Carrying heavy gear for easy access, chest harnesses etc.

footman

footman

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When out and about photographing wildlife I carry a mirrorless full frame body with a battery grip and 100-400 lens (soon to be a 200-600), not the absolute heaviest by any means but still awkward and weighty.
ATM I carry this with a Black Rapid strap which is fine for when carrying the bare body with say, a 24-70 lens but carrying the longer lens is giving me a headache (not literally). There is the tendency for everything to swing but more annoyingly I find that lens settings, such as IS, are being constantly altered by the lens rubbing against my body.
I have been thinking about trying a chest harness to which I can also attach binoculars. I've looked at Cotton Carriers which are expensive and also cheaper versions on Ebay and Amazon. I'd be grateful if anyone has had any experience of chest type harnesses for larger gear if they could share.
 
Over the years I have tried a couple of options including Black Rapid and Spider Holster. My current solution is my preferred one to date, I have a PD Capture Clip on my backpack shoulder strap and use that in good weather, if the weather isn't ideal I have a Think Tank holster which I attach to fixing points on the backpack straps using a variety of Optech clips. If I was buying a holster now, it would probably be something like this. I use an A7r2 with Fe100-400

https://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/multi-mount-holster-30
 
The Op/Tech system has various solutions. I use the chest harness for heavy binoculars and the double camera harness which can support two large cameras at once.
 
The Joby sling strap has very easy length adjustment so you can pull the gear in when walking and easily extend it when shooting. I find this really helps to stop the camera swinging around
 
I've tried three of those options (not with a 100-400/200-600 lens yet though). I share your frustration with the Black Rapid, in my case made worse by using trekking poles that kept hitting the camera. The Cotton Carrier was very comfortable and effective - kept my camera very secure and safe while being readily accessible. I would have no concerns using it with a large lens (I just bought a Tamron 100-400mm for my Nikon DSLR and will be trying it out on the CC in the near future). But, it is bulky to transport in luggage and looks 'geeky' :-) The Peak Designs works well and is currently what I use on long distance hikes. But, I find that getting the mounting point bracket to stay in place on my back-pack strap is difficult (may be a limitation of my back-pack). And, if you aren't hiking with a backpack, there is no shoulder mounting point available. I'll to check out some of the other options mentioned in the thread.
 
I've tried all sorts from the Black rapid, Op Tech sling, PD Capture Clip and many more, and the one that beats them hands down for me is the Peak Design Slide. Two very solid anchor points and barely moves, much less movement than the BR and it doesn't spin like it does on the BR either. I used to carry my D850 and 150-600mm on it with no worries. Apparently each anchor can take 90kg according to PD, not that I'd try it ;)
 
snerkler said:
I've tried all sorts from the Black rapid, Op Tech sling, PD Capture Clip and many more, and the one that beats them hands down for me is the Peak Design Slide. Two very solid anchor points and barely moves, much less movement than the BR and it doesn't spin like it does on the BR either. I used to carry my D850 and 150-600mm on it with no worries. Apparently each anchor can take 90kg according to PD, not that I'd try it ;)
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When I looked for the Slide on the B&H site, all I found was a camera strap. It looks like a nice solid strap but I am not sure how it would anchor the camera in place. Wouldn't that camera swing around your neck and away from your chest when you were walking? Am I missing something?

One advantage of the Cotton Carier and the PD Capture Clip systems is that the camera is fixed to your body and doesn't move when you walk. This keeps it safer when you have to climb hills, scramble over rocks, etc. The CC ads used to show someone doing flips on a trampoline and the camera not moving.
 
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ruckers said:
When I looked for the Slide on the B&H site, all I found was a camera strap. It looks like a nice solid strap but I am not sure how it would anchor the camera in place. Wouldn't that camera swing around your neck and away from your chest when you were walking? Am I missing something?

One advantage of the Cotton Carier and the PD Capture Clip systems is that the camera is fixed to your body and doesn't move when you walk. This keeps it safer when you have to climb hills, scramble over rocks, etc. The CC ads used to show someone doing flips on a trampoline and the camera not moving.
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I'd not familiar with the cotton carrier tbh but I have the capture clip. I never personally got on with it as it/you feel unbalanced with heavy gear on, I didn't even like it with the D750 and 24-120mm tbh, but as always YMMV.

You certainly couldn't do backflips with the PD slide but for general walking about is definitely the best I've found for me. You can flip the shoulder part over to the rubber grip side so that it doesn't move/slide whilst you're walking, and then flip it back when you want to shoot. None of the requires removal of the strap, you just simply flip the strap over. It does 'hang' on your hip but when I'm walking it doesn't really move (I guess this may depend on which anchor points you use) whereas with the BR I found that it would spin and jangle about.

Can you not get to a camera store to try one a few different straps and clips out to see which you find suits you best?
 
snerkler said:
I'd not familiar with the cotton carrier tbh but I have the capture clip. I never personally got on with it as it/you feel unbalanced with heavy gear on, I didn't even like it with the D750 and 24-120mm tbh, but as always YMMV.

You certainly couldn't do backflips with the PD slide but for general walking about is definitely the best I've found for me. You can flip the shoulder part over to the rubber grip side so that it doesn't move/slide whilst you're walking, and then flip it back when you want to shoot. None of the requires removal of the strap, you just simply flip the strap over. It does 'hang' on your hip but when I'm walking it doesn't really move (I guess this may depend on which anchor points you use) whereas with the BR I found that it would spin and jangle about.

Can you not get to a camera store to try one a few different straps and clips out to see which you find suits you best?
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The lens hasn't arrived in the UK yet :D but I'll probably do that when it does arrive. The problem now is finding a store that carries a range of bags, maybe the Wex store in East London may have a good stock of bags. I did have a look at a new Digital Holster from ThinkTank but it's not out yet and even then might be too small.
https://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/digital-holster-150
At the moment the Cotton Carrier looks the most stable but my wife informs me she won't walk next to me if I wear one.....
 
footman said:
The lens hasn't arrived in the UK yet :D but I'll probably do that when it does arrive. The problem now is finding a store that carries a range of bags, maybe the Wex store in East London may have a good stock of bags. I did have a look at a new Digital Holster from ThinkTank but it's not out yet and even then might be too small.
https://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/digital-holster-150
At the moment the Cotton Carrier looks the most stable but my wife informs me she won't walk next to me if I wear one.....
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Lol, I've just looked at the cotton carrier :ROFLMAO:
 
I've been using a combination setup; an OpTech Utility Sling or PD Slide attached to the lens foot via an arca swiss clamp, and a spider pro holster/belt. I wear the strap cross body and the spider holster holds part of the weight and keeps the camera in place. I also have a small bag on the spider holster belt to carry TC's/flash/binoculars/whatever...
 
I'm not sure what you are looking for but if its like the Think Tank in that link, maybe have a look at the Tamrac 5630. I carry my 150-600 with body in one of those.

It looks like it may not be available any more but you might be able to get hold of one....

Ffordes have an almost new one for £19!
 
sk66 said:
I've been using a combination setup; an OpTech Utility Sling or PD Slide attached to the lens foot via an arca swiss clamp, and a spider pro holster/belt. I wear the strap cross body and the spider holster holds part of the weight and keeps the camera in place. I also have a small bag on the spider holster belt to carry TC's/flash/binoculars/whatever...
Click to expand...
That sounds like a good idea getting the spider to keep the camera in place. Not cheap though :eek:
 
jerry12953 said:
I'm not sure what you are looking for but if its like the Think Tank in that link, maybe have a look at the Tamrac 5630. I carry my 150-600 with body in one of those.

It looks like it may not be available any more but you might be able to get hold of one....

Ffordes have an almost new one for £19!
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'm not sure if that is deep enough as the Sony 200-600 is slightly longer than the 150-600, I'll check it out.
sk66 said:
I've been using a combination setup; an OpTech Utility Sling or PD Slide attached to the lens foot via an arca swiss clamp, and a spider pro holster/belt. I wear the strap cross body and the spider holster holds part of the weight and keeps the camera in place. I also have a small bag on the spider holster belt to carry TC's/flash/binoculars/whatever...
Click to expand...
Thanks, the PD Slide looks more robust than my Black Rapid. I'm having trouble envisaging the rest of your setup. Why do you use an arca clamp and how does the slide marry up with the spider belt to assist with the weight? The new lens I'm getting has strap lugs so I suppose I could install the PD clips onto both of those or 1 on a lug and 1 on a PD plate on the lens foot. Apologies for my lack of imagination!
 
snerkler said:
That sounds like a good idea getting the spider to keep the camera in place. Not cheap though :eek:
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Since I use both separately anyway, I had them already. I also use the Spider belt/holster to secure the camera in the vehicle by placing it around the passenger seat headrest.
 
footman said:
Thanks, the PD Slide looks more robust than my Black Rapid. I'm having trouble envisaging the rest of your setup. Why do you use an arca clamp and how does the slide marry up with the spider belt to assist with the weight? The new lens I'm getting has strap lugs so I suppose I could install the PD clips onto both of those or 1 on a lug and 1 on a PD plate on the lens foot. Apologies for my lack of imagination!
Click to expand...

I use Carry Speed F-2 plates (arca swiss/ball pin) on my camera bodies which work with the Spider holster. The strap secures to the lens foot/arca swiss plate.

s-l640.jpg

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My setup is usually a little different because I use a SharpShooter CameraMount (rifle stock) most of the time... the stock also has a ball pin which works with the spider holster. But the idea is the same. Basically, the camera body (or mount) secured in/supported by the holster, and the lens attached to/supported by the strap worn cross-body.
 
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snerkler said:
I've tried all sorts from the Black rapid, Op Tech sling, PD Capture Clip and many more, and the one that beats them hands down for me is the Peak Design Slide. Two very solid anchor points and barely moves, much less movement than the BR and it doesn't spin like it does on the BR either. I used to carry my D850 and 150-600mm on it with no worries. Apparently each anchor can take 90kg according to PD, not that I'd try it ;)
Click to expand...


Second for this. Carry me 850/500F4e on a PD slide. Either sits on my chest for quick access or by my side when moving between locations. Sturdy, safe, easy access and zero issue walking for hours.
 
48119109646_6fa1153c51_c.jpg

The fight back begins!
I'll want to attach one end to the lens so it looks like a replacement lens foot is in order, that way I'll be able to very quickly attach the lens to my Arca-Swiss monopod head without unclipping anything.
 
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