Camera hanging techniques

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wiedo

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Probably a stupid topic, but i'm just interested how you guys take your camera with you, without looking touristy or being clumsy.

My technique is:
1. Hanging the camera on my neck.
2. put one arm thru the strap.

Now the camera is hanging under my armpit. It looks better IMHO and my camera isn't that noticeable. It's also a little more protected there. (i will search for a picture to give a better image)

The only problem with this technique is initial shooting speed. If i wan't to take a picture i have to struggle with my camera strap a little before i can bring my eye to the viewfinder.

And it's even more a problem when you are also using a backpack. Because the camera strap gets cluttered with your backpack straps.

I hate hanging the camera the touristy way, because it's continuously bouncing on my belly 😉.

So what's you technique?
 
Over one shoulder. With long lenses (SLR) I turn the combo 180 degrees so the lens bounses against my back. normally Ill hold on to the strap like on a rifle. If I have to handle something using both hands Ill do as you descripe.
Best regards
 
Now the camera is hanging under my armpit. It looks better IMHO and my camera isn't that noticeable. It's also a little more protected there. (i will search for a picture to give a better image)

The only problem with this technique is initial shooting speed. If i wan't to take a picture i have to struggle with my camera strap a little before i can bring my eye to the viewfinder.

And it's even more a problem when you are also using a backpack. Because the camera strap gets cluttered with your backpack straps.
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This is how I usually carry my camera, and find it to be no problem, even with a backpack. The trick, I think, is to find a basic nylon strap without too much in the way of grip or comfort aids, as this will let the camera strap slip round without snagging. This also allows me to raise the camera quickly. Why carry it thus? So I can do things like this:


The other carry method I use is a Y-strap with one of Mr Coates fine sling connectors. I've found the combination suitable for anything up to a Mamiya RZ67 Pro II with 110mm lens.
 
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Plain vanilla around my neck - along with the light meter - works just fine... Easy to lift and use, see, protect and easy to take off quickly if I need a little more freedom of movement. I'm more interested in speed and useability than whether others think I look ike a tourist 😀 I actually like wrist straps but their problem is that I sometimes want both hands free and then youre stuck...
 
If I want to be taking pictures, around my neck. When just getting somewhere, no intent to take pictures, over the shoulder. Looking like a tourist can sometimes be beneficial.

picture.php


Around the neck is more secure. Over the shoulder, best to hold onto the strap. I've had a camera drop to concrete becuase it slipped off my shoulder. At one point, I bought shirts with the little button-down thingies: epaulettes. Solves the dropping problem!
 
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Wrap it 2 times around my wrist and hold the camera in a position ready to shoot.
I use my other hand to pull the strap away from the viewfinder/lens.
 
kuvvy said:
Have you had a look at the Y-strap? Should make it quicker and easier to bring the camera to your eye.

http://figitalrevolution.com/y-strap/
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Wow what a amazing set of fast responses you guys.. amazing community 😀

The Y-strap is a great idea.. And that Stephen is a funny guy.. i would almost buy it because of him 😀.

This brings me to the idea to just buy two (small) keychain rings, attach them to my Leica CL, so it could slide over my (no too thick) nylon strap. The Y-strap is a little bit too thick for me, i like a smaller band (ofcourse you will need this thickness for a heaver camera). So i will have my own mini-Y-strap 😎.

I never wear my camera just on a shoulder, i'm just not feeling free enough and continuously worried about my camera.

@ruby.monkey that's also how i wear my cam.. you are a daredevil (cam+water) 😱.

@denmark.yuzon your link isn't working (not allowed to see the picture on facebook)
 
I am not sure if I should bring this sad news to you..... but if you have a camera you look like a tourist :angel:. There is no way around it, you look like a tourist that have your camera around the neck or a tourist that have your camera around your shoulder/neck.

Person A: look at that tourist....
Person B: he is not a tourist, you can see it on the very cool way he has the camera strapped around his shoulder and neck.
 
@ruby.monkey that's also how i wear my cam.. you are a daredevil (cam+water) .
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Eh, M3s dry out quickly.

Gordy Coates makes a narrow leather sling similar to the Y-strap (with optional shoulder pad, if one wishes). The camera is attached to a connector which clips to this sling. It's a neat little solution - the only reason I didn't get one was that I had already ordered the Y-strap when I came across it. The Y-strap, however, is excellent. I'm just a little bit miffed that I missed out on the bright red version. 😉
 
ruby.monkey said:
Gordy Coates makes a narrow leather sling similar to the Y-strap (with optional shoulder pad, if one wishes).
Click to expand...

Does Gordy have a website? (isn't showing up in the first hits on google)

And yes, a camera will always make you look like a tourist, but the Y-strap guy has a solution for it.. wear it under a coat and slide the camera up when you wan't to take a picture.

What i of course mean is: I wan't to go for a more active/sporty look instead of the belly forward camera showoff guy. I don't want people to look at my camera but to my face when i'm talking. And i wan't to move freely without worrying about my cam.

I have days when i take my camera with me the whole day without taking one picture, because nothing really interesting happened, or i was just distracted with something different then photography. For a lot of people it would be a reason to keep the camera home the next day, but i'm just waiting for that great photography moment. Then of course the camera has to be with me in a comfortable way.
 
wiedo said:
Does Gordy have a website? (isn't showing up in the first hits on google)
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Here you go - Gordy's Camera Straps.
And yes, a camera will always make you look like a tourist, but the Y-strap guy has a solution for it.. wear it under a coat and slide the camera up when you wan't to take a picture.
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.. and get mistaken for a terrorist reaching for his gun. Bang. 😉

(do be careful - the Y-strap is not recommended for early Leica Ms since they're not considered safe to dangle from one strap lug)
What i of course mean is: I wan't to go for a more active/sporty look instead of the belly forward camera showoff guy. I don't want people to look at my camera but to my face when i'm talking. And i wan't to move freely without worrying about my cam.

I have days when i take my camera with me the whole day without taking one picture, because nothing really interesting happened, or i was just distracted with something different then photography. For a lot of people it would be a reason to keep the camera home the next day, but i'm just waiting for that great photography moment. Then of course the camera has to be with me in a comfortable way.
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I long ago stopped caring about whether or not other people notice my camera, and then I spotted something interesting - as long as I don't act like an ill-mannered oaf, *no-one* cares a toss about what I'm doing or carrying.
 
just made my own solution (thanks for the advice you guys!)

w-strap.jpg

(sorry, iphone quality picture)

It works, not great yet, but it works. Would buy a y-strap or a gordy when i didn't buy a Leica this month.
 
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kuvvy said:
Have you had a look at the Y-strap? Should make it quicker and easier to bring the camera to your eye.

http://figitalrevolution.com/y-strap/
Click to expand...

Can we discuss the potential problem of pulling out the lug when the M is suspended from only one of them? If this is not a problem, I'll happily get either the Y or the Gordy equivalent.

Harry
 
Yes, it is a problem and that is one of the reasons I don´t like them.

hlockwood said:
Can we discuss the potential problem of pulling out the lug when the M is suspended from only one of them? If this is not a problem, I'll happily get either the Y or the Gordy equivalent.

Harry
Click to expand...
 
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