How to carry camera (Page 3): Cotton Carrier. Gets my personal first choice. (also my second, third and fourth choice.)...

vertigo

Cotton Carrier. Gets my personal first choice. (also my second, third and fourth choice.)

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

I use several types of straps but one thing for sure, a neck strap will not slip off if placed around the neck. I agree that to shorten them helps to protect them but bottom line, awareness has to be 90% of it.

anotherview Loc: California

From experience, I found that a sling strap worn diagonally keeps the camera well under control.

I carry a camera bag also on a sling strap which bag just fits the camera. I put the camera in the bag when not using the camera or to protect it when on my short hikes. I've trained myself to extract the camera from the bag in seconds.

Note that the bag contains a few accessories: Lens cleaning fluid, dust brush, microfiber cloth, spare battery and card, a circular polarizer filter, and not much else. I try to keep my gear simple.

Check out sling straps here: https://www.optechusa.com/straps.html

lwerthe1mer wrote:

Having just incurred substantial damage to a lens when my camera strap slipped off my shoulder, causing the lens to hit the ground, I am considering alternative, more secure ways to carry my cameras. Neck straps and sling straps allow the camera to swing and move uncontrollably.

What do you think about a holster that straps around the waist? Any experience or thoughts?

Mr Bill 2011 Loc: southern Indiana

I usually carry my camera with the strap on my shoulder; but I also normally just loosely wrap my hand around the strap near the camera to cut down on the camera bouncing around while I walk. Once I had an old camera strap break while I was carrying it that way, and I was instantly able to catch the camera strap before the camera came close to the ground.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Architect1776 wrote:

All different advice. br I use a strap that came ... (show quote)

Ditto, except mine is a plain, non-descript denim strap with clips (D-rings on the camera).
(It's only about 45 years old.)

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

I own and occasionally use some Cotton Carrier straps and vest. For the most part, I don't think its' worth the trouble, though they work well.
The camera manufacturer's straps work fine for me. I put the strap over my head and behind the right shoulder, under the right arm. I keep the strap near it's maximum length, and slide the camera very slightly to the left side. Experiment a little, and you will find a spot from which you can swing the camera to your eye quickly, without interference from the strap.
I've been doing this for as long as I can remember when hiking or moving around in woods or brush. It even works on steep slopes in the mountains, when I need both hands to keep me upright! It's become so automatic that I don't even think about it.
Of course there are special situations where to keep camera in our hands, and half way up, for quick use.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

lwerthe1mer wrote:

My concern is that the camera on a neck or shoulder strap can swing around and can slip off the shoulder if the strap is on the shoulder. I have banged cameras many times on tables, rocks, etc. I’ve been lucky so far but want to prevent unexpected movements in the future.

I use a Peak Designs Sling strap. When I’m hiking I wear it cross body so that it hangs just above the front of my hip. It’s much more secure than on one shoulder and doesn’t bounce around like around the neck.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

SuperflyTNT wrote:

I use a Peak Designs Sling strap. When I’m hiking I wear it cross body so that it hangs just above the front of my hip. It’s much more secure than on one shoulder and doesn’t bounce around like around the neck.

When I carry cross shoulder, the strap is non-slip, so I just move the camera higher up on my chest. Little or no bouncing around.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

anotherview wrote:

From experience, I found that a sling strap worn d... (show quote)

Ditto: https://www.optechusa.com/straps.html

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I use a sling hung on my left shoulder, strap across body and camera at my right hand. Works great.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Mine is either around my neck or across my chest. As soon as I pick it up, the strap goes on me. When carrying two cameras, I use a dual strap from OP/TECH.

Sergey

For me it depends what I am doing.
In cities I cary it in a Think Tank shoulder bag. It's a messenger style bag with padding and extra pockets. When I take the camera out of the bag I immediately put it around my neck on a Peak Design Slide strap. If I decide to cary it on the strap for a while then I put it cross shoulder.
If I am on strictly landscape photography "mission" (I am not professional, so it's just for pleasure) I cary it in F-Stop 40 liters backpack. Then of course it takes time to take the camera out from the pack but I usually am not in a hurry - need to setup a tripod anyway.
If I am hiking or backpacking the camera is either in my backpack closer to the top or if I expect that I will need to get it ready quickly then I can attach it to the shoulder strap using Peak Design clip. But with the backpack full of backpacking gear sometimes the clip hurts my shoulder.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

lwerthe1mer wrote:

Having just incurred substantial damage to a lens when my camera strap slipped off my shoulder, causing the lens to hit the ground, I am considering alternative, more secure ways to carry my cameras. Neck straps and sling straps allow the camera to swing and move uncontrollably.

What do you think about a holster that straps around the waist? Any experience or thoughts?

I have one I've used since way back, film into digital, big enough (long enough inside) for a full frame or DX body and a wide to tele (18-200/300) 70-200, or shorter/prime etc. Belt loops, very secure and damn handy for most situations, pop snap, lift top and pull out your camera and lens. Not as fast as pulling out your six shooter, but very quick access, never had a fail with it. Since belt looped, you can position anywhere around your waiste perimeter, or even belt it somewhere else on your body, should you so desire...

GySgt Loc: Florida

Check out B & H Photography, I purchased a Spider Professional camera system. You can carry 1 or 2 cameras with lenses. Thake 5 minutes to put the locking device on your camera, that will then lock into the belt system they will not fall out or come out unless you push the release lever and left the cameras out of the holder. They don't swing around and stay in place. It's called a Spider Pro Dual camera system, works great.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I have a Cotton Carrier with the additional holster. I really like the holster. I've never been able to get the carrier itself properly fitted to me, and I find that carrying a big camera at my chest is uncomfortable. Also, I sometimes struggle to get the camera off the carrier. But it does free up my hands for scrambling and the camera(s) are VERY secure. What I mostly do is use the strap, but use it like a sling. That puts the camera on my left hip, it can't slip off my shoulder, and it relieves the strain on my neck.