Going Strapless - Review of the Spider Camera Holster

hania wrote in post #15627743
Not a bad idea, but of course, means getting an extra plate for each long lens - so as I have 3 long lenses, may not bother. Will see how much they are before I decide.

Thanks for the advice

Had to search for your gear list (link in your sig. points to JK's), but your 70-200 2.8 uses the same tripod mounting ring as the 100-400 and 300 f/4 for starters. Unless you spend a lot of time swapping among your various long lenses (which, when I found it, your gear list didn't reflect; only showed the 70-200) then you don't necessarily need one mount per lens.

The one drawback I find to the Spider, and the Cotton Carrier, is zero protection for the camera. I guess if you're on the sidelines of a football game, a wedding, or some such, it is perfect. But I usually take my camera(s) out hiking with my dogs and on the slippery slopes, etc., rock-strewn paths, I much prefer to have them in a holster such as the Thinktank belt system for protection in case of falls. And I've been known to fall.

I love my Dual Spider Holster. I use it with the Think Tank Lens Changer 3 for events and it works perfect!

I've been using the Dual Holster for a year now shooting weddings and love it. I have the camera plate on the camera's base and the Spider plate on top of it. A little high and some what awkward when shooting vertical but not bad. I also screw the Camera strap directly into the Spider's other hole too.

If you're at WPPI, stop by their booth at the show and ask for some extra pins. Last time I was there, they gave me about 3-4 extra just by asking. The price is also cheaper if you're buying at the show too.

gh patriot wrote in post #15630333
I love my Dual Spider Holster. I use it with the Think Tank Lens Changer 3 for events and it works perfect!

This - SO glad I found this when I did. Shot all my weddings with it thus far and it just plain rocks!

Jon wrote in post #15629374
Had to search for your gear list (link in your sig. points to JK's), but your 70-200 2.8 uses the same tripod mounting ring as the 100-400 and 300 f/4 for starters. Unless you spend a lot of time swapping among your various long lenses (which, when I found it, your gear list didn't reflect; only showed the 70-200) then you don't necessarily need one mount per lens.

Apologies for my gear list link- have tried a few times to get it right, but no luck so far!

My long lenses are: 100-400 and 28-300 as well as the 70-200

Others are: 16-35 and 24-105.

on Holiday I usually have the 5D2 + 16-35 and 7D + 28-300 on the spider holster.

The weight has got me wondering about the four-thirds system (and also I look a bit too much like a cowboy with 2 cameras on!)

OK - well the 70-200 and 100-400 use the same ring, so if you switch the ring from lens to lens, you don't need a plate for each. Do you ever carry the 28-300 along with the other long lenses? If not, you could use the plate from that when you take out the other two, and have rings on both of them. I have all three of the long lenses you do and the 28-300 only goes out alone on the 5D2; I'll take one ring for both the 70-200 and the 100-400, since I rarely have reason to have both on tripods at the same time.

I've gotta say, their latest gear is super nice looking from a quality/design standpoint.

hania wrote in post #15636956
Apologies for my gear list link- have tried a few times to get it right, but no luck so far!

My long lenses are: 100-400 and 28-300 as well as the 70-200

Others are: 16-35 and 24-105.

on Holiday I usually have the 5D2 + 16-35 and 7D + 28-300 on the spider holster.

The weight has got me wondering about the four-thirds system (and also I look a bit too much like a cowboy with 2 cameras on!)

You could update it, but here's the last one you posted...
Gear List

klr.b wrote in post #15638256
You could update it, but here's the last one you posted...
Gear List

Many thanks - have updated it!

Jon wrote in post #15637051
OK - well the 70-200 and 100-400 use the same ring, so if you switch the ring from lens to lens, you don't need a plate for each. Do you ever carry the 28-300 along with the other long lenses? If not, you could use the plate from that when you take out the other two, and have rings on both of them. I have all three of the long lenses you do and the 28-70 only goes out alone on the 5D2; I'll take one ring for both the 70-200 and the 100-400, since I rarely have reason to have both on tripods at the same time.

Never thought of just moving the rings..........doh

Dmab wrote in post #15625832
One thing to try is mount the plate onto the lens collar rather than on the body.
It depends on how you like to orient the the collar, but for larger lenses it distributes the weight better, not putting added stress at the attachment point of the lens/camera and frees up the vertical grip of the camera.

I have again had to take my 7D and 100-400 in for repair - contact problems on both - and now I am wondering if having it suspended from the body had caused this problem (£580 repair cost this time - contacts failing on both and also electronic module in camera)

hania wrote in post #15645935
I have again had to take my 7D and 100-400 in for repair - contact problems on both - and now I am wondering if having it suspended from the body had caused this problem (£580 repair cost this time - contacts failing on both and also electronic module in camera)

In our experience, if a lens is heavy enough that Canon or Nikon put a tripod foot onto it, you are WAY better off hanging the camera from any sort of suspension system from that foot - tripod, strap or holster.

gakoenig wrote in post #15646189
In our experience, if a lens is heavy enough that Canon or Nikon put a tripod foot onto it, you are WAY better off hanging the camera from any sort of suspension system from that foot - tripod, strap or holster.

Am coming to that opinion also re using the holster as I have been doing.

Its different when hand-holding that combo - one hand holds the camera, the other supports the lens.

Am off to Focus on Imaging on Sunday (Uk) , will try and get another plate to put on one tripod ring, & then just move that ring across when necessary