pjm1
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 4,155
- Name
- Paul
- Edit My Images
- Yes
I'm curious to know what systems for mounting and attaching their cameras people use. I thought I'd start off by sharing my set-up which has evolved over time. I have fairly conflicting needs (lots of attachment requirements because of other hobbies and how I use my camera) so what I do probably won't apply to 99% of you, but it might be interesting. Or not.
Once upon a time I used a camera strap that came with the camera. I think that lasted 1 day before I realised the strap, mounting onto the pair of lugs at the top of the camera, will get in your way when holding the camera and shooting. Rubbish design, so it was chucked out immediately.
I saw something called the Black Rapid, which attaches to the tripod mount. Nice idea - more secure - but expensive. So I made my own out of an old laptop shoulder strap. It cost pretty much nothing but even when only holding a £250 Pentax K5 and 50mm lens, I was still nervous about it failing.
Eventually I bit the bullet and bought a Black Rapid RS Sport. Image here: http://static.bhphoto.com/images/multiple_images/images500x500/IMG_286310.jpg Superb design, secure (albeit with single points of failure) and I managed to pick one up second hand. The only issue I found was the screw-on mount which attaches to the tripod socket on your camera's base prevents the use of a tripod. And I had a tripod! So I was constantly attaching and reattaching either the Black Rapid mount or the tripod "quick release" plate. Once I managed to take camera and tripod out to shoot a sunrise only to get to location and discover the quick release plate was at home. So a useless trip!
My tripod was a fairly inexpensive Velbon model which had an ok head but nothing special. Eventually I decided to replace the head with a Vanguard GH100 pistol grip trigger head - which I still use and like a lot. Downside to this is it uses a proprietary quick release system which, again, is incompatible with everything else! Fortunately I can attach an Arca tripod plate onto the quick release tripod plate (plate upon plate, basically - I used a cheap-but-solid plate like this http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41HHJhLpipL._AC_UL115_.jpg) which then makes my Vanguard Arca-compatible and pretty much as secure. The newer Vanguard GH200 is an improvement over my model since it already features an Arca compatible QR system. GH200 here http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41DLfw0U7uL.jpg
The reason for going with an Arca mounting system was another purchase / mounting requirement - attachment to my rucksack when climbing and walking. I'd researched options and invested in a Peak Design Capture system (image here: https://www.peakdesign.com/media/ca...f82f742ffe127f42dca9de82fb58b1/c/s/cs-1_1.jpg). It is very secure, quick-releases and re-attaches easily even with double gloves or polar mitts (artic/winter walking), is more rainproof than my camera and attaches to the webbing band of my rucksack well. It has an Arca-compatible plate system. When I'm walking/climbing I'll remove my L bracket etc. and just have this attached to my camera, for weight-saving reasons. However, the good news is this camera attachment still allows me to put the camera on my tripod if I take it with me (e.g. have in the car for sunrise/sunset opps before or after being on the mountains). I think you need to be careful about the Peak Design system only working with the Peak Design arca-compatible base plate (which attaches to the camera) and not just *any* Arca-compatible mount already attached to the camera. However, the reverse is less of a problem - if you have the PD base plate attached to your camera, that camera should then fit into any Arca-compatible holder including tripods and an adapted Black Rapid system (see below) - as well, obviously, as the PD rucksack mount.
So, that leaves me with a camera which will attach to my rucksack and to my tripod, but a Black Rapid system which is incompatible. Easily fixed, but buying another Arca base plate (as the one I added to my tripod head) and fixing the Black Rapid base screw onto it. More explanation of how to do this here (and it also covers L brackets): http://www.the-digital-picture.com/News/News-Post.aspx?News=8861
The final piece of the jigsaw is a vertical grip and L bracket for shooting indoors/outdoors but when I'm not mountaineering etc. Again, the good thing here is the L brackets which seem to be most commonly available are all Arca-compatible (on both sides of the "L") which, again, means just by attaching that bracket, I can then put the camera easily on the tripod (in either orientation - which is the point), or attach to my Black Rapid strap. The only fiddling is to remove the bracket and grip when I want to take it up the mountains on my rucksack, although to be fair, half the time I'll just be taking my old Pentax K5 anyway which is MUCH lighter and just as well weather-sealed as my D750.
The key for me was to ensure the system is secure and versatile. Plates and brackets are fine but if you're constantly attaching and re-attaching then you may skimp on tightening and create a failure risk. Even a camera falling off a tripod is bad enough, but one falling off your black rapid onto tarmac is not going to end well. By using a common system across both, you're reducing the risk (although never eliminating it). Which is why I also use a redundant attachment - an Optech (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41YgMH1WcpL._AC_UL115_.jpg)
What do others use and have any of you found a simpler solution to multi-attachment requirements?
Once upon a time I used a camera strap that came with the camera. I think that lasted 1 day before I realised the strap, mounting onto the pair of lugs at the top of the camera, will get in your way when holding the camera and shooting. Rubbish design, so it was chucked out immediately.
I saw something called the Black Rapid, which attaches to the tripod mount. Nice idea - more secure - but expensive. So I made my own out of an old laptop shoulder strap. It cost pretty much nothing but even when only holding a £250 Pentax K5 and 50mm lens, I was still nervous about it failing.
Eventually I bit the bullet and bought a Black Rapid RS Sport. Image here: http://static.bhphoto.com/images/multiple_images/images500x500/IMG_286310.jpg Superb design, secure (albeit with single points of failure) and I managed to pick one up second hand. The only issue I found was the screw-on mount which attaches to the tripod socket on your camera's base prevents the use of a tripod. And I had a tripod! So I was constantly attaching and reattaching either the Black Rapid mount or the tripod "quick release" plate. Once I managed to take camera and tripod out to shoot a sunrise only to get to location and discover the quick release plate was at home. So a useless trip!
My tripod was a fairly inexpensive Velbon model which had an ok head but nothing special. Eventually I decided to replace the head with a Vanguard GH100 pistol grip trigger head - which I still use and like a lot. Downside to this is it uses a proprietary quick release system which, again, is incompatible with everything else! Fortunately I can attach an Arca tripod plate onto the quick release tripod plate (plate upon plate, basically - I used a cheap-but-solid plate like this http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41HHJhLpipL._AC_UL115_.jpg) which then makes my Vanguard Arca-compatible and pretty much as secure. The newer Vanguard GH200 is an improvement over my model since it already features an Arca compatible QR system. GH200 here http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41DLfw0U7uL.jpg
The reason for going with an Arca mounting system was another purchase / mounting requirement - attachment to my rucksack when climbing and walking. I'd researched options and invested in a Peak Design Capture system (image here: https://www.peakdesign.com/media/ca...f82f742ffe127f42dca9de82fb58b1/c/s/cs-1_1.jpg). It is very secure, quick-releases and re-attaches easily even with double gloves or polar mitts (artic/winter walking), is more rainproof than my camera and attaches to the webbing band of my rucksack well. It has an Arca-compatible plate system. When I'm walking/climbing I'll remove my L bracket etc. and just have this attached to my camera, for weight-saving reasons. However, the good news is this camera attachment still allows me to put the camera on my tripod if I take it with me (e.g. have in the car for sunrise/sunset opps before or after being on the mountains). I think you need to be careful about the Peak Design system only working with the Peak Design arca-compatible base plate (which attaches to the camera) and not just *any* Arca-compatible mount already attached to the camera. However, the reverse is less of a problem - if you have the PD base plate attached to your camera, that camera should then fit into any Arca-compatible holder including tripods and an adapted Black Rapid system (see below) - as well, obviously, as the PD rucksack mount.
So, that leaves me with a camera which will attach to my rucksack and to my tripod, but a Black Rapid system which is incompatible. Easily fixed, but buying another Arca base plate (as the one I added to my tripod head) and fixing the Black Rapid base screw onto it. More explanation of how to do this here (and it also covers L brackets): http://www.the-digital-picture.com/News/News-Post.aspx?News=8861
The final piece of the jigsaw is a vertical grip and L bracket for shooting indoors/outdoors but when I'm not mountaineering etc. Again, the good thing here is the L brackets which seem to be most commonly available are all Arca-compatible (on both sides of the "L") which, again, means just by attaching that bracket, I can then put the camera easily on the tripod (in either orientation - which is the point), or attach to my Black Rapid strap. The only fiddling is to remove the bracket and grip when I want to take it up the mountains on my rucksack, although to be fair, half the time I'll just be taking my old Pentax K5 anyway which is MUCH lighter and just as well weather-sealed as my D750.
The key for me was to ensure the system is secure and versatile. Plates and brackets are fine but if you're constantly attaching and re-attaching then you may skimp on tightening and create a failure risk. Even a camera falling off a tripod is bad enough, but one falling off your black rapid onto tarmac is not going to end well. By using a common system across both, you're reducing the risk (although never eliminating it). Which is why I also use a redundant attachment - an Optech (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41YgMH1WcpL._AC_UL115_.jpg)
What do others use and have any of you found a simpler solution to multi-attachment requirements?
Last edited:
(tbf, I probably wouldn't have read all of my waffle either)
