Camera straps, big-body cameras and long lenses

[Anton Largiader]

Normally I carry the R3 and a long lens using a Spider Pro belt, but today I ended up with it and a 70-200 + 1.4x on a strap mounted to the R3. Is it me, or is this a major PITA? The taller body, and this would be the same with a 1-body or even a standard body with a grip, just tries to stand too far off my body for the lens to hang straight down. With a small lens, it would hang rangefinder-style with the lens pointing out, but with the long lens it definitely doesn't want to hang pointing down. It sits at a 45 degree angle with the bottom of the body digging into my side.

If I hang it the other way (with the viewfinder against my body) it hangs straight, but I'd be twisting the strap every time I picked it up unless I'm shooting portrait (that works OK). BTW I'm wearing it cross-body on my left.

Am I missing something, or is this just something that doesn't work well?

 

[C Scott IV]

I attach my sling strap to the upper left and lower right lugs of the camera. In my case the lower right is on the L-bracket. The lens points straight down.

When I am using the EF 100-400L II with sling strap I attach one to the lens foot and one to the camera. This way it is hanging horizontal.

Not sure if that helps you.

 

[ShipleyNW]

I use Peak Design straps. You've probably seen them. They're the ones with little red/black anchor disks that mount on the camera lugs and have QR attachments on the strap that latch to the anchors. I keep 3 anchors on each body; left, right and bottom. The straps come with a 1/4-20 mount point that screws into the bottom of the camera, but most arca plates have a mount point as well.

When carried bandolier style, if the strap is connected to the left and right anchors, the camera hangs with the lens pointing out. If you put one end of the strap on the bottom anchor, the camera hangs with the lens pointing down. When using the bottom anchor, the whole rig twists a little bit so the side of the body rests against your leg, with the body's grip on the outside. It's a little weird, but manageable.

The best part about PD straps (at least the Slide, Slide Lite and Leash) is that the length is adjustable. It takes no time to adjust them from storage to neck strap to shoulder strap to bandolier.

 

[Anton Largiader]

Thanks; I'll give that a try. I have a PD strap thanks to the generosity of @Ecc233 but no way for now to attach a bottom anchor. I need to order a few more anchors anyway, so I'll see what I can do about that. I'm irritated at myself for putting in an order to B&H for a backdrop and forgetting I needed anchors, so now I don't want to pay shipping twice!

 

[ShipleyNW]

I've got a few of those PD mount points. I use arca plates so I don't use any of them. I don't know what cost or hassle it is to buy one, but if it comes down to it, you can have one of mine if you want it. I can put one in the mail.

 

[West Coast Birder]

I am a pretty short guy and have given up carrying my long lens (600/4 III) on me. I have a strap attached to the lens lugs but carrying it bandolier style like I do my smaller lenses is really inconvenient as fhe lens bounces against my thighs as I walk and unless I hold it down with my hand, is irritating. I have started carrying it on a tripod where I have the lens across my shoulder behind my neck and the tripod feet pointing forward. This seems to work for me.

 

[ShipleyNW]

I am a pretty short guy and have given up carrying my long lens (600/4 III) on me. I have a strap attached to the lens lugs but carrying it bandolier style like I do my smaller lenses is really inconvenient as fhe lens bounces against my thighs as I walk and unless I hold it down with my hand, is irritating. I have started carrying it on a tripod where I have the lens across my shoulder behind my neck and the tripod feet pointing forward. This seems to work for me.

Back when I was carrying a 300/2.8 regularly (long time ago, for sports), it had strap lugs on the lens itself. When I carried it with a strap, I'd use those instead of the camera lugs. Most often, though, it went on a monopod and was carried over the shoulder.

 

[West Coast Birder]

Try as I might, I’ve never been able to make a monopod work satisfactorily. There’s something wrong with my technique. Either it’s too wobbly for me, or I get hand fatigue trying to keep it stable. Clearly lots of people use monopods with the big prunes, especially sports photographers, and I can see its benefits vs a tripod but it’s never worked for me.

 

[ShipleyNW]

I love monopods. They're the best thing ever -- for outdoor sports. But they only work for things that are out in front of you at no higher than a human can jump and no closer than a big telephoto can frame up. Anything up or down, you're out of luck. I never even used a head. I just screwed the pole straight into the lens. If I had to look up, the monopod came off the ground.

Pretty much useless, to my dismay, for something like birds.

 

[ChuckMiller]

I keep a ball head on my monopod. That let's the camera move around some without moving the mono. I also keep the mono foot on the ground out in front of me and angle the mono back at me so I can somewhat lean into it for camera stability.

 

[Scott M]

I have a Manfrotto monopod tilt head with a Kirk Arca Swiss clamp permanently attached to my monopod - - B&H used to sell the two together as a kit. With this setup, I have no issues shooting stationary birds, as well as other wildlife.

 

[gmcphotographics]

Every one's use case is different, for me I need to cover long exposures with telephoto lenses for my landscape work and to stabilise a large heavy wild life lens in high winds and difficult terrain.
My Main tripod legs is a Sachtler Flowtech 75. It is by far the most stable and versatile tripod I've ever used. It's so fast to set up and use. However, it's quite big and comparatively heavy. It is the last word in stable photographic tripods. I bought it initially becuase my previous main tripod (Gitzo Systematic GT3541LS) wasn't sturdy enough for my old EF 400mm f2.8 LIS (which is a heavy beast of a lens). As my Gitzo was getting old and worn, the twist locking components on the legs were sometimes not locking and would slowly creep under the weight of the camera & lens. My current EF 400mm f2.8 LIS mkII is a LOT lighter and I'm finding that it taxes the tripod a lot less!
I use only one head, a Flexshooter Pro, which is a hybrid ball head. It's nearly a great large ball head which is perfect for general and landscape photography, but it's also nearly as good as a gimble head or Fluide head...so it serves as me as my wild life / birding head of choice in additon to my landscape needs. For me...it's "One head to rule them all!" This replaced my long term Markins M-20 and Gitzo G1380 Fluide head.
I've just bought a mini travel tripod, a SmallRig AP-10. My Flexshoot pro fits this ok, although it's a little top heavy. I might invest in the Flexshooter Mini just for this tripod and for travelling lighter. The ratio of size, lightness, portability and stability are in a class of their own. Is it as stable as my Sachtler? No, not eve close. Is it good enough for 95% of my needs...yes it is and it can handle my big lens too. The tripod is only 52" high and the top plate is only 60mm in diameter. But fully extended, the legs do not bend or flex with my heavy load. The weakest part of this tripod is the supplied ball head. It's beautifully light but too small for serious work. The ball is only 28mm and is easily overwhelmed by heady loads. The top clamp plate is too narrow to faithfully secure any large L plates or Lens plates with confidence. These legs are a replacement for my long term travel tripod (Gitzo GT1541T) and Markins Q3 head. The Gitzo is slightly more compact, but a little heavier. Without the central column it's a lot shorter than the SmalRig and it's no where near as stable. The legs are just too thin and bendy to stabilise my large 400mm lens. At max extension it's just too short and it's really fiddly to unpack, extend and put away. It's also got Gitzo twist locks that gradually fail over time and with exposure to salt water.
I have a old non-carbon fibre Manfrotto monopod that I hardly ever use unless I'm shooting an event where I'm chair bound. I've often thought about repalcing this with a light weight option. However, I just don't use it enough to warrant a further investment.

 

[Northroad]

Thanks; I'll give that a try. I have a PD strap thanks to the generosity of @Ecc233 but no way for now to attach a bottom anchor. I need to order a few more anchors anyway, so I'll see what I can do about that. I'm irritated at myself for putting in an order to B&H for a backdrop and forgetting I needed anchors, so now I don't want to pay shipping twice!

I use a Peak Design Slide strap with 2 anchors in the normal positions on the body and a 3rd one on the tripod foot on my longer lenses. This lets me carry it horizontally on the left with the strap across my chest on my right shoulder. I have a Kirk foot on my 100-400. It has integral ARCA grooves and a nice slot on the end that works perfectly for one of those anchors. Other Canon lenses require a separate ARCA plate, some are available with holes for attaching anchors.

 

[Keith_R]

Pretty much useless, to my dismay, for something like birds.

Disagree - you're just not using the right head.

Wimberley MonoGimbal Head | Wex Photo Video

www.wexphotovideo.com

Works really well with my 500mm f/4 Mk II + 1.4x on a gripped or pro body.

 

[Anton Largiader]

FWIW Wimberley is local to me. I see David pretty often. Clever guy.

 

[Kandor]

RRS monopod heads also work very well for bird photography and are nice quality and very durable. I have hiked hundreds of miles with it and the Canon 500mm f4 v1 slung over my shoulder on a monopod.

 

[Canon Amateur]

All my camera bodies have the PD anchor disks on the left and right side on the top. And they all have a 200-PL plate at the bottom.
My long lenses also have the 200-PL attached to the tripod ring (collar ?).
My main tripod has a 128RC head which fits the 200-PL.
My second tripod has a Manfrotto 323 Quick Release base plate.
This same 323 QR base plate is attached to my Black Rapid Sports strap and on my monopod.
This setup allows me to attach the body to the PD neckstrap or the BlackRapid or the tripod or the monopod.

When shooting soccer I use the Black Rapid attached to the EF 100-400mm ring. The camera hangs level upsidedown and on the right side with the lens pointing backwards.
I can grab the camera and swing up in one motion, ready to shoot.
If it is getting crowded I can push the set to my back so it does not bump into people or things.

When walking around I have a smaller lens e.g. 24-105mm or 50mm and use the PD neckstrap . I have the camera hanging low in front of me.
This gives me the possibility to swing the camera on the right side mimicking Black Rapid .

If I combine the two then I have the camera on the PD neckstrap higher up so it does not collide with the body on the Black Rapid.
And the best part of it is that I still have both hands free.
This gives me enough flexibility for all the body and lens and tripod combinations.

I also tried the PD capture camera clip on my belt but that was no success. The weight is always pulling the whole thing outwards.
And when it gets crowded the clip cannot be moved.
All in all I did not like the fixed and rigid setup.
I do not hike so there was no use case for clipping it to the backpack strap.

 

[Anton Largiader]

I’m taking a break from the Spider Pro, but using a conventional strap on the rings reminded me how bad that was. So I’m trying a Spider plate on the bottom so I have both straps on the left side of the R3. The lens is on that side as well so it hangs pretty naturally.