My Canon DSLR came with a neck strap. The strap was uncomfortable, and harsh against bare skin.
I bought a softer neoprene strap to replace it and then ended up supporting my camera with one hand so it wouldn’t drag on the strap.
Whichever neck strap I used was uncomfortable, and the camera bounced around as I walked or swung wildly when I bent down. Even more so if I had a longer lens on the camera.
I do a lot of my photography with two small dogs ‘attached’ to me, so I’m often bending down or walking along, or trying to stand still, line up and focus a shot and hold on to two dogs who are keen to be elsewhere.
Carrying the camera in a backpack doesn’t help, either. It just makes it even harder to take photos, as I have to stop, manage the dogs, fumble with the backpack …
When I was in Hawai’i last year though I took a tour from a company that offers a lot of tours for bird and wildlife enthusiasts. They have a tiny store at their headquarters where I saw, and bought, a Bino/Cam Harness very similar to this Op/Tech harness in the photo. I suspect it is the same harness, just branded with the tour company’s logo. It costs approx US$23.
A perfect solution for the outdoor enthusiast seeking a simple harness system for cameras or binoculars. The BINO/CAM HARNESS™ self-adjusts to comfortably balance gear while in use or in the idle position against the body. The unique loop attachment system enables the harness to quickly snap in place. Its simple design and great price are sure to win approval! The elastic version allows your camera or binoculars to be held tighter against the body. While still allowing the camera or binoculars to be brought up to the eyes for use.
[Via : Bino/Cam Harness | Demo Page.]
It’s a long, adjustable elastic strap that crosses over in the back where it’s threaded through a small leather ‘diamond’. It has a couple of smaller straps that clip into holders you attach to the camera through the strap points.
Adjust the straps to suit yourself and the camera is held securely and snugly against the body, but you can instantly lift it to your eye for a shot.
I felt pretty dorky at first, and the strap is kind of hard to put on, until you get used to it.
Now I love it. The camera doesn’t swing or bounce around. It doesn’t drag on my neck, and the camera’s right there, ready for use.
I found it tricky to turn the camera for a ‘portrait’ shot, but it takes only a moment to squeeze open one of the connectors and release one side of the camera.
These days I’m taking lots of photos for my new Run Spot Run website (Find great spots for fun with your dog). When we arrive at the off-leash area we’re reviewing I take a moment to slip on the harness and buckle in the camera before I grab the dogs and whatever supplies we need. Then we’re all ready for action.
If you like to keep a DSLR-sized camera to hand while you’re out and about I urge you to take a good look at a camera harness.
Oh, and if you have a dog, please take a few minutes to look at Run Spot Run. There’s no way I can review all the off-leash areas in the world, or even in New Zealand. I want the site to reflect the voices (and photos) of dog owners everywhere. Please look around, leave a comment, send in a review, send in a photo of your dog, say Hello.
Run Spot Run aims to collect and provide high-quality, useful reviews of dog parks. Come on over and tell us what you know.
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