I saw this product a while ago, but not sure where--or if it's any good. Instead of a one-piece neckstrap, you use two pieces of nylon to connect your camera to the front of your backpack straps. It takes the weight off your neck and puts it onto your backpack setup. One end connects to the camera strap bosses and the other end attaches to the backpack near the chest strap ends.
Anyone ever use one of these or even know what I'm talking about? Any good for heavy cameras or only light ones?
Forrest Egan wrote:
Some of the Kata bags are like that (I know my HB-207 is, and I believe the HB-205 and R-103 are the same way).
On my KATA HB207 I reversed the strap so that by adding the Wichard Stainless Steel snaps, I could use my camera with a standard neck strap and simply attache the snaps to the camera to take the pressure off my neck.
Shmackey wrote:
Just notice that my LowePro doesn't have the D-rings to which you're supposed to attach the N-11. There's probably a workaround, though.
My Lowepro CompuRover has the D-Rings that except the Tamrac N-11 straps. They work great. A lightweight pair of Caribenier's can be mounted to the back-pack straps and then attach the N-11 straps. Or even a Key-Ring would work.
This is my CompuTrekker which doesn't have the D-Rings.
A bit different than the request, as it doesn't use a backpack, but I really like the setup! Of course, if you're shooting Canon, like me, you'll just have to grin and bear it! =)
Lots of backpacks have loops available - I made up a set of straps with the same qr buckles as my camera strap, the clips and strapping are easily found at good sporting goods suppliers. The backpack also had a qr strap between the shoulder straps.
However, the camera may still be bouncy and if you make it long enough to hold up to see, the distance it hangs down may be too much. Also you still need a strap for use off pack and you need to come up with a method to get it on/off when taking off the pack or putting it on, etc. It can be more than a little awkward with a heavy pack.
I always hated having the camera loose like that and attached to the pack - its
exposed to everything, bounces all over the place, and seems to have a
penchant for whapping into something when you do stuff like bend over to tie
your shoe, duck under a branch, etc.,.
an alternative is to strap a toploader camera bag directly to your pack straps as well - lowepro
used to sell this solution (I've got an old rover AW that straps to their harness
system - the harness system had D-rings on the shoulder straps, and I added
a couple of mini carabiners to the appropriate loops on the waist belt - their
toploader 75 even comes with the straps/clips to attach it to this
setup... - if you look online, you can even occasionally find a pic of this rig somebody purloined
from an old lowepro catalog....)
I also did the same thing on a camelback blowfish and a smaller lowepro
consumer grade toploader camera bag - works great for active stuff!!
While backpacking I always attached a toploader right above my left shoulder. I tried it in other positions but it just banged in to me too much. The camera isn't as accessable this way--well, compared to having it around your neck, but I could get it out and up in a matter of seconds and I felt it was better protected.
I've used the quick-disconnects on my Op-Tec strap, just take off the neck strap, clip the 2 loose ends together through a webbing loop in the backpack shoulder strap. Access would be faster if you used a caribiner. It bounces alittle but I just put my arm over it. Best part was it cost me nothing, all stuff I had already.
Op/Tech 3/8" webbing system connectors, two sets. One set connecting to the camera via Spro size 6 Heavy Swivels and triangle split rings, the other connecting to the pack straps. I could make it shorter, but I need the length the way it is for when I use it on my regular Op/Tech neck strap.
it's a Loreo Lens-in-a-Cap. It's much sharper than my original Canon lenscap, . It's a 35mm f/5.6. It's not AF, but it's parfocal after about 5 feet. It's fleetingly amusing and also comes in a sorta-tilt-shift version. http://www.loreo.com/pages/products/loreo_lenscap.html
Here's the only worthwhile shot I've taken with it
Then add these buckles to mate with the tails on an optech strap. http://www.kgear.com/h/#h433
the H433 buckles.
This then clips to the webbing on your harness. Very comfortable, works very well. If you want to keep the camera from swinging around (great while skiing from shooting spot to shooting spot) use the H153 strap (http://www.kgear.com/h/h245h350.html) a strap that goes around your abdomen and then has a strap that goes over the lens to hold it in place.
this works great. I've used it for many outings hiking, skiing etc...
you could just technically buy two sets of their op/tech webbing connectors, which is essentially what i did, except with op/tech's own parts. Basically, if it costs over $20 shipped, you're overdoing it.
. It's a 35mm f/5.6. It's not AF, but it's parfocal after about 5 feet. It's fleetingly amusing and also comes in a sorta-tilt-shift version. 