Managing a second body

[Zivnuska]

This year, I got a 300 f/2.8 and use it with a monopod for football. There are times when a second body and 70-200 is helpful. My question: What is the best way to carry and keep the second body handy. Camera strap around the neck? Over the shoulder? Some other idea?

What is the best way to have full access when you need it but keep it safe and out of the way when you don't?

[bobbyz]

I only tried this couple of times and it was painful as I was using 500mm f4 IS along with 70-200mm f2.8. I banged my head into the lens couple of times when I tried to switch bodies. It is easier with 300mm f2.8 IS. You basically need to make sure to hold the lens/monopod with left arm by resting the monopod on left side of the chest and take shots with 70-200mm using right arm. Some do with 2 hands while others with just one.

Look at FM, Scott Sewel (spelling could be wrong) has some youtube video on how to manage 2 bodies.

[convergent]

I keep it on a strap over the right shoulder, and I attach the strap to the side mounts on the camera, rather than the top mounts. I also make sure the strap is extended so that I can easily get my hand on the vertical grip to swing it up. I use a very sturdy monopod for my big lens (400 2.8 in my case), and with some care, you can quickly let the monopod lean against your chest and the big lens go on your should and aim to the back. This allows you to cradle the monopod well while you are holding the second body to shoot.

You do need a good strap... I use the OpTech which easily holds a 1 series and 70-200 2.8 hanging there, and has a little spring to it. There is a risk in doing this of dropping something, but I've found this approach to be the best way to manage the two.... short of being fortunate to have an assistant carrying around your second body and handing it to you when you snap your fingers... like the big time shooters do!

[20DNewbie]

What I've used in the past is the 300 on a mono and the 70-200 on the R-Strap, couldn't be easier.

[primoz]

Normally I have one on one shoulder, the other on the other shoulder, but turned so that I don't need to spin camera when I grab it. If I have long one on monopod, I don't use strap for that one, and I just leave camera to rest on my left shoulder/hand, while I grab second camera hanging on my right shoulder. But with this, it helps if monopod has tip which can stick somewhere. When I was indoors and had rubber tip it happened already, that camera and lens started to trip over my hand, and it's not really nice thing to start catching camera while shooting with other :)

[Zivnuska]

I only tried this couple of times and it was painful as I was using 500mm f4 IS along with 70-200mm f2.8. I banged my head into the lens couple of times when I tried to switch bodies. It is easier with 300mm f2.8 IS. You basically need to make sure to hold the lens/monopod with left arm by resting the monopod on left side of the chest and take shots with 70-200mm using right arm. Some do with 2 hands while others with just one.

Look at FM, Scott Sewel (spelling could be wrong) has some youtube video on how to manage 2 bodies.

Thanks for the youtube tip!

[mpeters]

This is a pretty slick way to do it.

http://www.blackrapid.com/video.php

[NVcameraman]

I learned this trick as a military photographer when I would have both a still camera and a video camera. I use snap links attached to shoulder straps of a camelback (water hydration back pack) and I place the shoulder straps of each camera thru the snap link. This allows the camera not in use to hang by the shoulder strap in a secure manner so there is no way they can slip and fall off. When I am using my 300 and need to grab camera with shorter lens it is in arms reach hanging at my side. and i can just let 300 hang. The pictures were shot by fellow employee at a football game we were covering. The first is showing my second camera hanging at my side ready for use. The second shot you can see the 2 snap links at my shoulder with the neck straps running thru them. If you want better pictures of how they are attached I will see if I can get a shot of that.

[silvex]

on the neck. BY the time you reach for the camera over the shoulder. The action is long gone. You can also shoot sitting down with the mono pod and keep the 2nd body on front of you.

[Mike R]

I learned this trick as a military photographer when I would have both a still camera and a video camera. I use snap links attached to shoulder straps of a camelback (water hydration back pack) and I place the shoulder straps of each camera thru the snap link. This allows the camera not in use to hang by the shoulder strap in a secure manner so there is no way they can slip and fall off. When I am using my 300 and need to grab camera with shorter lens it is in arms reach hanging at my side. and i can just let 300 hang. The pictures were shot by fellow employee at a football game we were covering. The first is showing my second camera hanging at my side ready for use. The second shot you can see the 2 snap links at my shoulder with the neck straps running thru them. If you want better pictures of how they are attached I will see if I can get a shot of that.

Thanks for the idea. It must be nice to shoot football in warm weather!

[NVcameraman]

Thanks for the idea. It must be nice to shoot football in warm weather!
Well in Las Vegas in the beginning of the season it is VERY hot weather. Still in triple digits temps after the sun goes down. We did have a cold front come thru a few weeks ago and I had to actually break out a long sleeve shirt ;)
That is one of the other reason I use a camel back as it give me water to stay hydrated.

[dmwierz]

Personally, I would never hang anything around my neck while shooting football. If I get hit, as bad as this sounds, I'd rather my second (third) camera and lens get torn off my shoulder than have a player's arms/legs/body get tangled up in my camera strap while the thing was still draped around my neck and have my neck be the thing broken Vs. my camera.

Off the shoulder always seems to work fine. I have heard of and seen things like the the Reinholder (which I can't find the link for right now), that is basically a holster you slide your second camera/lens into, that mounts on the monopod.

[gromeo]

Dennis you must be thinking of Sport Shooter member Reinhold Matays The Reinholder, the link from SS is no longer good but this photo of Ron shows the thereinholder on his monopod http://web.me.com/reinholdmatay/Site/About_Me.html , I don't know if he is still producing these or not. I guess he can be contacted thru SS and I might see him at the UCF FB game Sunday night and can ask if anybody is interested.