Best choice for a camera sling or strap for full size cameras with long lens attached (600mm+)?

[sumrellm]

I am looking for some feedback on recommended camera slings/straps for use on full size camera (Nikon Z8) with a long telephoto lens (600mm+).

I have purchased two FOCUS brand slings with the underarm stabilizing strap. Both of the spring washers on the snaplinks separated and the snaplinks came off of the slings.

This happened once when the sling was attached to an eyelet on the camera body L-bracket and the other time was when the sling snaplink was attached to an eyelet on the lens foot.

I have preferred a single point attaching sling with safety lanyard over the stock or after market two attachment point camera straps.

I'd like to hear from heavy camera setup users like me who have had success with a rugged camera strap or sling.

Thank you in advance.

Mike S
Fayetteville, NC

Mike Sumrell on Glass Photography Community

Mike Sumrell. Fayetteville, North Carolina 📷Nikon Z8 & Fujifilm X-T5 📱Samsung S24 Classic car owner and admirer; honing my photography skills on whatever captur…

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[JAJohnson]

Here are some related threads on BCG Forums. I use a Black Rapid Blackline II Double. I'm sure forum members will share what they use.

Hiking: Spider holster with Z8+600mm PF

I am considering buying the Spider system for my New Zealand trip using my Z8+600mm PF. I'm won't be doing long hikes, but probably hikes in the 1-2 mile range. Normally, using the combo while locally walking around, I'm able to handhold the lens while I walk, setting it down on a bench or...

bcgforums.com

Carrying Z9 + 400 TC 2.8

I have my peak designs strap connected to the brackets on either side of the lens but I keep getting tangled up in the strap when I carry it slung messenger bag style. I use a Kitk foot. Question is, would it be ill-advised to use a QD-type release and carry that way?

bcgforums.com

How do you lug around your big prime lens?

I just carry my Canon 500mm F4 MKI IS by it's lens foot or attached on the tripod but it gets a quite tiresome specially when moving around for a period of time. I do have Vanguard Alta 68 bag which I use often but sometimes I don't want to bring it specially when I'm just going somewhere...

bcgforums.com

Solution for hiking with two heavy-ish camera/lens combos?

I've been using a PD slide strap crossways with a d500 and 500mm pf hanging to the left. I have another PD slide strap lite going to the right side with a d7200 and 16-80mm. At the same time I have binoculars with a chest harness. I feed the PD strap ends through the "arm holes" of the chest...

bcgforums.com

Different ways to carry your telephoto in the field

Hi, I'm quite sure all of us I've spent countless hours to find the the most appropriate setup and I would like to share and collect your experiences: let say we talk of big telephoto 400/2.8 500/4 and so on with a camera attached to it obviously. my field's usage is mountain, walk of 10-15km...

bcgforums.com

Straps? Love 'em or Hate 'em?

I have a love/hate relationship with straps. Here's my story: Straps are great for moving bags and equipment from one place to another. But, when shooting they get in the way, make noise and get caught on things. When I got serious about photography about 10 years ago I decided that the OEM...

bcgforums.com

 

[Ken Miracle]

I use a Holdfast Gear Money Maker Solo (harness leather) and I use the optional Universal Slider that gives you the ability to use various types of connections. If you go that way they are custom made and you need to be sure you order the correct size for you. They are adjustable but it is still important to start with the correct size. For double carry I use their Money Maker Original (Harness Leather). I also really like their slip buckle belts.

https://holdfastgear.com/products/money-maker-solo

My most used set up is a Z9 with Z600 f/4 TC and I have a Henjar after market foot on it and attach the strap to that. I have used the sailboat clip, Magpul and now settled on a carabiner style I cut off from a Black Rapids Strap I no longer use.

 

[DRwyoming]

I like Black Rapid straps but for a 600mm lens, make sure the strap is connected to the lens foot and not the camera body to reduce torque on the lens mount and potential for bending the mount.

 

[JAJohnson]

I like Black Rapid straps but for a 600mm lens, make sure the strap is connected to the lens foot and not the camera body to reduce torque on the lens mount and potential for bending the mount.

Couldn’t agree more.

 

[Lance B]

Excellent gallery!

I use a Peak Design Slide for my Z 600 f4 TC but rigged up a dual system of clips just in case either the clips undoes or one of the strings break - which has never happened but I replace them regularly. This is my Z 600 f4 TC with a Lefoto foot - great as it is padded and has two mounting holes. I have used two Peak Design Anchor Points and then added extra Anchor Links to the Slide camera strap as seen in the photo below. I used a zip tie to add the extra Anchor Link to the strap but there may be other methods of attachment to the strap itself that can be used. Still easy to remove links and swap out camera strap if required, you just need to unclip/clip 4 instead of two. I also needed to put a spring washer under the Anchor Points to stop them undoing themselves, they do not move at all now! This is as sturdy as it can get and is fail safe.

With other lighter lenses with a tripod foot, I just stay with the Peak Design single clips system and use a Peak design Slide Lite or Peak design Leash, mainly the leash as it stores easier and the thinner strap is not uncomfortable. I use this system on my Z 180-600, Z 600 PF. If it is a lens without a tripod foot, then it is the Peak Design system on the camera strap lugs. I just swap the Leash to the camera lugs where I have the Peak Design clips already mounted.

 

[Ltgk20]

Black Rapid Sport connected to the lens foot for me.

 

[bsinc1962]

I like Black Rapid straps but for a 600mm lens, make sure the strap is connected to the lens foot and not the camera body to reduce torque on the lens mount and potential for bending the mount.

^^^^^^
This

 

[Captain Spaulding]

PD Slide attached to the lens.

 

[Snapshot2020]

Black Rapid attached to the Lens foot plus a Safety Tether to the Camera Body. Black Rapid sells the safety tethers too.

 

[Wade Abadie]

I currently use a Black Rapid Sport with a QD swivel attached directly to the foot of my 500 f/4. I also have a somewhat homemade strap that I put together that attaches to the shoulder strap of my backpack that also has a QD swivel. Both have a safety tether that I attach to the strap slots on the tripod collar as well.

 

[wotan1]

I have tried both black rapid and holdfast both work but the Holdfast is more comfortable for me. The Holdfast moneymaker forms an X across the strong muscles of the back and it is a more natural strong position. It is made from thick belting leather (there are Vegan alternatives) the same materials used for horse harnesses and saddle straps. I use mine double duty for dog walking, I have two pushy dogs and walk both of them at the same time. Between them they weigh 3/4 of my weight and I am not a small person. I am frequently doing an Iron Cross with the leashes as they pull different directions. The Holdfast really works well for all of this and is very comfortable. The Holdfast however does nothing to keep the dogs from getting their leases tangled or wrapped around my legs. I guess nothing is perfect.

 

[Ken Miracle]

One of the biggest differences between Holdfast leather solo and the Black Rapids single I used to use is that the Holdfast never slides off my shoulder when I am lifting the camera to shoot at any angle. And yes as @wotan1 said it is "comfortable".

 

[MEhampshire]

Here are some related threads on BCG Forums. I use a Black Rapid Blackline II Double. I'm sure forum members will share what they use.

Hiking: Spider holster with Z8+600mm PF

I am considering buying the Spider system for my New Zealand trip using my Z8+600mm PF. I'm won't be doing long hikes, but probably hikes in the 1-2 mile range. Normally, using the combo while locally walking around, I'm able to handhold the lens while I walk, setting it down on a bench or...

bcgforums.com

Carrying Z9 + 400 TC 2.8

I have my peak designs strap connected to the brackets on either side of the lens but I keep getting tangled up in the strap when I carry it slung messenger bag style. I use a Kitk foot. Question is, would it be ill-advised to use a QD-type release and carry that way?

bcgforums.com

How do you lug around your big prime lens?

I just carry my Canon 500mm F4 MKI IS by it's lens foot or attached on the tripod but it gets a quite tiresome specially when moving around for a period of time. I do have Vanguard Alta 68 bag which I use often but sometimes I don't want to bring it specially when I'm just going somewhere...

bcgforums.com

Solution for hiking with two heavy-ish camera/lens combos?

I've been using a PD slide strap crossways with a d500 and 500mm pf hanging to the left. I have another PD slide strap lite going to the right side with a d7200 and 16-80mm. At the same time I have binoculars with a chest harness. I feed the PD strap ends through the "arm holes" of the chest...

bcgforums.com

Different ways to carry your telephoto in the field

Hi, I'm quite sure all of us I've spent countless hours to find the the most appropriate setup and I would like to share and collect your experiences: let say we talk of big telephoto 400/2.8 500/4 and so on with a camera attached to it obviously. my field's usage is mountain, walk of 10-15km...

bcgforums.com

Straps? Love 'em or Hate 'em?

I have a love/hate relationship with straps. Here's my story: Straps are great for moving bags and equipment from one place to another. But, when shooting they get in the way, make noise and get caught on things. When I got serious about photography about 10 years ago I decided that the OEM...

bcgforums.com

Oh one is my post, I ended up with Peak design slide. It's quite good so far it makes carrying 500mm F4 easy but I'll probably try Mr Jan carrier as well when I get a hand of it. The slide is a bit annoying sometimes when you have a backpack as you'd have to remove the strap to get to your bag.

 

[rbenjey]

I run a single point sling to the QD mount on the foot plate (my hand stays on the foot as well). I used to run an attachment to the foot plate and the L-bracket, but the way I preferred to carry, this would place stress on the lens mount pin over time (due to the mounting points rotating the lens towards the mount pin).