-strap too.
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That one could be the basis of a good idea, but it looks like it is just a more elaborate way of hanging your camera by your side.
Thanks anyway.
 
arclight said:
R-Strap - That one could be the basis of a good idea, but it looks like it is just a more elaborate way of hanging your camera by your side.
Thanks anyway.
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+1 for Blackrapid R-strap for me.

Always used to carry normal strap over one shoulder with camera by my side. Was never entirely happy about the way it felt, and was a bit cumbersome having to pull the strap round when you actually wanted to take a picture.
Got an R strap and now as well as the camera being very accessible, it is miles more comfortable. Works fine for a heavy lens/camera combo, and also works great if you have a flash attached (something which always used to be a pain with a normal strap as the camera would constantly try to tip over). I would never use an original strap again.
 
Philtrum said:
the R strap looks good, anyone dealt with any uk stockists ?
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AFAIK there are no UK dealers.
Ordered my 2 straps at the same time online direct from the US.

Service was good, although got charged import duty, and thanks to the stupid Royal Mail had an £8 surcharge to pay for picking it up from their depot as their delivery drivers do not have facility to take payment (unlike most couriers).

Still happy with the straps though :)
 
Have a look at Think Tank Photo, they have a system for carrying the camera on shoulder straps instead of the neck, I have the backpack 360 rotation & the pixel racing harness & they work really well. The op-tech straps also make life a lot more comfy.

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/ttp_products.html
 
C&C said:
+1 for Blackrapid R-strap for me.

Always used to carry normal strap over one shoulder with camera by my side. Was never entirely happy about the way it felt, and was a bit cumbersome having to pull the strap round when you actually wanted to take a picture.
Got an R strap and now as well as the camera being very accessible, it is miles more comfortable. Works fine for a heavy lens/camera combo, and also works great if you have a flash attached (something which always used to be a pain with a normal strap as the camera would constantly try to tip over). I would never use an original strap again.
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Does the camera not swing about when you walk?
 
arclight said:
Does the camera not swing about when you walk?
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Not really - I tend to adjust the strap so the camera hangs at somewhere around waist level. It tends to settle with the lens pointing backwards sort of diagonally behind you, and the body resting against your waist. If you're wearing a jacket it goes under that - which also makes it fairly unobtrusive.

I can't say that I've done lots of hiking, but certainly hasn't been a problem walking around say the bike show for an afternoon, or a few hours walk in a country park.
 
I've just had a go at making an R strap from an old laptop strap ... and the idea is great, seems comfortable and quick to get into position

only downside is I find it hard to turn to portrait, but that could just be my design, is the real r-strap ok for that ?

cheers
Phil
 
Philtrum said:
only downside is I find it hard to turn to portrait, but that could just be my design, is the real r-strap ok for that ?
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Yes - no problem for portrait. Actual R strap is mounted via an eye screwed into tripod socket (so camera hangs upside down). Through the eye goes a clip (a bit like the ones on the end of a dog's lead). This is free to rotate, and is attached to a square bracket which slides up and down the actual strap. So when you pick up the camera, the "dog lead bracket" hangs down. When switch to portrait, it rotates in the eye and just hangs kind of flush with the base of the camera (if this makes any sense). Dog lead clip is prevented from accidentally opening by a small piece of plastic "safety tube" which you have to slide out of the way before unclipping the clip.
 
Thanks C&C, that made sense to me and I've just modified my home made strap and it works much better :) thank you

if I get on with it I may build a "two holster" version for shooting weddings etc when I want to carry two bodies

Cheers
Phil
 
.That similar to how I've just made mine, my design is slightly different and allows for the camera to move up and down the strap rather than rotaing the strap round you (much less painful :)

get an old laptop strap, cut through the loop at one end so one buckle end with the clip is now free
feed the other end off the webbing too
one one of the clips, cut through the clip end (that rotates) to release it from the bracket and bolt the bracket to your tripod stand on the camera
put the other clip/bracket on the webbing and then stitch the ends together so you have one end that would attach to the laptop bag slidiing on the webbing
put the strap on, clip the sliding clip the to the one attached to your camera ... sported

if you want any pics ... give me a shout
Phil
 
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