'straps' for heavy kit?

413x · 5 May 2014 at 17:36

all i have atm is the 60D strap that came with my canon body. This was fine up until now with kit less than 1.5kg

i was out this weekend with my 3-4kg setup of 60D + 120-300 sigma (when i get a monopod/tripod this will more likely be 5kg..alas 2 -3hours of this began to be a hassle, i found the most comfy position was over the shoulder. It wasnt unbearable by any means but another hour or 2 could have been pushing it

for those that have these weighty setuos what do you use?

mattyg · 5 May 2014 at 17:38

Black Rapid

Amp34 · 5 May 2014 at 18:01

mattyg said:
Black Rapid

I use the classic with my 120-300. I have two Manfrotto quick release plates, one on the camera and one on the lens and then clip on to the 120-300 QR plate when I use the lens, otherwise have the BR strap clipped to the camera. It makes everything easy and means it's really quick to mount the lens on a tripod or to carry the lens over the shoulder when shooting with another etc..

theheyes · 5 May 2014 at 18:18

+1 for the Black Rapid

Pricey, but relative to the money you've probably spent on the camera gear they are good value in my opinion.

The only problem is they screw into the tripod thread on your camera body so keep that in mind.

Amp34 · 5 May 2014 at 18:25

theheyes said:
+1 for the Black Rapid

Pricey, but relative to the money you've probably spent on the camera gear they are good value in my opinion.

The only problem is they screw into the tripod thread on your camera body so keep that in mind.

The strap clips in nicely to the Manfrotto QR plates as well...

So much more useful.

mattyg · 5 May 2014 at 18:28

I bought the one with the pockets Rs-5 and wished I had just bought the plain strap

413x · 5 May 2014 at 18:29

i was thinking of picking up a giottos tripod

i noticed they clip to the mount. two plates is quite clever

413x · 5 May 2014 at 18:29

mattyg said:
I bought the one with the pockets Rs-5 and wished I had just bought the plain strap

i was looking at the pockets one.. why the regret?

BR seem popular!

Andy90 · 5 May 2014 at 19:05

With my Canon 5D MKII and Canon EF 100-400mm, I usually have the tripod mount on the lens slipped into my trouser belt on the left hand side, whilst still wearing the neckstrap. Takes a lot of the weight off your neck. The strap goes diagonally across my body rather than round my neck hanging equally at either side of my neck. Put your left arm through the strap and then hook the strap over your head - you're using your shoulder rather than your neck to hold the weight of the camera and lens then.

Rojin · 5 May 2014 at 19:17

I just use a Quickstrap with a Black Rapid connector on the camera/lens. That's been fine for me with 1D3, 1Ds2 and gripped 7D with 120-300 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8 and 150-500 lenses.

mattyg · 5 May 2014 at 19:25

al4x said:
i was looking at the pockets one.. why the regret?

BR seem popular!

They just dont seem to sit as nice as the plain one. No massive issue I've still got it and use it.

D.P. · 5 May 2014 at 19:30

Keep the tripod mounted to the lens and just swing the tripod over your shoulder with the lens across the top of your back. This distributed the load and balance is easy with the tripod sticking forwards.

I wouldn't hold a camera with a big lens by the camera only, you want to be supporting the lens.

Rojin · 5 May 2014 at 19:35

Whoa, I didn't realise you were walking around with a 120-300 hanging off a 60D with a standard strap! That puts a lot of strain on the lens mount on the body. I'd get a strap to fix to the tripod mount on the lens for your next outing that's for sure

413x · 5 May 2014 at 19:54

Thinking about it yeah thats a lot of weight on the mount! It didnt cross my mind tbh!

how would you keep the tripod on the lens mount and not stress the lens-camera mount?

Rojin · 5 May 2014 at 19:56

If you're using the tripod mount on the lens collar then you only have the camera body "hanging" from the lens mount, which as it is pretty light should be fine.

DBT85 · 6 May 2014 at 08:14

Another vote for the Black Rapid. It's a little disconcerting having the camera at your hip at first, but so much more comfortable and its always just there ready to grab perfectly.

Zogger · 6 May 2014 at 09:01

I use the op/tech utility sling - much cheaper than the black rapid, but with a big lens like that it's probably not the best idea - it's designed to loop through the existing strap eyelets on the camera body. It has two connectors, designed so that one can go on the grip (if you have one) and one can go on the body.
I actually use a tripod plate that I happen to have from a monopod head and loop it round the screw turning thing, and I don't feel like it's getting any closer to falling off - but it's probably not recommended...

Amp34 · 6 May 2014 at 13:50

al4x said:
Thinking about it yeah thats a lot of weight on the mount! It didnt cross my mind tbh!

how would you keep the tripod on the lens mount and not stress the lens-camera mount?

Always hold the camera kit by the heaviest item, whether than be lens or camera. In fact the 120-300 tripod mount is designed to be held, it's got ridges to make it nicer to hold by hand.

413x · 6 May 2014 at 17:29

I might be missing something obvious

If you have the tripod on the lens mount (so the mount point is used) how do you use the black rapid strap to carry it all? The only other mount point is on the camera body?

I must be being dim!

DBT85 · 6 May 2014 at 21:24

al4x said:
I might be missing something obvious

If you have the tripod on the lens mount (so the mount point is used) how do you use the black rapid strap to carry it all? The only other mount point is on the camera body?

I must be being dim!

If you are keeping the camera/head/pod all connected then I don't think you can, but assuming your tripod head has a quick release then you get one of these

And just pop your tripod over your shoulder