Less weight - do you use camera straps around your shoulder? HoldFast?

H

haring

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I am a wedding photographer. After a long day of shooting a wedding I am just so tired of having my cameras on straps around my neck.

I saw some people use camera straps around the shoulder which puts the weight on the shoulder rather than the neck area....

Do you use them? Which one would you recommend? How about HoldFast camera straps?

Thanks so much!
 
I use a "LensLoop" MKI and it really does make a big difference.

I also have a few cord straps I've made long to sling over the shoulder.

Blackrapid makes good straps at a reasonable price.

Holdfast seem a bit pricey, but I suppose that's just my opinion.
 
Optech

Optech

haring said:
I am a wedding photographer. After a long day of shooting a wedding I am just so tired of having my cameras on straps around my neck.

I saw some people use camera straps around the shoulder which puts the weight on the shoulder rather than the neck area....

Do you use them? Which one would you recommend? How about HoldFast camera straps?

Thanks so much!
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Dear haring,

Check out OPTECH sling straps. I have one like this. https://optechusa.com/straps/dual-harness.html

I've walked 3 miles plus around Assateague NWR through sand in 90 degree heat with a Canon 1DMK2 and Canon 40D that had 3 or 4 pound lenses attached, and never knew I was schlepping anything with me.

There are many other sling straps, and while they are good for less than 1/2 the money the OPTECH stuff is far better to me.

Edited to add - The beauty of OPTECH products is that they are completely and totally modular. You can have one sling and one neck strap and buy connectors and carry any camera you own with you!

Regards,

Tim Murphy :)
 
If you want straps that will NEVER, EVER slip off your shoulders, do as I have been preaching for the last ten or fifteen years: Velcro on the straps of your choice and on the epaulettes of whatever you wear while working.
I have it on my shooting vest and on a tee-shirt that I wear in the summer when I want to go really light. Works like a champ, and if a strap attachment ever fails, the camera will simply dangle on the remaining ends of the strap until you can grab it.
I've schlepped around a Nikon F2AS with motor and battery pack plus a Nikkor 300 2.8 and teleconverter on a monopod (about 11 lbs of rig) on one shoulder without a problem.
Robert
 
To be honest, when I had the privilege to document a wedding, when using digital full time, I didn't use any camera straps. I tried but, for me, I quickly learned that they were an annoyance, getting in the way, caught my tie a few times, missed a few emotional moments during the time to get the camera to my eye, couldn't switch from one camera to another fast. Don't have straps for any of my Leica cameras.

For me, I find it easier to operate and check things out without a camera strap.

I used a tripod a fair amount, formals, reception dance photographs. Plus a camera in hand even during those times!

None of my associate photographers used a camera strap.

At any rate, my thoughts.
 
haring said:
I am a wedding photographer. After a long day of shooting a wedding I am just so tired of having my cameras on straps around my neck.

I saw some people use camera straps around the shoulder which puts the weight on the shoulder rather than the neck area....

Do you use them? Which one would you recommend? How about HoldFast camera straps?

Thanks so much!
Click to expand...

(I have never shot a wedding - so take what I say with a large helping of salt)

How many and which cameras are around your neck? My feeling is that if your neck is hurting due to the weight, then transferring that to your shoulder will just hurt your shoulder and probably throw your back out of alignment.
Maybe you just need straps with wider padding to distribute the load more? Or if you only have 1-2 cameras try going strapless and putting the one not in use in an open bag across your shoulder. But again now you just have it all on one shoulder.
Of course you really need an assistant who just hands you the right camera at the right time so you don't have to carry anything :)
 
I don't shoot weddings, but the wedding shooters I know all use dual harnesses, it keeps the bodies secure and spreads the weight.

It's specifically designed for the task, and if I was going into wedding shooting, I wouldn't hesitate, even if I'm not really a fan visually.
 
I recently had the chance to see the holdfast system at PhotoPlus and it seemed a bit over engineered and but heavy. Didn't actually try it on though.

I don't shoot weddings, but I've done full days out in a city walking, and I found that even a messenger bag with a bottle of water, DSLR, one lens, and a few other small things can really put a lot of weight on just one shoulder. I prefer not to carry a backpack, but weight distribution amongst both shoulders really makes more sense.
 
Carry lighter weight equipment and do strengthening exercises for your upper body.

That's not a snarky comment...it's the voice of experience.

I carried cameras and a bag of gear daily for several years. I don't recall it ever causing me any discomfort at the time, however, years later I developed arthritis in my neck, back and shoulders. I've had to have cervical discectomy and fusion surgery, physical therapy for my back and I take prescription pain medication more often than I like. If you are feeling discomfort right now, it's likely only going to lead to more discomfort down the road. Magic straps only redistribute the weight but the weight is still there. It's best to build up the muscles that support the weight and try to lower the weight itself.
 
For a neck or shoulder strap, the Optech is hard to beat. I've used them since they came on the market years ago. For events, I prefer the Spiderpro belt and clip. I much preferred the weight of a couple of 1D Mk IV's hanging from my waist than hanging on my shoulders for 10 or 12 hours.
 
Dogman said:
Carry lighter weight equipment and do strengthening exercises for your upper body.

That's not a snarky comment...it's the voice of experience.

I carried cameras and a bag of gear daily for several years. I don't recall it ever causing me any discomfort at the time, however, years later I developed arthritis in my neck, back and shoulders. I've had to have cervical discectomy and fusion surgery, physical therapy for my back and I take prescription pain medication more often than I like. If you are feeling discomfort right now, it's likely only going to lead to more discomfort down the road. Magic straps only redistribute the weight but the weight is still there. It's best to build up the muscles that support the weight and try to lower the weight itself.
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Thanks soooo much! We tend to think about the latest gear we are going to buy buy not thinking about what you just described above. I will go for a run today for sure. Do you do specific upper body exercises? Thanks!
 
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