I have used the original "Nikon" straps that came with my cameras, D40, D3500, D7100 and D600, purchased in that order. Since each one has gotten larger and heavier, including the corresponding lenses, I find my neck starts to really ache after shooting for a couple of hours. I tried going without a strap but get paranoid of dropping and damage. My last purchase of a 80-200 2.8 AF-D New to go on the D600, or even the D7100 convinced me I need to come up with alternative. I do use a tripod alot but love to hike into areas for that special look. Would like to hear opinions about shoulder straps or hand straps. I do use a quality back pack but would love to be camera ready to get that perfect shot of the bear that runs me down. Thank you.

My wife and I are planning a Hot Air Balloon ride in the spring. It will be a 1 hour ride, either early morning or late afternoon, we are more in favor of late afternoon. Likely gonna bring a Panasonic DMC-LX100 camera.

For the in-flight pictures of the surrounding landscape, while I do plan on using a Circular Polarizing Filter, do you have any suggestions on camera settings? Like,

1) Should I use Aperture Priority and let camera set the shutter speed? The camera goes from F1.7 to F16...so if Aperature Priority is recommended, should it be wide open at F1.7 or closed to F16?...or something in between?
...or
2) Should I use Auto or iA (intelligent Auto) mode let camera decide both Aperture and Shutter?

3) Should I use Auto-ISO or pick a low ISO like ISO-100 since it will be bright I would imagine.

Little photo foray before my exercise class the other day. Got a nice sunrise, and a shot of shadows receeding on the Oxfordshire Plain as the sun climbed above the Chilterns. But my favourite of the morning was this.

Various wisps of mist rolling and falling over The Chiltern Hills at Britwell Salome, Oxfordshire.

Just an aside - I sometimes like the look of an image so much that I'll try and find out more about where it was taken. Would others like to see some sort of location reference, and if so what to use? Here's a lat / long that'll work in Google Maps.

51.62669019893183,-1.023880903458764