How to "wear" 2 cameras at a time

ymc226

ymc226

Well-known
Local time
7:04 PM
Joined
May 24, 2009
Messages
320
Location
California
View My Gallery
All of my RFs are on wrist straps and I carry them in a shoulder bag. I usually have 2 cameras on me (with a normal and a wide lens) so I can vary shots between the two.

This weekend, while shooting my nephew's college graduation, I realize how cumbersome this set up was, having to pull the camera off my wrist and shove it in the shoulder bag, retrieve the other, putting its respective strap on my wrist before taking a shot.

Is there a convenient way of using 2 cameras on neck straps without having to keep one in the bag? I would want to make sure the cameras with their respective lenses did not bump into one another.

Currently, my set up would be more likely MF RF. Either 2 Mamiya 7II (with 50 and 80 lens) or a Fuji GWIII 690 and GSWIII 690. Using 2 Ms (either MPs or M7s) would also be a possibility.

I have a Y strap from Stephen Schaub but haven't tried it with 2 cameras ( one on either shoulder) or with anything larger than a Leica M.
 
I do just what Akiva said. One hangs about navel length, while the other hits my sternum. The cameras never touch, and I am able to grab either in a second.
 
kshapero said:
This is a simple problem to solve: simply have 2 neck straps of varying lengths then the cameras do not collide around your chest.
Click to expand...

Agree! If you look at photos of Vietnam war photographers you will often see them carrying two (usually) Nikon Fs in this configuration. I suppose in a fast changing setting it meant no lens changes - one camera was carried with a wide to normal lens and the other with a tele.

2187126603_2c471689b1.jpg
 
Last edited:
kshapero said:
This is a simple problem to solve: simply have 2 neck straps of varying lengths then the cameras do not collide around your chest.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick reply. I just don't like all that weight on my neck. Can you instead, drape on camera/strap across one shoulder and the other against the other?

I am thinking of making my own Y strap as the cost per foot of nylon webbing is about 50 cents. Just need to hand stitch the webbing and find round or D rings to uses as attachment points.
 
Well, yes - the suggestions work - but my experience has been with two Bessa bodies which are considerably smaller than the Mamiyas and considerably lighter than the Mamiyas and/or the Leicas. I'm thinking maybe the weight and/or size of the OP's combinations might make this also a bit unwieldy or heavy on the neck.

I'd be considering having one camera on a neck strap and the other, with or without wrist strap, in a top-opening bag with two roomy compartments. Easy to draw out quickly and use, space for film/filters/hoods or whatever and large enough that both cameras and accessories could be packed in it when the photography was over.
 
Leigh Youdale said:
Well, yes - the suggestions work - but my experience has been with two Bessa bodies which are considerably smaller than the Mamiyas and considerably lighter than the Mamiyas and/or the Leicas. I'm thinking maybe the weight and/or size of the OP's combinations might make this also a bit unwieldy or heavy on the neck.

I'd be considering having one camera on a neck strap and the other, with or without wrist strap, in a top-opening bag with two roomy compartments. Easy to draw out quickly and use, space for film/filters/hoods or whatever and large enough that both cameras and accessories could be packed in it when the photography was over.
Click to expand...
yes that could work, too, but two cameras equals weight anyway you slice it. I started out with a Nikon F2 and a "light" Nikkormat FTN. Now that's some real weight.😉
 
Bring an attractive assistant along on your shooting jaunts. Each of your carries a camera. Problem solved. And, you'll look good and have companionship while you're shooting.

My personal solution recently has been one on a Gordy's wrist strap (welcome as an RFF sponsor; gotta buy another body to have an excuse for an additional strap; don't tell my assistant). and one on a neck strap. Cumbersome sometimes. Chris101, Petem and Darren's suggestion about two neck straps is probably better.
 
yeah, I've shot my M2 along side a F-1, I put one in my hand and the other hung off a shoulder. worked pretty well.
both had straps, but I found my M2's shoelace strap was better- no rubber pads or extra bits of strap to get in the way.
 
Last edited:
peterm1 said:
Agree! If you look at photos of Vietnam war photographers you will often see them carrying two (usually) Nikon Fs in this configuration. I suppose in a fast changing setting it meant no lens changes - one camera was carried with a wide to normal lens and the other with a tele.

2187126603_2c471689b1.jpg
Click to expand...

WHich photographer is this, in the picture?

As to wearing the cameras, one thing to avoid is cris-crossing the two cameras on two neckstraps of the same length.

+1 on adjusting the straps to different lengths. However I also will keep one camera in a small shoulder bag, and the other one on the neckstrap. I can switch them quickly, although not as fast as having them both around my neck.
 
I am sorry I am not sure who the photographer is. When I first saw it (it was in thumbnail) I thought it was Larry Burrows but on opening it realised it does not look like him.

I should have added that it makes sense to carry the camera with the long lens on the bottom - that way this lens does not bang against the one lower down as long lenses tend to hang in a nose down configuration.
 
Vilk said:
and if they bang against each other, so what? mine bang. big time. (not that an F2 would care) 😎
Click to expand...

Clearly for you its not an issue. But for many it is. I would not say I am anal about it but I prefer not to damage my gear if I can help it.
 
one on a strap around my neck, one with no strap in my hand and a wide shoulder bag over one shoulder, open. that's what i do when shooting bands, the 35mm or 50mm is on the camera in my hand, the 85mm is on another camera around my neck. i just shove the wide angled camera into the bag with one hand while lifting the other - works good enough.

i hardly ever actually use the second camera though... two straps would be good but i really don't like straps and haven't found synthetic straps that are thin/small enough that quick release to go onto my screw mount Leicas.
 
I carried 3 cameras during a tour in Iraq. A Nikon D2h and two Leica M film bodies. The Nikon was around one shoulder, one Leica around my neck and the other on my other shoulder. Eventually, the crappy stock Nikon strap frayed and broke so I used my single point rifle sling which I was issued as a camera strap. It was very comfortable and hung bandolier style across my chest. This put the weight of two cameras on one shoulder but I also had a bag to hump so it evened out.
This is the company and the single point sling:
http://www.slingsystem.com/pbmain.htm
(I am not affiliated with them in any way)
If you look at the construction of the sling, it's quite easy to make. The only problem is the camera can twist around a bit but there are ways to prevent that with some creative use of web gear.

My M bodies DID have different length straps as well to prevent them from banging into one another hard.

Phil Forrest
 
2 Cameras at the time, ready for use in an instant? Sure! Strap them across your chest and keep one in front hanging just below the sternum. If you hang them off your shoulder you will drop them sooner or later, unless of course you have a restraint strap sewn into the shoulders of your shirt as rbsinto does. DAMHIK

I use a Gordy's wrist strap on the R4 but the long strap is the configuration of choice with the M3 strap a little longer as mentioned above.

Hint: Put on a Gordy's wrist strap and the neck strap simultaneously, it will solve both problems with the ws and the ns while not getting in the way. You can either use the neck strap (across the chest) or the wrist strap letting the other strap hang... I cannot stand to hang cameras off my neck, not even one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom