Given that you are always shooting at various types of locations and you have a habit of keeping your tripod plate fixed on your camera, you need a system to be flexible to change strap configuration while your changing locations, ie hiking, city and general purpose….Here is what I’ve come up with after much trial and error…
The Steps
- Op/Teck ; $4.50
- Utility loop
- Think Tank Pro ;$12.50 + $25 = $37.50
- Camera Support Straps
- Camera Strap $25
- Domke = $20/ea (domke ad below is for qty 6, you can buy single at B&H)
- 1.5″ Strap with swivel
- Black Rapid = $54
- Black Rapid Rs-4
- Total = $112
Okay, so it is not as inexpensive as I said on my last blog. But you are buying the Best over the neck camera strap on the market (Domke), an Urban strap (Black Rapid) and your backpack ready straps (Think Tank) so the parts that make everything interchangeable are the Optech ($4.50) and Think tank ($25) parts. And I wouldn’t cut any corners anywhere in this system.
Here’s what you do….
1) Put the Op/tech parts on your camera strap lugs. This will now allow interchangeability and the utility loop is made of a very sturdy plastic, not metal, so no scratches, plus the length of the loop is just right to keep it out of the way.
2) Take the Domke strap and disconnect the strap as purchased and reverse ends so that you can open the small swivel hook and attach to the Op/tech utility loop. I enjoy the Domke strap, it has a sticky thread like material that keeps your camera strap from sliding around on our shoulder, it does not get clammy or slippery in the heat or rain, is indiscrete, and the web material width from the neck piece to the camera is thin, so your not battling the strap.
3) Put the Think Thank camera support straps on your backpack’s shoulder straps. The black attachment clamps are universal and are easy to put on. Now if you want to go to Backpack mode, you have a few options, 1) take the Domke straps off and attach the backpack hooks directly into the Optech Strap utility loop lugs or keep the Domke on, and attach the backpack hooks into the top domke swivel hook loop. (if I go on long hikes it’s the first option for me). You can ride up the Think tank straps to get the camera closer to your body if you want.
4) This may seem wasteful, but hey I bought the Think Tank camera straps and the webbing was to narrow so didn’t work out for me, so they did find the following purpose. The Think tank camera strap has this wonderful 1/8″ thick 3/4″ diameter ring sewn into a 1/4 web. We want to make two separate cuts so that we can free up a piece of 2″ webbing with ring attached. So cut the leather webbing from the ring and then cut 2″ from the ring bottom. Next well take this piece and attach it to your really right stuff tripod plate.
5) Take the piece of strap with ring cut from the Think tank strap above, and loop it through your RRS tripod plate bottom. It is a perfect fit, because the small machined metal extention is recessed so the strap material will never bind against the plate. Now you have a ring attached to a very very solid platform to clip your Black Rapid Strap, you can’t attach the Rapid strap with the lug system any other way unless you take of the plate (hey where is that allen wrench when you need it)
Summary
Nothing here is complicated, everything is standard and readily available, and it all fits together with similar size webbing, swivels, and clasps. Nothing is obtrusive or in a location that will cause your camera any harm. I have tried just about all alternatives, and the basic takeaway for you is flexibility, quality materials, robustness and comfort.
As a matter of fact, I have three backpacks fitted with the Think Tank camera support straps, and I only needed another Optech utility loop and the other side of the Think tank strap to have a duplicate setup for both of my camera bodies.
I also clip my Nikon Micro Fiber cloth to the O-ring when not using the rapid strap, very handy to clean LCD screen.
If you have any questions, please let me know and I’ll clear things up for you….
