RPCrowe
20th of February 2010 (Sat), 19:40
A post from SuzyView regarding that she carries and shoots with two cameras and that she bumps the lens hoods got me thinking. I was going to send her this information as a private email but, decided that I would share it with other readers also...
I also shoot with two cameras/lenses and, at first found that I had trouble with the individual camera straps tangling when I was raising a camera to shoot.
I began to use an OPTECH Reporter Strap ( http://www.optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=24 ) which allowed me to suspend a pair of cameras, one above and one below, from nylon straps which were attached to a padded neoprene neck strap. Although this method prevented the cameras from tangling to a large degree; it had two basic flaws.
1. Both cameras and lenses hanging from a single neck strap made a heavy package which caused my neck to be sore after a day of shooting.
2. It was difficult, if not impossible to carry two cameras with hotshoe flashes attached, especially if the flashes were equipped with diffuser reflectors.
When OPTECH introduced the Dual Harness ( http://www.optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=87&PRODUCT_SUB_ID=&CATEGORY_ID= ) I switched to that method of carrying a pair of cameras/lenses.
1. The weight of the cameras/lenses is distributed across my shoulders rather than being concentrated at my neck. This is a far more comfortable way to carry the equipment.
2. It is easier to use a pair of cameras/lenses in this manner than when they are carried around my neck. It took a little experimentation but, I found the exact length of straps which would hold my cameras at shooting level but not have so much extra length that the equipment would swing too freely. The way the straps are configured facilitates raising a camera without straps tangling - see OPTECH video.
3. I can carry both cameras with flashes and diffusers attached.
4. I can walk with a hand on each camera which makes it safer in crowds or, I can carry the cameras/lenses beneath my photo vest for extra protection and security.
I have found that one slight addition prevents the cameras from swinging if I am hurrying or if I am climbing stairs or steep grades. I attach a lightweight inexpensive carabiner clip to each of the side adjustment straps of my photo vest or to my trouser side belt loops. I clip the carabiner onto each of the camera straps which secures the cameras from swinging freely.
When I want to use my tripod, I simply detach the camera strap from the Dual Harness using the quick release clip.
Since, I still have the neck strap from the Reporter Rig, I can use that when I only need a single camera. The camera straps of the Dual Harness are compatible with the Reporter rig neck strap.
I am not connected with OPTECH in any way. I just like their products.
I also shoot with two cameras/lenses and, at first found that I had trouble with the individual camera straps tangling when I was raising a camera to shoot.
I began to use an OPTECH Reporter Strap ( http://www.optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=24 ) which allowed me to suspend a pair of cameras, one above and one below, from nylon straps which were attached to a padded neoprene neck strap. Although this method prevented the cameras from tangling to a large degree; it had two basic flaws.
1. Both cameras and lenses hanging from a single neck strap made a heavy package which caused my neck to be sore after a day of shooting.
2. It was difficult, if not impossible to carry two cameras with hotshoe flashes attached, especially if the flashes were equipped with diffuser reflectors.
When OPTECH introduced the Dual Harness ( http://www.optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=87&PRODUCT_SUB_ID=&CATEGORY_ID= ) I switched to that method of carrying a pair of cameras/lenses.
1. The weight of the cameras/lenses is distributed across my shoulders rather than being concentrated at my neck. This is a far more comfortable way to carry the equipment.
2. It is easier to use a pair of cameras/lenses in this manner than when they are carried around my neck. It took a little experimentation but, I found the exact length of straps which would hold my cameras at shooting level but not have so much extra length that the equipment would swing too freely. The way the straps are configured facilitates raising a camera without straps tangling - see OPTECH video.
3. I can carry both cameras with flashes and diffusers attached.
4. I can walk with a hand on each camera which makes it safer in crowds or, I can carry the cameras/lenses beneath my photo vest for extra protection and security.
I have found that one slight addition prevents the cameras from swinging if I am hurrying or if I am climbing stairs or steep grades. I attach a lightweight inexpensive carabiner clip to each of the side adjustment straps of my photo vest or to my trouser side belt loops. I clip the carabiner onto each of the camera straps which secures the cameras from swinging freely.
When I want to use my tripod, I simply detach the camera strap from the Dual Harness using the quick release clip.
Since, I still have the neck strap from the Reporter Rig, I can use that when I only need a single camera. The camera straps of the Dual Harness are compatible with the Reporter rig neck strap.
I am not connected with OPTECH in any way. I just like their products.