Safe ways to carry a large lens with a strap? (Where to attach strap.)

If you would like to post, you'll need to register. Note that if you have a BCG store account, you'll need a new, separate account here (we keep the two sites separate for security purposes).

Fly Fishing Rick

Fly Fishing Rick

Well-known member
Member's gallery
Hello everyone! I'm new to the forum and to wildlife photography in general however as an avid hiker and trout fisherman of over 20 years I'm no stranger to wildlife and nature in general. I recently got a Tamron 150-600mm G2 lens(~2kg) for my D7100 and I'm trying to figure out where to attach my Peak Slide Lite anchors so there isn't any risk of damaging the camera mount. I assume having both attachment points on the foot of the lens is the absolute safest however that leaves the lens/camera hanging horizontally which seems kind of awkward. I have seen some people attach one end to the foot of the lens and the other to the side or base of the camera and it appears to keep things pretty vertical, my question is: Is it safe? If you have a preferred way to attach your strap to your gear while using heavier lenses please share, I'm always open to new ideas.
 
Member's gallery
This is Peak Design's recommendation:
Canon R5 + 100–500 mm + Peak Design Slide​
Peak Design Slide : Attachment for 100–500mm lens
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

Peak Design Slide : Attachment for 100–500mm lens
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 
Last edited:
Member's gallery
i attached a black rapid to the lens foot with either QD attachment (lens foot needs to have an hole specifically designed for the QD attachement) or via small arca swiss clamp.

Here is a QD attachment from RRS. You want to support the lens so the weight on the flange is from the lighter camera, not heavier lens

www.reallyrightstuff.com

QD Strap Swivel

OverviewWe have searched high and low to find the best camera strap system that mates seamlessly with our quick-release plates. After experimenting with many different solutions, we have found one we like. The Quick Detach (QD) mounting system was perfect for our plates for several reasons...
www.reallyrightstuff.com www.reallyrightstuff.com
 
Member's gallery
I've been using two straps; one on the lens' tripod foot and the other on the camera lugs. Both set to (about) the same length, with both either worn around my neck, or over one shoulder. This way-in my opinion-seems to provide stability and support to both lens and camera.
 
Member's gallery
My D850 + Sigma 150-600 sport weighed in at almost 5kg IIRC. I use a copy of a Black Rapid strap and it is attached to the lens foot. I think that attaching a strap to the the lens foot and a camera attachment point puts a lot more strain on the lens mount that most people think it does.

I've also carried it on a monopod or tripod on my shoulder or in one hand close to the top of the monopod.
 
Member's gallery
dabhand16 said:
My D850 + Sigma 150-600 sport weighed in at almost 5kg IIRC. I use a copy of a Black Rapid strap and it is attached to the lens foot. I think that attaching a strap to the the lens foot and a camera attachment point puts a lot more strain on the lens mount that most people think it does.

I've also carried it on a monopod or tripod on my shoulder or in one hand close to the top of the monopod.
Click to expand...
Attaching a strap with one end on the lens foot and the other on the camera body is about the worst you can do. At least if you had a strap just on the body the lens would hand somewhat vertical. Connected to both it tries to bend at the weakest point....the mount.
Use a lens foot with QD socket or an Arca clamp with a loop for the strap or PD anchors. The benefit of using a clamp is you can slide it along the foot or lens plate to adjust how it hangs. I’d recommend a lens plate with safety stop screws at each end like a Wimberley for example
 
Member's gallery
dabhand16 said:
My D850 + Sigma 150-600 sport weighed in at almost 5kg IIRC. I use a copy of a Black Rapid strap and it is attached to the lens foot. I think that attaching a strap to the the lens foot and a camera attachment point puts a lot more strain on the lens mount that most people think it does.

I've also carried it on a monopod or tripod on my shoulder or in one hand close to the top of the monopod.
Click to expand...
Steve W said:
Attaching a strap with one end on the lens foot and the other on the camera body is about the worst you can do. At least if you had a strap just on the body the lens would hand somewhat vertical. Connected to both it tries to bend at the weakest point....the mount.
Use a lens foot with QD socket or an Arca clamp with a loop for the strap or PD anchors. The benefit of using a clamp is you can slide it along the foot or lens plate to adjust how it hangs. I’d recommend a lens plate with safety stop screws at each end like a Wimberley for example
Click to expand...
eek! Thanks for that - for the past 2 years I've carried the z70-200 mounted with one end of the strap on camera base and one on lens foot. I'll stop now!!

fchretdet said:
I've been using two straps; one on the lens' tripod foot and the other on the camera lugs. Both set to (about) the same length, with both either worn around my neck, or over one shoulder. This way-in my opinion-seems to provide stability and support to both lens and camera.
Click to expand...

that's what I'll do too.
 
Member's gallery
Patrick M said:
eek! Thanks for that - for the past 2 years I've carried the z70-200 mounted with one end of the strap on camera base and one on lens foot. I'll stop now!!



that's what I'll do too.
Click to expand...
With your 70-200, whilst not ideal, it’s not as bad as when a larger lens is slung this way. The longer and heavier the lens, the worse the bending moment will be.
 
Member's gallery
PeggyBaker said:
I have been using a Peak Designs strap, secured to the lens foot, which includes a slider to allow one to adjust the length on the fly. In general I've been happy with it, but today the camera was knocking around on my hip and managed to change the EV on my z9. I'm going to try this which I just got from Really RIght Stuff https://www.reallyrightstuff.com/Magpul-Gen-2-MS4-Dual-QD-Sling
Click to expand...
Leofoto makes similar and cheaper straps. They have very good length adjusters, almost as good as peak design. This belt has two flaws tho. One is no redundancy in terms of QD (both camera and belt itself). This can be easily solved with a PD anchor system and simple webbing, threading it and locking two parts of the belt - so they cannot open, and second end connecting with PD system to lens/camera. And second flaw is no padding. If only they made a belt like this in black rapid style ...
 
Member's gallery
As to whether a rig should be carried by the lens or by the camera or both, I tend to trust the original equipment manufacturer that has engineers on staff who design the equipment. Some lenses have a mounting foot/ring and some don't. Some lenses have strap attachment points on the lens and some don't. I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest the following:

1) Lenses with no foot/ring nor strap attachment points are designed to carry with a strap on the camera only
2) Lenses with a foot/ring are designed to support the weight of both lens and camera on the foot/ring when on a tripod. It's not necessarily intuitive but the way physics works the load on the flange is the same whether on a tripod or suspended by the foot on a strap.
3) Lenses with strap attachment points are designed to also support the weight of the camera. This is somewhat intuitive since (to my knowledge) all lenses with strap rings also have feet. Whether the lens/camera is supported by the strap attachment points or the foot/ring is a matter of preference.

Disclaimer: Though I'm willing to risk my own equipment by supporting it as designed I make no guarantees, either expressed or implied, that others may achieve the same results.
 
Member's gallery
I got a "stand alone" pad, an op-tech shoulder cush (don't get it from op-tech, it costs twice as much as if you get it from b&h or Amazon). It wraps around the peak designs strap and is secured by Velcro. It's been a great addition.
 
Member's gallery
Thanks for all the helpful info everyone! I guess I'll just grab a small-arca swiss clamp and hook my anchors to that and attach it to the lens foot when I want to carry it with a strap.
 
Last edited:
Member's gallery
The Kirk SS-1 security strap clamps securely onto the Arca-Swiss foot of any lens. No worries about it coming lose and the lens and camera crashing to the ground as has been reported with various other attachments and no need to use a special bracket.
 
Member's gallery
While I've used some PD Slide and Slide Lite straps for years, a few years ago I picked up a Magpul MS4 QDM Sling with dual QDM swivels and have pretty much used it exclusively with D850 or D500 before I sold them and currently with the Z9.

All my lenses with a foot have an ARCA plate with a QD socket, so they all get carried by the foot. If I'm just carrying a body and smaller lens I use the QD socket in one of the L-brackets or a QD socket in the ARCA plate on my Z9, it fits the bill. The 1.25" wide, thick webbing is just the right width and thickness for comfort and it's easy to adjust the sling to carry to the side, in back or in front and it slides easily for bringing the camera up to your eye. Highly recommended.

Cheers!
 
Member's gallery
MotoPixel said:
While I've used some PD Slide and Slide Lite straps for years, a few years ago I picked up a Magpul MS4 QDM Sling with dual QDM swivels and have pretty much used it exclusively with D850 or D500 before I sold them and currently with the Z9.

All my lenses with a foot have an ARCA plate with a QD socket, so they all get carried by the foot. If I'm just carrying a body and smaller lens I use the QD socket in one of the L-brackets or a QD socket in the ARCA plate on my Z9, it fits the bill. The 1.25" wide, thick webbing is just the right width and thickness for comfort and it's easy to adjust the sling to carry to the side, in back or in front and it slides easily for bringing the camera up to your eye. Highly recommended.

Cheers!
Click to expand...
I’m about to buy the Magpul (from RRS) for Z7 (and it’s progeny) with QD equipped RRS L bracket and for Z 100-400 with RRS foot also with QD, but I wonder about 1) is the hefty Magpul sling (made for rifles?) overkill for smallish Z7 and smaller-than-400 lenses and 2) does carrying the camera upside down with strap to L bracket feel awkward?Also, has anyone had QD fail with catastrophic consequences?
Thanks
 
Member's gallery
Paul,

When I've used the Magpul sling with a D850 or D500 and smaller lenses, I've attached to the QD on the side of the L-bracket instead of the bottom so that the camera hangs to the side. On my Z9, I don't use an L-bracket, just a Kirk Arca foot with a QD on the right end of the plate.

The camera does hang upside down but with the lens pointing to the rear on my right hip or side and the grip in perfect position to quickly grab with my right hand and bring to my eye. If I wear the sling to my left, I can still point the lens to the rear on my hip, but I have to grab the lens with my left hand and bring around to my chest to grab the grip with my right hand. Works very well either way, but a faster, more direct motion if carrying on my right. With a long lense suspended by the mount, it's basically the same situation.

The strap material is fairly thick and not so flexible that it becomes limp or floppy, so it slides across your clothing very easily...doesn't tend to snag or get caught easily. I can't imagine one of these failing with the loads one would apply with camera gear. Of course it's important to keep the QD connectors reasonably clean so that the locking balls can do their job, though they seem to be somewhat self-cleaning. I ALWAYS make sure the QD is properly seated when I snap it in!
 
Member's gallery
PaulBCT said:
I’m about to buy the Magpul (from RRS) for Z7 (and it’s progeny) with QD equipped RRS L bracket and for Z 100-400 with RRS foot also with QD, but I wonder about 1) is the hefty Magpul sling (made for rifles?) overkill for smallish Z7 and smaller-than-400 lenses and 2) does carrying the camera upside down with strap to L bracket feel awkward?Also, has anyone had QD fail with catastrophic consequences?
Thanks
Click to expand...

Never had a Magpul QD failure in either the intended use or on a camera/lens:cool:

Quite easy to swap out a Magpul MS4 onto a BlackRapid strap:

Magpul_04-160326.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.


EDIT: Meant to add that I've been using this rig with the D5 plus 300mm f/2.8 and 500mm f/4 with no issues whatsoever.

GC
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top