How do you carry your camera?

[casndan]

We leave for the world on the 26th (I know a bit of a time crunch but I have Amazon Prime so most things I can get in 2 days and I'm planning on making a decision today) and I want a new strap or something that makes carrying my camera easier. I bought a cloak bag and I thought that I would love it but it just didn't work with my camera, it didn't fit well. So what do you guys recommend? I'm brand new to my DSLR, I have a Nikon D3000, and I want a strap that I can wear across my body. I think I prefer something that screws into the tripod mount because it just seems like the camera is safer that way, but I'm open to other options. What do you guys recommend?

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Several weeks back, I purchased the Black Rapid (RS 4). Its worked out real well. Because I have some heavy lenses, the neck strap just wasn't working for me anymore. It comes with one R-2 connector, but they have introduced a new heavier duty R-3 connector for any lens over 200mm. I purchased two additional R-3's ($14 each) for my 70-200 f2.8 and 100-300 f4 lenses. It is a much heavier duty connector. The R-2 seems downright flimsy compared to it! IMHO its worth it for the extra security! I've also heard good things about the Op-Tech system which is much cheaper than the BR. I'm sure some of the Op-Tech users can give you a review. The Op-Tech system does not use the tripod screw holder, which allows access to the screw holder for a tripod. That is the only drawback to the BR. When I use the tripod I have to do some quick reconfiguring.

 

[Suburbanmom]

This is very similar to the one I have. Mine is a promaster and I've had it for about 4 years, and I haven't seen it for sale anywhere since. I bought mine at a local camera shop. I wear it across my body. I'm 5'6" and the camera hits my hip. It's neoprene and has a lot of give...I absolutely love it.

Tamrac Neoprene Strap

I have a heavy camera set up. I have a Nikon D300 and my walk-around lens is a 24-70 f/2.8

 

[Mosca]

Another Rapid Strap user. One tip: when you raise the camera from your hip, the shoulder pad has a tendency to slip backward. Just maintain a little bit of tension on the strap while raising the camera, hold it a little bit away from your body as you raise it. .

For the Oly E-P1, I used the neck strap, and even for a small camera like that my neck was sore after only 3 days. But the E-P1 is too small for a Rapid Strap. I wound up using the neck strap like a wrist strap, wrapped around my hand.

 

[zackiedawg]

I have to say *personally* (no judgement on the system for those who like it!!) that I don't feel secure with or like the tripod mount straps...I don't really like the camera hanging upside down, and with quick release plates I see the screw get a bit loose every once in a while that would make me not want to trust the strap the same way, plus I use tripod too often to want to remove and swap the strap or use one of the adapters...so I went with a nice long stretchy strap that can be used around the neck or cross-shoulder style. Mine's a Kata Reflex-E, and I've been happy with it for 2 years and 2 bodies now. Very comfy to wear, both as a neck strap, or adjusted longer to use as a shoulder strap to hang at the opposite hip. I am happier with the camera's strap hooks being used, and like the way the camera hangs lens-down and right-side out.

Just personal preference, and another option to consider!

 

[photo_chick]

For a strap... I love my Crumpler Industry Disgrace.

I'm not a fan of the straps that use the tripod mount. Having seen the threads on those mounts strip under normal circumstances I'm too paranoid to support my camera with one like that.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Another very happy Black Rapid Strap user here! It's completely eliminated any neck and back pain. To illustrate how different users prefer things I have discovered I really like having the camera down low by my hip as I walk. It allows me to keep one hand on it if I wish and I've had far less incidence (none actually) of a camera swinging forward and almost hitting something if I lean over because of this position and the way I walk with it. Also, I do check the connection to the tripod mount whenever I use it but I've never found it loosened.

Nice info on the connector Gianna'sPapa - I'll have to take a look at the heavy duty connectors.

 

[SrisonS]

I like the Crumpler Industry Disgrace. A very comfortable strap. It hooks like a tradition neck strap, but it can extend long enough to be worn how you want it.

But I recently heard that Black Rapid is gonna have a woman's version for their strap soon. Because it's worn across the body, this one has more of a curve to it.

 

[zackiedawg]

That sounds pretty much like what the Kata Reflex is - like the Crumpler, the leads are long enough that the strap can be adjusted to neck-strap length, or all the way out to hip length and cross shoulder...just using the strap hooks instead of the tripod mount.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I like the Crumpler Industry Disgrace. A very comfortable strap. It hooks like a tradition neck strap, but it can extend long enough to be worn how you want it.

But I recently heard that Black Rapid is gonna have a woman's version for their strap soon. Because it's worn across the body, this one has more of a curve to it.

Its available now online.

http://www.blackrapid.com/product/camera-strap/rs-w1/

 

[MICKEY88]

I'm another photographer who doesn't like the idea of supporting my heavy cameras by the tripod mount, I've heard stories of the mounts failing or the d-rings seperating,

I use the optech dual harness,

http://optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=87&PRODUCT_SUB_ID=&CATEGORY_ID=4#

it also takes the weight off of the neck , but connects to the camera with the normal strap mounts, it can be used with one or 2 cameras, and since the optech system is modular the cameras can also be easily attached to a regular optech strap

 

[Snappy in OK]

I have a long strap (MOD, I believe) that I carry across my body. My camera sits right around my hip, and I am 5'7". I can either keep it at my side, or move to in front of or behind me when walking around. I can keep is across my body when taking pictures, or slip my arm through the strap (as though I was carrying it around my neck).