Straps/Strap Systems

[Dennis Vogel]

Guys, I'm curious what you're using for straps, etc. for your GH2.

I've been using the stock strap attached to the GH2's built-in carrying points but find it a bit narrow and uncomfortable when carried around my neck especially with the 45-200 lens on it. I'm considering one of the over-the-shoulder units. I've looked at (on the web) the BosStrap, Glide Strap with C-Loop, Lens Loop and others. Before plunking down $50 or more, I'd like to hear some impressions of what works for you. Or maybe I just need a wider strap for carrying around my neck.

I'm only an amateur and I'm looking for something to use for carrying around my GH2 when in "tourist mode". ;-)

D

[Dennis Vogel]

Anyone want to take a shot?

[Don Litten]

I'm not going to be much help Ron.
I use my GH2 for video and I don't like straps on my video cameras.

I either hand carry it or carry it in my bag.

[Bill Bruner]

Dennis,

My thinking has been the same as Don's, but I have had a couple of recent "close calls" that have caused me to re-look at this.

I hate neck straps, and they are really not made for video shooters, so I have been looking seriously at wrist straps like this

$9 OP/TECH

 

$9 OP/TECH

for single camera operations and harnesses like this

$25 dual shoulder harness

 

$25 dual shoulder harness

for two cameras.

Either way, a small price to pay to prevent a dropped camera. I think I just convinced myself to take them out of "save for later" and put them back into my cart :-)

Cheers,

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

[Nick Gordon]

I use a Black Rapid. It's very secure and comfortable.

[Dennis Vogel]

Nick,

Which model do you use?

D

[Nick Gordon]

RS Sport

RS-Sport R-Strap BlackRapid.com

It has the extra under-arm strap.

I sometimes think the BR is overkill for the GH2, but better safe than sorry, and it is very comfortable..Also, it's very convenient being able to swap the strap between cameras (I have a 7D as well as the GH2)

[Bill Bruner]

Dennis - please note that both the

RS-Sport

 

RS-Sport

and the

two camera harness

 

two camera harness

I recommended earlier, use the tripod socket. I like to leave a quick release on my cameras, and sometimes use a tripod in the field, so I'm leaning towards something that

uses the camera's strap attachment point

 

uses the camera's strap attachment point

instead.

Cheers,

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

[Don Litten]

Exactly Bill. I use a tripod 95% of the time and use my shoulder rig with the XA10 for the roving shots.

[Dennis Vogel]

Nick, yes that does look like overkill for the GH2. I'm thinking more like the Classic (RS-4 R-Strap BlackRapid.com) or the Curve (RS-7 R-Strap BlackRapid.com). Even the curve looks a bit much but with the 45-200 on it or some old glass (with real glass!) might bring the weight up to where the BR's would be just about right.

Bill and Don, tripod quick releases are always a problem with most of these rigs. I don't use my tripod too much so I may be alright with a unit that screws into the cam's tripod socket. Then again, there's always something like the M-Plate (http://www.customslr.com/products/m-plate-pr) *if* you have a compatible tripod. I haven't done the research but I'll bet there are similar plates for other tripods.

I'm gonna look into the BR units Nick recommended.

D

[Bruce Foreman]

My solution was to use the supplied (with the GH2) strap with this quick disconnect system:

Amazon.com: OP/TECH USA 1301082 System Connectors (Mini QD Loops) - Extra Connectors for OP/TECH USA Compact Straps with Mini Quick Disconnects: Camera & Photo

 

Amazon.com: OP/TECH USA 1301082 System Connectors (Mini QD Loops) - Extra Connectors for OP/TECH USA Compact Straps with Mini Quick Disconnects: Camera & Photo

When the camera goes on a tripod or on the SpiderBrace I just disconnect the strap and toss it in the bag. At first I thought the short piece left on the camera lug would be annoying but in reality there is no problem I've seen. I just ignore them and they are not long enough to tangle in anything.

[Alan Halfhill]

Here is a review I did of the RS-7 from BlackRapid.

Truly Rapid: A Review of the BlackRapid RS-7 » FrugalFilmmakers.com

[Don Litten]

Nice writeup Alan!

[Dennis Vogel]

Originally Posted by Bruce Foreman

My solution was to use the supplied (with the GH2) strap with this quick disconnect system:

Amazon.com: OP/TECH USA 1301082 System Connectors (Mini QD Loops) - Extra Connectors for OP/TECH USA Compact Straps with Mini Quick Disconnects: Camera & Photo

When the camera goes on a tripod or on the SpiderBrace I just disconnect the strap and toss it in the bag. At first I thought the short piece left on the camera lug would be annoying but in reality there is no problem I've seen. I just ignore them and they are not long enough to tangle in anything.

Looks promising. Two questions: are those loops strong enough to hold the cam with a moderately heavy lens? I wonder how they'll hold up after repeated bending.

Also, I find the stock strap to be quite short. I want to sling it across my shoulder rather than around my neck. Is that how you use it? Plus, the stock strap is rather narrow although with it over-the-shoulder instead of around-the-neck that might not be an issue.

D

[Bruce Foreman]

Originally Posted by Dennis Vogel

Looks promising. Two questions: are those loops strong enough to hold the cam with a moderately heavy lens? I wonder how they'll hold up after repeated bending.

They seem quite strong to me, very flexible so repeated bending doesn't look to cause any material fatigue like bending metal does.

I've had the Lumix 45-200 on the camera with that strap arrangement several times and have seen no reason to suspect it of impending failure. I did remove the triangular rings and put the loop itself through the strap stud on the camera.

Originally Posted by Dennis Vogel

Also, I find the stock strap to be quite short. I want to sling it across my shoulder rather than around my neck. Is that how you use it? Plus, the stock strap is rather narrow although with it over-the-shoulder instead of around-the-neck that might not be an issue.

I can wear it "cross body" fashion if I have to, but most of the time it's around my neck, sometimes on one shoulder. There is some length adjustment but maybe not enough for you. If you can get to a camera store somewhere look at other OpTek straps. They used to have some wider models that even had some "stretch" to the part that goes around the neck. Something like that with a quick disconnect might be ideal.