Suggestions please on what to use instead of the Canon neck strap.

Since I have started photography two years ago, I have been using the standard Canon neck strap. Over the past summer, I noticed I wasn't able to walk as far on hikes as I used to with the 100-400mm hanging from my neck (and sometimes a bag on my back loaded with gear). I also noticed I wasn't standing properly and my lower back was curving in more with hips forward to balance and that is where the pain was slowly starting. Over the last couple months it had gotten progressively worse, I could barely make it through cooking dinner. I could only stand for about an hour every day before lower back pain started. I bit the bullet and endured ...and still went on my nature hike adventures! Well, now ...I am in never ending severe pain! I lost track of how many ibuprofens I've had today!

I'm sure the 100-400mm with the neck strap isn't completely to blame. I could see someone getting neck or shoulder pain but lower back pain like this!? My desk chair at home isn't as good as the one I used to have at my old job ...I'd rather blame it on that!

Anyway, could someone please recommend something that I should be using instead that isn't expensive that might help. I'm not ready to admit that I can't physically do this anymore! Maybe I'll hang it up for awhile until things improve and use something else when spring comes.

Thanks much!

Denise

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...era_Strap.html

Black Rapid it is the way to go.
http://www.blackrapid.com/

They also make versions just for women. Go watch some of the videos on the site, very informative.

For the pain and back problems, I would recommend a doctor.

BlackRapid, definitely.

Thank you! I'll take a look at them.

I'll put the cat amongst the pigeons and say Nex7. 24Mp adapter for Canon lenses. There are some very good images on Flickr & FM.

Denise to give you some more info, I bought mine a few months back because I got tired of the pull on my neck from the camera strap like you described. The blackrapid will move the weight more to your shoulder and because it carries so low it feels much ..MUCH better. A few weeks back I went to the Zoo on Saturday and Sunday, I carried my 300mm F2.8L and 1D IV on the blackrapid for hours on end. It was not much effort at all compared to the old neck strap.

If your not sure, and you can find a local camera shop that has one, try it out. Only thing that might cost you a bit is how you attach it to your camera, I bought another Wimberley clamp to attach mine to the camera. The clamp was more than the strap.

+1 to black rapid. I've had the old rs-4 for a while and cant imagine life without it.

I hate neck straps but sometimes I just have to use one. http://optechusa.com/ has one that is very soft and comfortable.

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Originally Posted by HDNitehawk

Only thing that might cost you a bit is how you attach it to your camera, I bought another Wimberley clamp to attach mine to the camera. The clamp was more than the strap.

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Heck, I am used to the trail of add-ons that are needed for one item ...isn't that the way it always goes, LOL!

Black rapid + 10000.

I just spent nearly 6 weeks travelling through Europe with my 5D2 (with grip) and lenses as heavy as the 70-200mm f/2.8 II hanging off it and I was completely comfortable the whole time.

Just remember though - if you unscrew the strap's mount from your camera plate, make sure you do it up properly. I made the mistake of only putting a couple of turns on the thread of the screw (obviously not paying attention to what I was doing) which resulted in a horrible thud and a broken Sigma 85mm f/1.4. Believe me, you don't want to hear that sound, nor have to buy replacement lenses in Berlin ($$$$$$!!!!).

I love my BlackRapid and like others I use it to carry my 70-200 2.8, and it does so with ease, it's very comfortable.

I got the Black Rapid RS-Sport for Christmas. I don't use the BRAD under-arm attachment much, but it's worth it to have that option. love that it's quite narrow and unobtrusive.

Also means I can easily remove the strap and have a camera that i can whip out of a back quickly without tangling on anything.

Will never put a neck strap on the camera again.

Only possible problem, as mentioned is what to do if you use tripods a lot.

I also use the BR Sport. I got mine over a year ago and haven't looked back. Even considering I have to unscrew the strap and put the tripod plate back on whenever I want to use it.. it's really a non-issue for me considering the massive benefits of having one.

Another vote for Black Rapid here. Very comfortable, works well under a backpack (put the Black Rapid on first.), and much easier on the neck.

The longest/heaviest lens I have is only a 24-105, but even that is a bit uncomfortable on the neck.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HDNitehawk

Only thing that might cost you a bit is how you attach it to your camera, I bought another Wimberley clamp to attach mine to the camera. The clamp was more than the strap.

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Denise, IIRC you have Arca-Swiss type plates on your camera and probably your 100-400?

My solution was to attach the FastenR-3 (the Blackrapid lug that threads into a tripod socket) into a Kirk 1" clamp (QRC-1, $40 from B&H), semi-permanently with a little Loctite Blue 242 on the threads. It's smaller than the Wimberley clamp (presumably C-12) that Rick mentions, but quite secure. That makes it very easy for me to move the strap from camera to lens or remove it for tripod use.

Lots of details (probably more than you want!) here in this post.

--John

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

Heck, I am used to the trail of add-ons that are needed for one item ...isn't that the way it always goes, LOL!

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It never ends....

Following up on what John said, and adding the $40 clamp to the $59 Black Rapid strap will take care of your 100-400mm. I remember when you offered your 100-400mm for sale that you already have the Wimberley clamp on the bottom. $99 is cheaper than a Doctor visit for your back.

When I bought the black rapid I took that opportunity to standardize all of my clamps.
I had a mix bag of screw in clamps, and Arca-Swiss. Using the clamp on the Black Rapid created a problem, when I wanted to use the camera with a short lens I had to unscrew the clamp. What I did for my camera body so it would be standardized and I would have a solid support on the camera body is I mounted this on the camera body. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...k_Release.html

Now when I mount to the tripod, strap or monopod all of my connections are Arca-Swiss type and not screw type. The Black Rapid I leave the clamp on dedicated to just it. No doubt there are cheaper ways, perhaps just getting an extra screw connection from Black Rapid so you do not have to remove the clamp from the screw. I went this way to keep it all standard.

Good Luck Denise

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HDNitehawk

Now when I mount to the tripod, strap or monopod all of my connections are Arca-Swiss type and not screw type. The Black Rapid I leave the clamp on dedicated to just it. No doubt there are cheaper ways, perhaps just getting an extra screw connection from Black Rapid so you do not have to remove the clamp from the screw. I went this way to keep it all standard.

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Ditto. I've got the same P-5 plate you link on the bottom of my 5DII, P-20 plates on my tripod collars, and Wimberley C-12 clamps on my tripod and monopod heads. The only place I don't have an AS-type connection is on my 7D - it's not a big deal, as I almost always use the 100-400mm on that body, and my plan was to get a Kirk/RRS L-bracket for the 1D X, then transfer the P-5 plate to the 7D when I sell the 5DII.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

Denise, IIRC you have Arca-Swiss type plates on your camera and probably your 100-400?

My solution was to attach the FastenR-3 (the Blackrapid lug that threads into a tripod socket) into a Kirk 1" clamp (QRC-1, $40 from B&H), semi-permanently with a little Loctite Blue 242 on the threads. It's smaller than the Wimberley clamp (presumably C-12) that Rick mentions, but quite secure. That makes it very easy for me to move the strap from camera to lens or remove it for tripod use.

Lots of details (probably more than you want!) here in this post.

--John

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Yes, John you are correct and wow, lots to look at and consider! I guess more of "this and that" goes into having a correct set-up than I had thought would!

I own the black rapid sport RS. It is such a good strap for carrying my camera around. My biggest beef with it is when I attach my 15-85 lens to whichever body I'm using, it hangs real weird with the lens down. I'm always afraid I'm going to swing around a leg in a trail and catch a tree with it. It is also not very conducive to using a tripod. I would rather not have to buy a separate plate to attache a tripod mount to as well as the strap ring. Recently I've found an item called the Peak Design Capture Camera Clip System. It is a pretty cool looking clip that you can clamp to a backpack strap, a belt strap or whatever. The attach plate that mounts to the camera that clips into the clamp is also an Arca classic plate. I recommend giving it a look before you make a decision. I'm probably about two more nights of sleeping on it before I get one. Here's the website.

peakdesignltd.com/

Thanks! I had never heard of Peak Design, I will most definitely have to take a look! I am just hoping to have one in place before I start doing alot of hiking again come spring.

I like the idea of it especially for hiking cause you can put it on your backpack shoulder strap. It makes it very close by, and well supported. It also lessens the risk of it swinging around and catching rocks or trees or anything crazy. Be sure to check out the couple of videos on the website. In my opinion it just looks like a good idea.

Get a sling-style strap (BlackRapid isn't the only one out there) was a revelation. I'll never go back to a neck strap. I use a modified OP/TECH sling with BlackRapid connecting hardware.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HDNitehawk

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...era_Strap.html

Black Rapid it is the way to go.
http://www.blackrapid.com/

They also make versions just for women. Go watch some of the videos on the site, very informative.

For the pain and back problems, I would recommend a doctor.

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Yeah Denise, what HD said, I have a black rapid and love it. Easy to carry, comfortable with a 7d and 100-400, Easy to grab and shoot (even faster than a neck strap) The female version is designed to accomodate your female parts comfortably ---or so they say?

I don't recall the brand name unfortunately, but I do recall seeing padded pouches, designed for camera bodies with lenses attached, that mount to a waist belt. For improved comfort, and carrying capacity, there were wide padded shoulder straps to hold up the load. As a bonus, they will also carry water bottles for those hikes. Maybe someone else out there will know who makes it.?

The PeakDesign looks really nice but I don't always were a belt and I don't think clipping my 7d & 100-400mm on the front strap of my bag when I'm wearing it would be very comfortable.

I haven't watched the video's yet but the woman's strap looks nice. This may be a dumb question but couldn't I just clip it to the mounting plate that I have attached to my Kirk L-bracket that came with my Manfrotto 234RC Monopod head without having to buy anything else?

On your 100-400mm you will want to attach it to the Wimberley plate on the lens, that way it will balance for you. You would only attach it to the camera when you have a short lens with no tripod leg. I looked that plate up, I do not see how it would help in that situation. But then I do not own it and maybe there is something I don't see.

Edit: The screw on the BlackRapid will screw directly in to your camera, if you choose to not permanently attach a quick release to it. One of the things I mentioned is that it may be cheaper to buy a second screw from BlackRapid if you choose not to have a plate. The clip that holds the screw on the strap will allow you to take the clamp on and off without unhooking the clamp from the screw. (remember that John recommended using loctite to keep the screw tight on the clamp, so you wouldn't want to be taking that screw on and off)

I finally remembered. ThinkTank offers a line of holsters, belts, and harnesses. Using them would allow transferring a lot of the load to the hips in much the same way that backpacks designed for comfort, and longterm health, of the user have a waistbelt to reduce the load on the shoulders and back. The holster allows easy access to cameras with lenses mounted while providing protection for the gear.

Jeff

I am about to order the BosStrap shoulder sling strap. Their marketing kind of spoke to me, as did the cheaper price, and if anything it looks more solid than the big name brand, which I did try out at the store.

It does NOT screw into your tripod screw on the bottom of the camera. It attaches to the left strap loop on your camera instead, keeping the tripod socket open for, well, tripods.

Also some reviewers on the bigger name shoulder slings said that that bottom screw can come loose from the tripod hole, because you have a metal to metal screw connection and the camera is hanging and swinging from that connection. You can actually drop the camera, or else (according to one reviewer) you may be constantly worrying and fiddling and checking to see if it needs re-tightening yet.

I see they have developed brackets or adapters you can add to address this, but, hey, that is even more money.

I just picked up the Optech sling strap adapter. It just came in the mail today but so far so good.

Dave

My Blackrapid has never worked loose. There's a rubber washer around the screw which once tightened provides much more than enough friction to stop unwanted rotation. Get a BR viable quick release plate and the FastenR-T1 and you're set as far as tripods go.

Also the tripod mount is designed for holding the full weight of the camera upside down on tripods which support that function, I'm not entirely sure the neck strap loop would be.

Also you have to consider the cliplocks on BR stuff allowing you to stop the camera swinging about.

I didn't like the look of the quick release clip on the OpTech, I'd hate for someone to be able to unclip that and my camera to drop.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Scott Stephen

I am about to order the BosStrap shoulder sling strap. Their marketing kind of spoke to me, as did the cheaper price, and if anything it looks more solid than the big name brand, which I did try out at the store.

It does NOT screw into your tripod screw on the bottom of the camera. It attaches to the left strap loop on your camera instead, keeping the tripod socket open for, well, tripods.

Also some reviewers on the bigger name shoulder slings said that that bottom screw can come loose from the tripod hole, because you have a metal to metal screw connection and the camera is hanging and swinging from that connection. You can actually drop the camera, or else (according to one reviewer) you may be constantly worrying and fiddling and checking to see if it needs re-tightening yet.

I see they have developed brackets or adapters you can add to address this, but, hey, that is even more money.

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Alot of good suggestions here! Scott, please leave a review here of what you think of this once you have had a chance to use it for awhile.

Thanks and I hope it works out for you!

Denise

Quote:

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My Blackrapid has never worked loose. There's a rubber washer around the screw which once tightened provides much more than enough friction to stop unwanted rotation.

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I agree, As I said before, I have had my 7D and 100-400 hanging from the black rapid strap during football games and on several walks through the woods and mountains, zoo etc----It has never loosened. The rubber washer works well to prevent it from working itself loose. As far as intereference with tripod mounting.....well, It takes me much longer to set-up a tripod than it does to spin the D ring off. The extra 10 second it takes to dismount the the BR strap from the camera plate just doesn't seem to matter much to me. If I do need that 10 seconds, then the tripod is much more of a problem than the strap.

I got the black rapid Dr-2 double strap

I love it.

I have waffled since my earlier post favoring BosStrap. Here is one that looks quite interesting, and there is a ton of chatter on this in Fred Miranda and POTN (I just figured out what that acronym is-duh). Check out the "Cinch" here: http://luma-labs.com/products/cinch

This has TWO attachments, one on the left camera strap post and the other is a tripod mount (on body or on lens foot). The camera is thus forced to press flat against your body instead of twisting and swinging on just one attachment point.

And the "cinch" mechanism seems like very good reasoning. It lets you quickly shorten it up for walking so the camera does not swing or dangle. Then to take a shot, you lengthen it with another tug on the strap.

Here is my favorite and its made in the USA. Very soft and comfortable around the neck.

Mark - That looks as light as air:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by conropl

Mark - That looks as light as air:rolleyes:

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oops:p
http://optechusa.com/classic-strap.h...+N%2F+Mark+III

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Originally Posted by clemmb

oops:p
http://optechusa.com/classic-strap.h...+N%2F+Mark+III

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I have something very simular. It is a 100 times better than the canon strap. I like the soft neoprean and it has a lot of stretch to it. I have always worried about accidently releasing the clips and dropping the camera, but I also like being able to disconnect it to get it out of the way when the camera is on the tripod.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by clemmb

oops:p
http://optechusa.com/classic-strap.h...+N%2F+Mark+III

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I'm using a similar one, the classic strap + the sling strap adapter and liking it so far.

Dave

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Scott Stephen

I have waffled since my earlier post favoring BosStrap. Here is one that looks quite interesting, and there is a ton of chatter on this in Fred Miranda and POTN (I just figured out what that acronym is-duh). Check out the "Cinch" here: http://luma-labs.com/products/cinch

This has TWO attachments, one on the left camera strap post and the other is a tripod mount (on body or on lens foot). The camera is thus forced to press flat against your body instead of twisting and swinging on just one attachment point.

And the "cinch" mechanism seems like very good reasoning. It lets you quickly shorten it up for walking so the camera does not swing or dangle. Then to take a shot, you lengthen it with another tug on the strap.

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OK-I just ordered this Cinch strap. http://luma-labs.com/products/cinch
I HATE it when the camera is banging into my chest or swinging around dangerously. Assuming the "snug-up" and "un-snug" action is as easy as the two outdoors-y guys in the product demo video make it seem, this is exactly what I was looking for.