Comfortable strap for neck/shoulder versatile! Anti-Fail

[jcam]

@microbios, hmmm, I still see people wearing neck straps, and luckily I am only using a 28-300 that is fairly light, but with a 70-200 in the future, I can forsee that being extremely uncomfortable around the neck.

 

[Dave442]

I have one body with the OP Tech strap with the wide neoprene at the neck area and it works good neck or shoulder and works fine with the 70-300.

My other body with the grip has the BlackRapid and with a larger lens can wear all day and not have any problem, but as noted above if have a sling camera bag on I put that on first on the other side.

 

[Microbois]

I hate straps that connect via the tripod screw.

You know, I had thought about that also, do they really truely stink that bad? Never tried, but I was thinking about that.

This may not be an issue at all if you don't carry a tripod with you... If you do, then yes, it can be a pain to unscrew the strap, so you can put your camera on a tripod. I know there are some accessories you can buy to mitigate this issue.

@microbios, hmmm, I still see people wearing neck straps, and luckily I am only using a 28-300 that is fairly light, but with a 70-200 in the future, I can forsee that being extremely uncomfortable around the neck.

Lots of people are wearing neck straps, but if you want a true measure as to what is the most efficient way to carry a camera, look at what the professionals are doing. They make a living with their camera, and they know better than anyone what works best. I can assure you that you will never see a professional photographer with a neck strap.

 

[jcam]

Those of you using the blackrapid, which one are you using? The curve? It seems to be the most adjustable.

 

[jcam]

@Microbois, I see. Yes, I noticed most professionals now a days are using a shoulder strap. And I am not dragging a tripod with me to Europe, I could see some uses for it, but I can also see it being a big heavy burden.

 

[Microbois]

Those of you using the blackrapid, which one are you using? The curve? It seems to be the most adjustable.

The Curve is OK is you aren't moving much like in a studio. The Curve is almost a neck strap. If you are travelling, walking in crowded places, riding buses standing up, or hiking, the Black Rapid Sport will be a better choice as it stays put, won't slide, or fall off your shoulder.

@MicroboisI could see some uses for it, but I can also see it being a big heavy burden.

What do you mean by a big heavy burden? The Black Rapid Sport strap is not any heavier than other third-party premium straps you can find. You are talking of a few grams here. One thing for sure, neck straps are a pain in the neck (pun not intended), regardless of how much they are padded. The problem with neck straps is when you wear them on your shoulder because your camera is not used, when you then need your camera, you need to pass your arm inside the strap to free your arm so you can hold the camera at eye level comfortably. This is very unconvenient if you are in a crowded space, or if you need your camera very quick. A shoulder strap will let you use your camera at any time without changing anything. You bring your camera from you hip to your eye without any contorsion.

Once again, I think you are over analyzing this. Bring your camera to a store selling straps, and try it out if you are not sure.

 

[jcam]

@Microbois, ahhh, the sport, so that is the one that goes under the arm as well, or can we get away with not using that part? Or that is the whole point of using that part as it won't be moving around?

Sorry for the confusion here, the tripod is what I was talking about, not the strap. I meant the tripod is a big heavy burden. so I am not bringing a tripod. You guys already convinced me to use a shoulder mount. Just now which one is the key.

* Blackrapid sport - but which one? normal one? or slim?
* lockstar
* tether kit, I assume this is how we can make the straps stick to the hip better and then release the carabiners to use the camera right?
* protector for anti-theft cutting in Paris.

Do I need any spare parts?

Am I all set?

 

[Derrel]

Best strap I have ever owned...10 years on a heavy Nikon D2x body as of this May, 2015...OptTech "standard" strap.OP TECH USA Classic Strap

Neoprene as an anti-fatigue mechanism simply works.

 

[Microbois]

@Microbois, ahhh, the sport, so that is the one that goes under the arm as well, or can we get away with not using that part? Or that is the whole point of using that part as it won't be moving around?

Sorry for the confusion here, the tripod is what I was talking about, not the strap. I meant the tripod is a big heavy burden. so I am not bringing a tripod. You guys already convinced me to use a shoulder mount. Just now which one is the key.

* Blackrapid sport - but which one? normal one? or slim?
* lockstar
* tether kit, I assume this is how we can make the straps stick to the hip better and then release the carabiners to use the camera right?
* protector for anti-theft cutting in Paris.

Do I need any spare parts?

Am I all set?

Yes, you can remove the extra strap under the arm if you want to, but it kinds of defeat the purpose of having a shoulder strap that won't budge from your shoulder. I have the Normal one, but if I remember correctly, the Slim version was designed for women.

The Lockstar comes with the Black Rapid Sport. Well, that's how I got mine.

As far as the tether kit, it's up to you, but it's in my habit to keep an eye on the mounting screw, so I woudn't spend for that.

Regarding the ProtectR for anti-theft, it would take a lot of balls for a thief to come up to me, and try to cut my strap. As I said, I always rest my hand on the camera at all time, and even if the strap is cut, the camera is not attached to the strap, so it would fall on the ground, let alone the fact that any thief seeing the kind of bracing under your shoulder would think twice before attempting to steal your camera. Secondly, I'm always very aware of my surroundings at all time when I travel or if I'm in public, so I can see things coming from very far... Any potential thief would quickly feel that I won't be an easy prey, so unless he's ready for a fight, which usually they are not, they will pick another victim.

 

[jcam]

@Microbois, a little confused... the mounting screw might come unscrewed? The tether kid I figured was just a way to hold it to your belt loop so the camera wasn't flopping around if you were not keeping your hand on it, did I get this wrong? and will the mounting screw come loose? How often do I have to think about this?

As for a thief, I am well away of my surroundings also, I am not huge, but I am tall. I can see the camera not attached to the strap and the camera would fall? I thought there was a mechanism built in that two or more things would have to fail before that happend? or cutting the strap is the Achilles heel???

 

[Microbois]

@Microbois, a little confused... the mounting screw might come unscrewed? The tether kid I figured was just a way to hold it to your belt loop so the camera wasn't flopping around if you were not keeping your hand on it, did I get this wrong? and will the mounting screw come loose? How often do I have to think about this?

As for a thief, I am well away of my surroundings also, I am not huge, but I am tall. I can see the camera not attached to the strap and the camera would fall? I thought there was a mechanism built in that two or more things would have to fail before that happend? or cutting the strap is the Achilles heel???

Sorry, the tether kit can be effectively used in conjunction with your pants belt to help your camera from swinging too far. But it's also used to protect your camera in the event the mounting screw eventually come loose. I've read people here saying it might happen, or have happened to them. That being said, there's a thick rubber washer that compresses and keep quite a bit of tension on the mounting screw, so I don't see it coming loose under normal use anytime soon. If your camera has been banging on your hip for couple hours, and has actually turned on itself several times, then maybe it may come loose, but it's very unlikely in my case as I always keep my hand on my camera.

If the strap of the Black Rapid Sport is cut, depending on where are located your locking bumpers, your camera may, or may not, fall on the ground. If you have both locking bumbers near your hip, the camera will be prevented from sliding along the strap. So, if the strap is cut in your back, or in the front, technically speaking one of the 2 locking bumbers should be able to hold it from falling on the ground, but if your camera is heavy, they may slide along the strap and fall. Once again, I think you overthinking this way too much. Trust me, if a thief has decided to steal your camera, he will use his knife not to cut the strap and run away, but to put it under your chin and ask you to give him your camera. Being aware of your surroundings, looking at people's attitude, and not placing yourself in situations where you are vulnerable, will make a long way towards not becoming an easy victim of thieves. If you want to learn more about this, try to read advices from cops on how they are always aware of their surroundings. Stuff like sitting in restaurants, back to a wall, and looking towards the entrance is a sure way to be the first one to notice anything that is not right.

 

[Derrel]

This has taken an amazing turn toward the paranoid and ridiculous. How about some 3/16 inch coated cable and a couple of small padlocks? Or maybe a pair of hired bodyguards for the days in Paris...

 

[Microbois]

This has taken an amazing turn toward the paranoid and ridiculous. How about some 3/16 inch coated cable and a couple of small padlocks? Or maybe a pair of hired bodyguards for the days in Paris...

Indeed, but the OP seems very concerned about the safety of his gear all while having a look that is not too geeky.

I remember back in the film days where I used to work for newspapers. I had to cover some troubled areas in the city and it happened a few times it got very close that I had to protect myself and my gear. Fortunately, it was still those days were journalists and photographers didn't have to worry about getting killed or injured seriously, so just a quick reminder to the assailants that I was helping them reveal the truth they were victim of was enough to get me out of trouble. In today's world, for some reasons or another, medias seem to be part of the oppressors and journalists and photographers are getting beat up. I'm glad I'm out of this business today.

That being said, I beleive the OP is over analyzing the situation and should just buy the strap he needs, and be done with it. Aside from that, the general rules to be careful with your equipment when you travel still applies.

 

[Dave442]

As the OP brought it up, for thieves, I use what I was using today which is an old non-camera messenger bag worn like a BlackRapid strap, across chest, and the camera is tossed in there when not shooting. This works good with either a regular neck strap, but with camera over shoulder and strap and camera go in bag, or as today with a BlackRapid where just the camera goes in the bag.

 

[jcam]

@Microbois, thanks for your further explanation, I may still purchase the tether kit then, just to be sure, but a best way is to check the screw from time to time..

How troublesome is whole strap to put on and take off? While out it will be on my shoulder, when taking the subway it will be in my sling. Also if I wanted someone else to take my photo. Or are their accessories I should consider to make it slightly easier to take off than unscrewing it from the mount?

I also have a G12 that I would love to carry together, but can one of the SNAPR bags be attached to this? And would it be recommended to do so or not? As this is a solo trip I think asking people to take my photo will be easier with the G12 than taking off my DSLR, operation also much easier for some people. I am considering both options.

I'm not over thinking it, I am just asking. Blackraipd sells the wire strap so I figured I would ask about. So that means people must be buying it and there must be a need for it. The Pacsafe sling I have also has an anti-slash feature.