strap to cope with canon SLR plus 100-400 IS lens plus 1.4x

[Tony Knight]

Hi all. I bought the above camera kit to use on safari in a months time and connected the camera up with the strap that it comes with. While walking along after a couple of days of use, the sheer weight of the equipment pulled the strap through the plastic clips that it had been fed through and the whole thing crashed to the floor. A little bruised but fortunately not broken ! I have since been looking for a strap that has a proper "clip" at the end that will be sure to hold the equipment securely but can't seem to find one anywhere. Any suggestions ?

thanks.

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Thanks Tony. I am interested in this too.

[IanC_UK]

Optech Pro strap, have never found anything better for distributing load :) I have 1d MK3 and 100-400 and have used with or without the 1.4 numerous times :) the load is spread across a very wide area with no stress, only thing to watch is if you hang the camera on one shoulder, under certain circumstances the strap is prone to slip even though it has rubber knobbly (techy term) bits ;) also had no issues with the plastic clips breaking on mine after 2 years abuse.

[Keith Reeder]

Hi Tony,

I've used (and use) Op-Tech neoprene straps, Hama neoprene straps (http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_1&products_id=5978) and generic 7DayShop neoprene straps (http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=99191) - all with the standard "through the little buckle" strap fixing, without any problems whatsoever.

I've a feeling that you didn't set it up properly, because I sometimes find myself cursing how hard it is to adjust the length of the strap quickly - certainly there's not a cat in hell's chance that my camera/lens is going to fall off its strap.

That said, it would be easy enough to stick a couple of split rings (http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=7532) through the strap mount lugs on the camera and attach the strap to them, putting a couple of stitches in the strap to eliminate any chance of slippage.

[hollis_f]

While walking along after a couple of days of use, the sheer weight of the equipment pulled the strap through the plastic clips that it had been fed through and the whole thing crashed to the floor.

As others have suggested, the Op-Tech Pro strap is excellent. If you do a bit of hunting you'll be able to find the Pro-Loop version. This uses loops of nylon to attach to the camera body and is a lot more secure than the traditional 'buckle' type of adjustment.

[Markulous]

Never had any probs with my Tamrac straps - and added advantage of having clips to allow me to detach it from the neoprene and hang it directly off my rucksack, so relieving my neck of all that weight! |=)|

[Roy C]

Another vote for the Op-Tech Pro strap. Mine uses loops of nylon to attach to the body and also has clips to detach from the neck strap if required.

[timp55]

The Op/Tech website shows the Pro strap as a 3 piece affair with the main part of the strap joining to the camera loop bits with those 3 pronged plastic clip things (beloved of cheap rucksack makers) - am I looking at the right straps? Aren't they a bit cheap for over £1500 worth of heavy camera / lens combo?

[IanC_UK]

The Op/Tech website shows the Pro strap as a 3 piece affair with the main part of the strap joining to the camera loop bits with those 3 pronged plastic clip things (beloved of cheap rucksack makers) - am I looking at the right straps? Aren't they a bit cheap for over £1500 worth of heavy camera / lens combo?

Those plastic clip things are strong enough for me to carry my 20d previously, and 1d mk3 and 100-400 combo about and have never let me down so far. They are pretty strong and do the job well. I have even taken the 1d Mk3 and 600 F4L out of my kinesis bag using the strap once as i couldnt get my hand down the side, and it took the weight of that with no issues at all.

[timp55]

Thanks Ian, I guess it must be something psychological on my part - it's the idea of having a physical break in the strap that scares me I think. The website also shows the two type of camera fixings (for want of a better word) discussed above; the standard plastic buckle thing and also what looks like the nylon loops discussed. Does the strap come from Op/Tech with both types do you know?

[Saphire]

The Op/Tech website shows the Pro strap as a 3 piece affair with the main part of the strap joining to the camera loop bits with those 3 pronged plastic clip things (beloved of cheap rucksack makers) - am I looking at the right straps? Aren't they a bit cheap for over £1500 worth of heavy camera / lens combo?


Timp55 I have recently purchased the pro Strap, it is just so comfortable to use. To get round accidently opening the clips I have threaded a black shoe lace through and joined both halfs so they can't come open unless I undo the lace. It gives me piece of mind.

[IanC_UK]

Thanks Ian, I guess it must be something psychological on my part - it's the idea of having a physical break in the strap that scares me I think. The website also shows the two type of camera fixings (for want of a better word) discussed above; the standard plastic buckle thing and also what looks like the nylon loops discussed. Does the strap come from Op/Tech with both types do you know?

No problem, they dont come with both strap types, you can order one or the other though, http://www.optech-online.co.uk/lst67.htm

[RJL2005]

I've stuck with the canon strap - a bit loud I know. Its solid as long as you fit it properly :-)

[IanC_UK]

I've stuck with the canon strap - a bit loud I know. Its solid as long as you fit it properly :-)

I would have too if it didnt dig into my neck and stop the blood getting to my already fuddled brain lol ;)

[Roy C]

I've stuck with the canon strap - a bit loud I know. Its solid as long as you fit it properly :-)
The Canon strap is fine for smaller lightweight lenses but for carrying a heavier lens around your neck the op/tech is miles better IMO.

[Tannin]

You need to make sure you have buckled the strap up the right way. While I'm sure that there are some excellent 3rd party straps out there, the standard Canon ones are perfectly capable of holding the weight. I routinely use the standard Canon straps to hold a 40D and 100-400, and a 1D III and 500/4 (with or without converter) which is vastly heavier than your setup. They never slip and work just fine.

[Tony Knight]

thanks - perhaps i have been connecting incorrectly ! Seemed only one way to feed through the plastic, then the camera, then back through the plastic - is there a diagram somewhere showing how to do this ?? seemed so obvious, if there were any diagrams with the packaging, i would have thrown them away !!

[Roy C]

You need to make sure you have buckled the strap up the right way. While I'm sure that there are some excellent 3rd party straps out there, the standard Canon ones are perfectly capable of holding the weight. I routinely use the standard Canon straps to hold a 40D and 100-400, and a 1D III and 500/4 (with or without converter) which is vastly heavier than your setup. They never slip and work just fine.
I have never doubted the Canon straps ability to handle the weights 'Tanin' it is just that I find the op/Tech so much more comfortable when carrying around my neck for hours on end.

[stevo]

Optech straps are great you could try a google search for speedgraphic I know they do a range of straps for different combos.

Steve.

[andrew_s]

thanks - perhaps i have been connecting incorrectly ! Seemed only one way to feed through the plastic, then the camera, then back through the plastic - is there a diagram somewhere showing how to do this ?? seemed so obvious, if there were any diagrams with the packaging, i would have thrown them away !!
When you feed the end back through the plastic buckle, it has to go underneath what's already threaded through.

[IanC_UK]

This may help, is the guide for fitting the E1 hand strap, number 6 shows how to attach the neck strap to the E1 and should give a few hints how to do it :)

http://www.apsq91.dsl.pipex.com/images/e1strap.jpg