Looking for a magical camera strap

[BloomKitty]

Lately I've been wishing for a "magical" camera strap that may or may not exist. Perhaps someone here might know if it does....

I hate wearing a camera strap around my neck or on one shoulder, so what I would like is to have a strap that I'd wear across my body -- over one shoulder and under the other arm, that would snug the camera up against my chest when it's not in use, so that my arms are free and the camera isn't swinging around willy-nilly and hitting things. And then, when I want to use it, there's an expando-cord of some kind on the ends of the strap that are attached to the camera (sorta like those little stretchy ID badge cords you see some people have, so they can clip the badge to their lapel but pull it out and swipe it across the reader at secure entrances without having to unclip it). That way, I can pull the camera out away from me and take my pictures, and when I'm done, it'll contract back against my chest again, out of my way and not banging on things.

Anyone know if such an animal exists? Or will I have to invent it myself? ;)

-Mary

[DavidW]

I think spring tensioned cords and the like wouldn't work for the considerable weight of a camera - if you could make it, the resulting product would be bulky as well as have potentially very expensive failure modes (if the spring broke and the cord extended to full length, the camera would probably drop into harm's way at considerable speed).

Before giving up, though, check the Op/Tech USA strap products (http://www.optechusa.com/category/second/?CATEGORY_ID=4) - especially the Stabilizer Strap and the Bino/Cam Harness.

If you land up wanting a Pro Loop Strap, the POTN Strap (http://www.procameragear.com/potn/strap2.html) is a Pro Loop Strap with a custom silkscreen.



David

[jrjphoto]

This has to be one of the cutest posts I've ever read. Willy-nilly? I thought I was the only person in the world that still said that. :)

There's some nice items over at LowePro (http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Accessories/Camera_Straps/), including some vests that might be kinda-sorta-but-not-really what you're looking for. Here's some others:

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/ttp_products.html

I suppose I'll ad to this when I find more...

Cheers!

[A01]

This has to be one of the cutest posts I've ever read. Willy-nilly? I thought I was the only person in the world that still said that.

:lol: And look at the username!

I have the same problem as you Mary, my OPTECH strap comes today so ill tell ya how it goes :)

[BloomKitty]

I think spring tensioned cords and the like wouldn't work for the considerable weight of a camera - if you could make it, the resulting product would be bulky as well as have potentially very expensive failure modes (if the spring broke and the cord extended to full length, the camera would probably drop into harm's way at considerable speed).

Before giving up, though, check the Op/Tech USA strap products (http://www.optechusa.com/category/second/?CATEGORY_ID=4) - especially the Stabilizer Strap and the Bino/Cam Harness.

If you land up wanting a Pro Loop Strap, the POTN Strap (http://www.procameragear.com/potn/strap2.html) is a Pro Loop Strap with a custom silkscreen.

David

Yeah - spring-tensioned! That's the phrase I was looking for! I own a Canon PowerShot S3 IS and don't have (or want) extra lenses, so it wouldn't be all that heavy. I couldn't imagine this type of strap for something like an EOS 20D with a long zoom lens attached.

[BloomKitty]

This has to be one of the cutest posts I've ever read. Willy-nilly? I thought I was the only person in the world that still said that. :)

There's some nice items over at LowePro (http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Accessories/Camera_Straps/), including some vests that might be kinda-sorta-but-not-really what you're looking for. Here's some others:

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/ttp_products.html

I suppose I'll ad to this when I find more...

Cheers!

Aw shucks, thanks! ;) And thanks for the links. None are quite what I want, so far, but I'll keep searching. I heard rumor that L.L.Bean carried something like what I described, but, alas, not anymore. I'm actually okay with the strap that came with the camera if I can't find my magical-miracle version. -Mary

[liza]

A friend of mine uses a strap like the one you've described. It's actually made for binoculars and can be purchased at Gander Mountain or probably any big sporting goods chain for that matter.

[BloomKitty]

A friend of mine uses a strap like the one you've described. It's actually made for binoculars and can be purchased at Gander Mountain or probably any big sporting goods chain for that matter.

Hmmm.... That may be what I'm looking for. Was it something like this (http://www.birdbino.com/main/product.asp/catalog_name/Christophers/category_name/UT7S8833UPJW8MUVBR76UXN8P7/product_id/LBS)?

Thanks,

-Mary

[DavidW]

A friend of mine uses a strap like the one you've described. It's actually made for binoculars and can be purchased at Gander Mountain or probably any big sporting goods chain for that matter.
Is that anything like the Op/Tech USA Bino/Cam harness (http://www.optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=4&PRODUCT_SUB_ID=&CATEGORY_ID=4) (that's a link, like various of the words in my original post are)?



David

[BloomKitty]

Is that anything like the Op/Tech USA Bino/Cam harness (http://www.optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=4&PRODUCT_SUB_ID=&CATEGORY_ID=4) (that's a link, like various of the words in my original post are)?

David

Yes, that just might be what I'm looking for. Thanks!

-Mary

[liza]

Yes, that's the one. My friend had one on at the ball game Friday night. It was cool .

[Pinto]

See Bino-Buddy. This product works for exactly what you want. Works with binoculars, cameras and video cameras.
http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0006294710055a.shtml

[BloomKitty]

See Bino-Buddy. This product works for exactly what you want. Works with binoculars, cameras and video cameras.
http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0006294710055a.shtml

That's not bad, but I think I'd rather not have a neck strap. They have a different version (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0027666711764a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=cabala%27s+harness&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=cabala%27s+harness&noImage=0) that goes around the back and shoulders which is more like what I want, but even that's a little too hunter-y for me, so I'll probably go with the Op/Tech one.

Thanks for all the great suggestions everyone!

-Mary

[JohnJ80]

Here you go.

http://www.kgear.com/h/H245H350.html

This goes around your chest/torso. It has a strap that goes over your lens. With the neck strap in place, this will hold it tight to your body. You can run if you want to.

J.

[A01]

Got my OPTECH pro loop strap yesterday and it is GREAT! So much better than the canon one. I suggest anyone who hates the canon one as much as i did to get this! :D

[BloomKitty]

Here you go.

http://www.kgear.com/h/H245H350.html

This goes around your chest/torso. It has a strap that goes over your lens. With the neck strap in place, this will hold it tight to your body. You can run if you want to.

J.

Thanks, John. That's a little more heavy-duty than I need, though. I went ahead and bought the elastic one from Op/Tech. :)

-Mary

[A01]

Its great isnt it Mary? :D

[BloomKitty]

Its great isnt it Mary? :D

I'll let you know! It's on its way and may arrive as soon as tomorrow! :cool:

[Sloany]

Look on e-bay for the Audobon Harness. $ 18.00 to $20.00. They are very good. It is constructed of a good quality 1" elastic webbing material. I use one all the time on my 20d with large MTO mirror lenses.

[Sloany]

Sorry for the mis spell Audubon.

[Rumjungle]

So how did you make out with that harness, Bloomkitty?

This thread reminded me of break-away tactical slings used for firearms. They're simple, hold close to the body in the rest position, and allows one to quickly deploy in a single action to allow a full range of movement.