Alternative to neck strap?

Whitefiver

Whitefiver

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My wife and I are of sufficient vintage and with adequate joint pain such that carrying a DSLR + reasonable sized lens becomes very painful after about an hour. Our cameras are probably too big for a wrist strap, though I use one very successfully on my smaller IR camera.

My only other thought was a waist strap and quick release mechanism. Please can I ask does anyone have experience of one of these, or have any other suggestions. We both have smaller lighter cameras too, but we would very much like to carry on using our DSLRs.

Many thanks
 
I'm a big fan of "across the body" straps. Examples are Sun Sniper and Black Rapid. There are probably many others too.

But, a note of caution, you need to tighten the bolt which goes into the tripod mount tight, and preferably check it from time to time. Better yet, have an additional length of cord to provide an emergency leash to join the camera to the strap. I have a length of cord about 300mm / 12" passing through one of the conventional camera strap mounts and through the strap and tied in a loop.
 
Thanks, sorry a backpack is even worse than a camera strap (for me anyway), and the across the body design means that the neck/shoulder is still supporting the weight, and so no.
 
Do a search for camera 'bum bag' style. They fit around your waist and can go across your body if you need it to.

I use a Lowepro one, but unfortunately they stopped making it for some reason - they did a large and a small. I use mine sat on my lap as I use a wheelchair, but I'm afraid I've no idea how they'd fare when you're standing. I'd imagine the lighter the camera the better.

Hmmm . . . hang on a mo . . .

Aha! If you don't mind second-hand, there's one on the Evil Bay: Link
 
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Sky said:
Aha! If you don't mind second-hand, there's one on the Evil Bay: Link
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Thanks for that, and I have no issue with s/h items, however, a waist strap is cheaper from the like of Amazon. until you add in the cost of the clip!, of course

I also thought of something like this to attach to my belt?
 
Whitefiver said:
Thanks, sorry a backpack is even worse than a camera strap (for me anyway), and the across the body design means that the neck/shoulder is still supporting the weight, and so no.
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Have you tried a cross body one ? I found across the shoulder much less strain than on the neck
 
Depending on the camera and lens: I have a LowePro "bumbag" type bag that holds my Olympus M43 EM1 plus a modest lens; alternatively the Olympus Messenger bag straps around the waist and also holds an M43 camera and modest lens. I've seen mention of "holster" arrangements too, for camera with lens, obviously on a waist belt, but I've never tried one.
 
I too am also at a certain age (81 yrs old) and decided in my case DSLR were getting too heavy. Not so much the camera but more the weight of the lenses .So made the decision a couple of years ago to ditch all my Nikon gear D810 -D800 and about 6/7 lenses. so I P/X everything with a local retailer to go with a micro four thirds a Panasonic G9 and later on a G9ii

What I will say it is the best move I ever made. what I got in P/X paid for initially the pana G9 with kit lens and a couple of other.
So in reality I can hold still a 100-400mm Micro four thirds lens equal to 200-800 in full frame term steady enough hand held to get the shot .

The combined weight of a Panasonic Lumix G9 or G9 II camera body with a 12–60mm lens ranges from approximately 788 g to 978 g (1.74 lb to 2.16 lb), depending on the specific lens and body version you choose.


he Nikon D810 weighs approximately 2.16 lbs / the 24- 70mm lens approximately 1 lb 1.7 oz = nikon approx 3.9 lb Panasomic 2.6lb. like carrying around an extra bag of sugar

this figures show how much heavier the DSLR camera and lens is. with longer lenses the difference will be considerably more.
may not seem much but on a days outing????

vvv.jpg
taken with the panasonic DC-TZ95 camera


so not only lighter but shot lens = less strain of the wrist/neck.

Have to be honest and was very reluctant to get rid of nikons I owned way back from the D70s days. Having said that it was like coming out of dark ages camera wise.
then as an extra bonus the lens and the camera both have built in image stablisation making the combo the most stable of almost any camera/ A huge bonus as one gets older
Do I regret the change? no way
 
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Whitefiver said:
Thanks, sorry a backpack is even worse than a camera strap (for me anyway), and the across the body design means that the neck/shoulder is still supporting the weight, and so no.
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In that case, what about something along the lines of the Cotton Carrier system? Also some valid points made here by others about moving to a smaller/lighter camera setup
 
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