Long Camera Strap?

I have the opportunity to shoot a football game Saturday and am looking for those longer straps that most NFL/NCCAF cameramen use. Where the camera hangs a lot lower to the side?

A fellow photographer mentioned the Black Rapid, but it's a little out of my price range as I'm already buying a monopod as well.

Are there options similar to the black rapid, which aren't nearly as expensive? Yet still reliable?

Thanks!

I made up a diy version for like $10. Well the darn thing cost me an extra $90 but that was because I went to the outdoor store to pick up my $10 worth of items and spent another $90 on other things that had nothing to do with the strap.

SierraHighPhoto wrote in post #17163209
I have the opportunity to shoot a football game Saturday and am looking for those longer straps that most NFL/NCCAF cameramen use. Where the camera hangs a lot lower to the side?

A fellow photographer mentioned the Black Rapid, but it's a little out of my price range as I'm already buying a monopod as well.

Are there options similar to the black rapid, which aren't nearly as expensive? Yet still reliable?

Thanks!

Optech has a good one that is much less then the BR and is about the same length.

http://www.amazon.com …ility-Strap/dp/B003T0EYVE

I like the looks of that, but my only concern is if it'll be able to hold a Canon 5D Mark III with a 70-200mm F/4L attached to it.

I use the OP/TECH Super Classic Strap with 6D and 70-200 F4L. It is adequately strong and comfortable. No complaints with it at all.

SierraHighPhoto wrote in post #17163238
I like the looks of that, but my only concern is if it'll be able to hold a Canon 5D Mark III with a 70-200mm F/4L attached to it.

I use an optech strap for my 5dm3+grip + 70-200 2.8 IS II without any concerns.

In fact, looks like now I have two optech straps since Canon just sent me a CPS branded optech strap for signing up for CPS.

I also don't think it's really designated as "long" though. I think all these straps are pretty much designed for the camera to sit at your hip and are all adjustable.

No problem with the OpTech strap holding my 5DIII with 100-400L. You can get an extender, too, if it's not long enough for you.

Good information everyone. Went ahead and bought one.

Thanks!

SierraHighPhoto wrote in post #17163238
I like the looks of that, but my only concern is if it'll be able to hold a Canon 5D Mark III with a 70-200mm F/4L attached to it.

SierraHighPhoto wrote in post #17163749
Good information everyone. Went ahead and bought one.

Thanks!

Just to confirm your good judgment, I had a PacSafe strap fail on me (stitching pulled out) while I was carrying my 1D3 and 300 f/2.8 around. Luckily I caught it before anything hit the ground (amazing what panic can do for your reflexes!). But I spent the next day or so carrying the rig around om the 1D3's OpTech strap.

John wrote in post #17163557
I use an optech strap for my 5dm3+grip + 70-200 2.8 IS II without any concerns.

In fact, looks like now I have two optech straps since Canon just sent me a CPS branded optech strap for signing up for CPS.

I also don't think it's really designated as "long" though. I think all these straps are pretty much designed for the camera to sit at your hip and are all adjustable.

Did you use both mounting points of the optech? I have an optech as well but no grip and im a bit iffy using only one mounting point. Id like to see how you attached it if you dont mind. Thanks!

treck_dialect wrote in post #17164353
Did you use both mounting points of the optech? I have an optech as well but no grip and im a bit iffy using only one mounting point. Id like to see how you attached it if you dont mind. Thanks!

Here is mine, a black rapid. I wanted 2 points as well mainly because I dont trust the single point on my third part grip. Which is just a little piece of plastic. So I got a couple op-tech utility straps and put one on the joby arca plate and the other through the camera strap lug. You could do the same with no grip by just using one strap on the camera lug.

Optec Strap with the utility straps on my 500 F4 attached to the lens lugs. Works like a charm and was inexpensive.

Just came in and I really like it. My only question is, being I have a battery grip on this camera, is it best to attach one of the clips to the battery grip, and then the closest loop to the battery grip (right side for me). Or do I want to attach the other clip to the furthest loop on the camera (left side)? Or do I just want to still use the two top loops?

Thanks.

As you can tell my setup is just a little different (but close to yours). I tried the right side but quickly moved it away from there for two reason.
#1 when I flip the camera to shoot portrait mode the strap would be in my way.

#2 using the bottom grip lug and the camera strap lug meant something was always in my way when i changed cards. My fear being the the strap would get yanked or tugged in someway with the card door open and snap it off.

I have had it on the left now for about 8 months and really like how it hangs and stays out of the way.

Scoobert wrote in post #17164374
Here is mine, a black rapid. I wanted 2 points as well mainly because I dont trust the single point on my third part grip. Which is just a little piece of plastic. So I got a couple op-tech utility straps and put one on the joby arca plate and the other through the camera strap lug. You could do the same with no grip by just using one strap on the camera lug.

Thanks!