best way to carry camera while hiking the city and mountain trails (Page 3): I have used and own all of the above mentioned and now have a Peak Design that I carry on my waist with at...

ronz Loc: Florida

I have used and own all of the above mentioned and now have a Peak Design that I carry on my waist with at least 2 lenses. It takes all the weight off your shoulders and puts it on your waist. Great system and found many other pros use the same system because of the ease of access.

donb17

boberic wrote:

I use an Op Tech Shoulder sling. very comfortabe for getting the weight off the neck.

I liken the OpTech sling for my Canon DSLR with 18-300mm lens. Easy and comfortable to carry. For short trips, however, I just use the Canon strip that came with the DSLR.
T

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

home brewer wrote:

I just got back from a vacation and need a better way to carry my D500 with the 18 to 300 mm lens. The neck strap is not comfortable and walking around holding the camera all day got tiresome.
I want the camera handy at all times. Except when the trails get steep or slippery.

I use a sling strap (Black Rapid) in the street, and a Cotton Carrier while hiking. Both allow for easy access to the camera, but the Cotton Carrier attaches the camera to the harness more securely and without any movement. I tried using a sling strap and ended up gettting bruises on my hip.

bullethole

+1 for the cotton carrier system. I recently shot a charity run and it was great to be able to zip around on my scooter to various vantage points without worrying about the camera and 600mm lenses bouncing around on a sling. It also makes carrying the rig effortless. It looks a bit dorky, but I am more interested in function over form

bamfordr Loc: Campbell CA

I've enjoyed my http://store.lowepro.com/toploader-pro-75-aw-ii. I shoot wildlife so relatively quick access is important - with little or no noise - so zipper and Velcro closures are not good options. I wanted a sling bag to distribute the weight.

I'm not comfortable carrying my camera exposed on a sling, so I wanted a bag that closed with a quick release buckle and that could hold my Canon 7D with a 100-400 zoom attached. The toploader pro also has attachment points that let me carry my Canon 17-40. The 100-400 nests in its hood. Batteries, filters, and CF cards fit in the the various pouches.

When I bought the bag, I was able to bring my kit into a camera store (now closed) with a large floor stock of bags and find the best fit.

Jim Bob

I don't like straps that utilize the tripod socket and render it useless.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Jim Bob wrote:

I don't like straps that utilize the tripod socket and render it useless.

For once I agree with you...but that is also why I use a camera plate. My RRS plate attaches to the tripod hole, but has a full length arca-swiss groove and two mounting slots on the end of it for my Peak Design anchor links to attach to.

ginowino Loc: Conyers, GA

I use Upstrap but the key to comfortable carry is to place a sheepskin seat belt cover over the rubber part. Ugly, but comfortable. It breathes and is washable. Check it out at https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Matching-Sheepskin-Cover-LIGHT/dp/B007VF8FHC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1496410997&sr=8-5&keywords=sheepskin+seat+belt+covers.

Kissel vonKeister Loc: Georgia

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

Black Rapid's shoulder slings. Carrying the camera over one shoulder and positioning it at waist level makes the grip easily accessible and readily available. I agree that the over the neck, camera on your chest is completely uncomfortable.

I agree but you need to get used to the blackrapid by adjusting the length and stops to a comfortable mode. Once you do you won't want anything else

Jim Bob

Cdouthitt wrote:

For once I agree with you...but that is also why I use a camera plate. My RRS plate attaches to the tripod hole, but has a full length arca-swiss groove and two mounting slots on the end of it for my Peak Design anchor links to attach to.

Good suggestion despite the chagrin you must experience in agreeing with me.

PH CIB

Cotton Carrier or Newswear,,,,both with camera and lens secure on chest

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Jim Bob wrote:

Good suggestion despite the chagrin you must experience in agreeing with me.

I was going to respond..."It renders it useless"

just like you...

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

home brewer wrote:

I just got back from a vacation and need a better way to carry my D500 with the 18 to 300 mm lens. The neck strap is not comfortable and walking around holding the camera all day got tiresome.
I want the camera handy at all times. Except when the trails get steep or slippery.

I just have to say it, "carefully!" Having said that, you might try using a bag that either goes around your waist or a sling bag over your shoulder and head. I have both of these. I can leave the waist bag open with my camera sitting in it when on level ground, or zip it on rockier ground. The sling bag, though, will pop forward when hiking; you could, I suppose, get creative at strapping it down somehow. I've even used the waist bag to put one camera in, then set the second camera on top as I walked around, thus having both cameras handy. I also have a Field and Stream waist belt that works great but would be small with a lens larger than 200 mm. There just does not seem to be the perfect bag! Try the Domke web site, among others.

saintsrest44

But those Peak Design clips don't "render it useless". I use a plate on the lens ring for my 200-500 zoom when I mount to a tripod or monopod and the rig is better balanced and just as secure if the ring is properly attached. If I want to attach a different lens/camera rig with no ring it takes about 20 seconds to remove the plate or the clip which is annoying but does not make it useless. If that extra time is the issue, you'd be better off carrying the camera on the tripod. I know that statement is probably causing some rolling of the eyes, but really, if you are worrying about mounting on a tripod its gonna take time anyway. What's an extra few seconds in a process that probably isn't meant for rapid response shooting? That said, I've heard from a not so reliable source that Peak Design is working on a solution to this problem.

JimBart Loc: Western Michigan

I use a guitar strap and adjust to my lengths. Nothing fancy but it works