Using a Cotton Carrier system with RRS L bracket? I am seriously considering purchasing a Cotton Carrier 2 camera vest system, but have a concern. Both of my camera bodies are fitted...

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

I am seriously considering purchasing a Cotton Carrier 2 camera vest system, but have a concern. Both of my camera bodies are fitted with RRS L brackets. I am wondering if the mounting hardware used for the carrier will create a problem with the L bracket's functionality. This is an important concern in that I shoot off of my tripod a good amount of the time.

Has anyone here used a Cotton Carrier, preferably with an accompanying L bracket? If so, we're there any problems from your perspective? What solutions did you find to said problems, if any?

Thanks in advance

Two camera vest system
Two camera vest system...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Photographer Jim wrote:

I am seriously considering purchasing a Cotton Car... (show quote)

If I went out shooting in a crowded area buck naked, I would attract less attention than the guy in that image. It might be efficient, but just look at him.

I haven't used the Cotton Carrier, which I hear is excellent, but I just couldn't resist commenting on that guy.

Swayne

I agree. Id rather carry my cameras in a brown bag than look like that.

mainshipper Loc: Hernando, Florida

I use the Cotton Carrier and love it. I don't use an L bracket, however, and can see where that could be an issue. I use the Cotton Carrier tripod plate which adapts an arca swiss style mount directly or you can attach another style mount (Manfrotto, etc.) to that plate as well. Not knowing what your L bracket looks like, I would assume that it has a tap for attachments on the bottom and that there might be enough of the L bracket left to attach the Cotton Carrier lug to it and still be able to mount it to a tripod. I have a friend with a Black Rapid strap on an L bracket and he must remove the BR mounting lug each time he uses a tripod which I think would be a pain.

I would suggest that you contact Cotton Carrier for some advice using their system with L brackets.

steffro1 Loc: Murrells Inlet, SC

I have a Cotton Carrier and I use it when I am going to be out for a long time. It takes the strain off my lower back. If you have a tripod mount on your lens you can attach the CC mount on the camera. That hip thing is weird. I've seen guys with two of them and it reminded me of a gunslinger! lol!!

mainshipper Loc: Hernando, Florida

steffro1 wrote:

I have a Cotton Carrier and I use it when I am going to be out for a long time. It takes the strain off my lower back. If you have a tripod mount on your lens you can attach the CC mount on the camera. That hip thing is weird. I've seen guys with two of them and it reminded me of a gunslinger! lol!!

I have used the hip carrier with a smaller setup (DSLR and <100MM lens) and the chest carrier for the big telephoto.

Antarctica and Cotton Carrier
Antarctica and Cotton Carrier...

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

jerryc41 wrote:

If I went out shooting in a crowded area buck naked, I would attract less attention than the guy in that image. It might be efficient, but just look at him.

I haven't used the Cotton Carrier, which I hear is excellent, but I just couldn't resist commenting on that guy.

Jerry, My primary use will be for hiking into areas where I want both cameras but don't need or want my large camera backpack, and wouldn't want to put a pack on and off or down on the ground (think sand dunes, wetlands, etc) to get access to the other body. Most of the time, the only others I see in those environments are rabbits, squirrels, and the occasional rattlesnake, none of which have much of a fashion sense to begin with. :D

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

Swayne wrote:

I agree. Id rather carry my cameras in a brown bag than look like that.

That would just confuse me. Most of the time I am already carrying my " refreshments" in a brown paper bag as it is! Having my camera in a paper bag as well would greatly increase the chances of my chipping a tooth! :D

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

actigner wrote:

I use the Cotton Carrier and love it. I don't use ... (show quote)

Thanks, actigner. This is helpful. My L brackets are both Arca Swiss, so it sounds as if their tripod plate will work ok with my clamp. And yes, there are some taps on the L bracket which would allow another plate to be fastened to it. So far things sound encouraging. I certainly want to avoid the situation you describe with your friend. I guess the big question now is can the plate be mounted such that the mounting lug's position does not get in the way when on the tripod, but still allows the camera to fasten into the CC holder such that it hangs in the proper position.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

steffro1 wrote:

I have a Cotton Carrier and I use it when I am going to be out for a long time. It takes the strain off my lower back. If you have a tripod mount on your lens you can attach the CC mount on the camera. That hip thing is weird. I've seen guys with two of them and it reminded me of a gunslinger! lol!!

That would certainly work when I have my 100-400 on the second body, however I am mostly concerned over how the system will work if I have an L bracket on camera body. I don't want to have to constantly remove and reinstall either the CC mount or the L bracket from either camera body, especially out in the field.

I am glad to hear that you like the carrier. Concern for my back is one of the reasons I first started to consider it.

Thanks for the input. :-D

mainshipper Loc: Hernando, Florida

Photographer Jim wrote:

Thanks, actigner. This is helpful. My L brackets a... (show quote)

You may have enough room left after you mount the CC lug to still attach to lower part of the L bracket. The lug is about the diameter of a quarter.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

actigner wrote:

You may have enough room left after you mount the CC lug to still attach to lower part of the L bracket. The lug is about the diameter of a quarter.

Also encouraging. The L bracket's tripod mounting grooves run the length of the camera bottom. The CC lug may not cause a major problem then, although it would mean mounting the camera off center over the ball head. Thanks.

mainshipper Loc: Hernando, Florida

Photographer Jim wrote:

Also encouraging. The L bracket's tripod mounting grooves run the length of the camera bottom. The CC lug may not cause a major problem then, although it would mean mounting the camera off center over the ball head. Thanks.

Even with the CC tripod plate you are still mounting off center since it sandwiches the lug and the plate to the camera and the lug still follows the centerline. You also might run into an issue with balance if the lug is too far off center. So far I have not found an issue with the off center tripod mounting.

GC-FineArt Loc: WDC

Photographer Jim wrote:

Also encouraging. The L bracket's tripod mounting grooves run the length of the camera bottom. The CC lug may not cause a major problem then, although it would mean mounting the camera off center over the ball head. Thanks.

Dont know if this adds anything; but judging from your post, I guess the RRS has a suitable screw hole like the Sunwayfoto L-bracket pictured below, so, yeah, its possible to attach the Camera Hub (red arrow) off center and this, in turn, allows you to slide the plate into the Arca clamp on the tripod head.

With this arrangement, however, the camera is going to hang askew when you fasten it to the vest (second photo below). If that is a problem, you could use a short strap of some sort, with one end attached to the camera lug and the other to the tether ring provided on the vest, to bring it back to a vertical hanging position.