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Use only one camera lug?
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Jul 18, 2016 20:04:40   #
Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan
 
I find it useful to sometimes use my Optech camera sling around my neck attached to only one camera body lug (although it is designed for two). I especially do this when I know I will be shooting a lot of verticals (Balloons, Concerts, etc.) using up to medium telephotos. Then I don't have to worry about the other part of the strap interfering with my view finder at all.

My question is, How safe is this?

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Jul 18, 2016 20:07:09   #
DaveO Loc: Northeast CT
 
About half...

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Jul 18, 2016 20:18:03   #
Tom2272 Loc: Fresno
 
I have used mine attached to only one lug for a year without issue. The second lug is there to be used when using a battery grip. Check out their web site.

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Jul 18, 2016 20:23:36   #
rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin
 
Lots of photo enthusiasts commonly use a short 'hand strap' attached to one lug without complaint. Depends heavily on how abusive you are with your cameras. And, frequently used (and often criticized) are the popular 'sling' straps that attach to a single point - the tripod hole on the bottom of the camera. Are two (or five) points of attachment better than one? Sure. Do multi-point attached straps get in the way? Of course they do. Depends on what 'feels' safest and works for your shooting style.

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Jul 18, 2016 20:27:55   #
GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan
 
DaveO wrote:
About half...




Good answer!

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Jul 18, 2016 20:52:16   #
jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA
 
I have been using OpTech slings for years and have always used only one connector to attach the camera to the sling.

I balanced the need for convenient camera access vs the security of using both attachments. The convenience won out since I feel the one connector is sufficient for secure hold. If I had felt that the one connector may dislodge, I would use the velcro strap wrapped around the connectors as a fail safe.

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Jul 18, 2016 20:54:29   #
Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska
 
Fotoartist wrote:
I find it useful to sometimes use my Optech camera sling around my neck attached to only one camera body lug (although it is designed for two). I especially do this when I know I will be shooting a lot of verticals (Balloons, Concerts, etc.) using up to medium telephotos. Then I don't have to worry about the other part of the strap interfering with my view finder at all.

My question is, How safe is this?

50 years ago I had one of the two lugs on a SLR break off. Fortunately I caught the camera and it was not damaged. But I've had this neurotic knee jerk reaction to that incident that I have never gotten over: I don't trust those lugs! I use a strap, but will only ever hang a camera around my neck by a strap for moments at a time when it cannot be avoided. I want the camera secured so that any one lug can break without losing a camera. A tight hold on the strap provides that. A good grip on the camera itself does too. I've never used one, but there are double looped straps that should also be safe enough.

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Jul 18, 2016 21:18:40   #
SharpShooter Loc: NorCal
 
Apaflo wrote:
50 years ago I had one of the two lugs on a SLR break off. Fortunately I caught the camera and it was not damaged. But I've had this neurotic knee jerk reaction to that incident that I have never gotten over: I don't trust those lugs! I use a strap, but will only ever hang a camera around my neck by a strap for moments at a time when it cannot be avoided. I want the camera secured so that any one lug can break without losing a camera. A tight hold on the strap provides that. A good grip on the camera itself does too. I've never used one, but there are double looped straps that should also be safe enough.
50 years ago I had one of the two lugs on a SLR br... (show quote)


If you're walking around just taking eye level snapshots(we're snapshots are taken), you're method should be just fine!!
SS

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Jul 18, 2016 21:40:19   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
Fotoartist wrote:
I find it useful to sometimes use my Optech camera sling around my neck attached to only one camera body lug (although it is designed for two). I especially do this when I know I will be shooting a lot of verticals (Balloons, Concerts, etc.) using up to medium telephotos. Then I don't have to worry about the other part of the strap interfering with my view finder at all.

My question is, How safe is this?


It depends entirely on the weight of your camera. Personally I would not do it with my equipment.

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Jul 18, 2016 22:50:59   #
Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska
 
SharpShooter wrote:
If you're walking around just taking eye level snapshots(we're snapshots are taken), you're method should be just fine!!
SS

That doesn't make sense. You didn't read what was said.

I don't like to walk around with a camera hanging from a strap in a way that if one end or the other breaks will allow the camera to drop. Over a shoulder, around a neck, etc etc.

I want a firm grip on that strap, or on the camera itself. Typically I carry a camera hand held, at my side, usually holding the camera itself but occasionally grasping the strap. Hand holding the camera body means that no matter what immediate use might be desired, the camera can be ready in an instant. It doesn't need to be removed, for example, from around one's neck.

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Jul 18, 2016 23:04:05   #
boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander
 
It seems to me that all camera makers make every model with 2 lugs for a reason. It's safer. Every thing can break. It's extremely unlikely that both lugs will break at the same time. Using both lugs is just safer.

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Jul 18, 2016 23:06:24   #
rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA
 
I have yet to hear of a lug breaking off, so I think it is fairly safe. At least with modern cameras. The weakest part will be the strap and strap ring, but a decent strap should withstand the force without problem.

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Jul 19, 2016 05:23:23   #
TucsonCoyote Loc: Tucson AZ
 
From the answers you can see that it all depends if you are a belt or a belt+suspenders type of person !

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Jul 19, 2016 05:27:28   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
Fotoartist wrote:
I find it useful to sometimes use my Optech camera sling around my neck attached to only one camera body lug (although it is designed for two). I especially do this when I know I will be shooting a lot of verticals (Balloons, Concerts, etc.) using up to medium telephotos. Then I don't have to worry about the other part of the strap interfering with my view finder at all.

My question is, How safe is this?


It's not. Twice the stress on a part that is not designed for it, and a failure is pretty catastrophic. It is as catastrophic as if you were using 2 lugs, but half as likely. It's the reason I use the tripod socket, which Nikon considers more than adequate, given that they rebrand the Black Rapid straps with the Nikon logo.

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Jul 19, 2016 06:10:23   #
BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England
 
The BOS strap system uses only one lug. Black Rapid uses the tripod screw hole. Both have been in production for a number of years and if there had been a problem they would probably have gone out of business. I have used both systems along with Peak Design which I currently prefer.
Bud

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