Best shoulder strap?

[Kenty]

I have recently purchased a Canon 80d and would like a good quality shoulder strap. I believe I should be looking for a quality attachment to the camera, soft neoprene shoulder pad and the camera is easy to grab from the hanging position - but what strap does this best? What single camera strap is the easiest to fit and doesn't make you look like a trussed up chicken?
Any advice on what to get that fulfills this criteria?

[corozin]

I recently bought one on eBay and it's doing it's job pretty well so far. Not bad value considering that "premium" straps go for upwards of £80

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quick-Rapid-Single-Shoul...

[ecsrobin]

I use black rapid (as do a lot of photographers at Goodwood it would appear) expensive but worth it.

They have a large range so worth checking them out t9 find one that suits you.

[Turn7]

I went for the Peak Design Slide, found it works very well.

Ive also now added the Clutch for home use.

Its nice to be able to QR either strap fitted, and it doesnt swivel like the Black Rapids do.

[Gad-Westy]

corozin said:

I recently bought one on eBay and it's doing it's job pretty well so far. Not bad value considering that "premium" straps go for upwards of £80

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quick-Rapid-Single-Shoul...

I bought one of those myself. Maybe they're better these days but I found it a huge frustration. The webbing straps were far too flexible which meant that the they were forever getting twisted around. The stiching came away on just about everything and I also had one of the clips break on mine after only a few weeks. Didn't instill much confidence.

I ended up buying a Black Rapid RS-7 which cost a huge amount more but was miles better. I'm still not sure how a strap ends up costing so much but I'm happy with the outcome. Or I was until I lost it!

Slumming it with a black rapid metro at the moment which is brilliant for small cameras but hopeless for bigger DSLR's. Will grab another RS7 soon.

[maccboy]

corozin said:

I recently bought one on eBay and it's doing it's job pretty well so far. Not bad value considering that "premium" straps go for upwards of £80

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quick-Rapid-Single-Shoul...

That's the same one as mine. I've had it for about 18 months and it's still really useful and looks like new. Great value!

[Otispunkmeyer]

I use a Joby Sling Strap. Very comfortable and has like a lock/clutch type thing so you can pull the thing short and lock it to keep you camera out of the way, then you just flick it loose, grab your camera and pull and the sling extends.

[threespires]

corozin said:

I recently bought one on eBay and it's doing it's job pretty well so far. Not bad value considering that "premium" straps go for upwards of £80

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quick-Rapid-Single-Shoul...

I have a pair of these too, perfect when carrying two cameras. Highly recommended, no irritation even after a few hours.

[tog]

I've used Domke Gripper steps for years. Thin so they don't get in the way, grippy so they don't slip off.

[C&C]

Blackrapiid RS4 here. Have had 2 of these for years. I find them really comfortable, even carrying 2 x DLRs, and like the way the camera hangs upside down with the lens pointing backwards by your hip. Will happily sit under a jacket so less obtrusive, and very quick to pick up with either hand. I actually clip them into the ring of an ARCA QR plate which is permanently on the camera base, so if needed to tripod mount, it's quick to unclip the strap.

[pidsy]

another Peak design user here.

got a couple of summit editions - the burnt orange is nicer than the blue. expensive but very usable.

[Nigel_O]

Another advocate for BlackRapid - I used to have an RS7 Cargo, but I never used the various pockets, so I gave it to one of my lads and bought myself a Sport Breathe. Nice and comfortable even with a full-frame body, battery grip and big lens.

The main aspect for me is that it's easy to walk around without hanging onto the camera - it just hangs neatly on my right side, at waist level. As someone has said above, it hangs upside down, with the lens pointing rearwards, so its an absolute doddle to grab it and bring it into use

Yes, its fairly pricey, but on some occasions, there's four grand of kit hanging off it, so £80-ish is a small price to pay for the confidence

[pete]

I love my Optech USA camera strap. I have one on my 6D that I've been using on and off for 25 years (it was originally on a Canon T90 and F1N)! They're cheap too, under £20 from WEX etc.

[Kenty]

Thanks for all the replies! Helped a lot and have finally settled on a. Black rapid breath, it seems to do the job and almost a reasonable price. I travel a lot but only carry my camera for an hour or two at a time - not usually all day so it seemed to fit the criteria quite well.

[_dobbo_]

pete said:

I love my Optech USA camera strap. I have one on my 6D that I've been using on and off for 25 years (it was originally on a Canon T90 and F1N)! They're cheap too, under £20 from WEX etc.

Love my optech too, the slightly elastic nature makes heavy cameras much less painful when using for a long time.

[tenohfive]

Otispunkmeyer said:

I use a Joby Sling Strap. Very comfortable and has like a lock/clutch type thing so you can pull the thing short and lock it to keep you camera out of the way, then you just flick it loose, grab your camera and pull and the sling extends.

Same, having experimented with various options as soon as I'd got the Joby I was sold. Sits out of the way but snug and safe, even when worn with a rucksack (including a multi-day camping trip loaded ruck.) Great bit of kit.

[Smollet]

tenohfive said:

Otispunkmeyer said:

I use a Joby Sling Strap. Very comfortable and has like a lock/clutch type thing so you can pull the thing short and lock it to keep you camera out of the way, then you just flick it loose, grab your camera and pull and the sling extends.

Same, having experimented with various options as soon as I'd got the Joby I was sold. Sits out of the way but snug and safe, even when worn with a rucksack (including a multi-day camping trip loaded ruck.) Great bit of kit.

I've got this strap and it works very well. Amazon are selling them for @ £28. You can get cheaper versions but for the sake of a few quid I'd rather have a decently made one to save your camera from hitting the deck which I know of one instance when someone bought a cheap make and it snapped.

[tenohfive]

Sod the deck, I've had my camera hit my knee after a stumble and a cheaper strap. With the tank-like Tokina 11-16 on I was gasping on the floor in pain for a couple of minutes before I was able to regain my composure and start cursing at previous strap.

[Otispunkmeyer]

Nigel_O said:

Another advocate for BlackRapid - I used to have an RS7 Cargo, but I never used the various pockets, so I gave it to one of my lads and bought myself a Sport Breathe. Nice and comfortable even with a full-frame body, battery grip and big lens.

The main aspect for me is that it's easy to walk around without hanging onto the camera - it just hangs neatly on my right side, at waist level. As someone has said above, it hangs upside down, with the lens pointing rearwards, so its an absolute doddle to grab it and bring it into use

Yes, its fairly pricey, but on some occasions, there's four grand of kit hanging off it, so £80-ish is a small price to pay for the confidence

Just had a look... that does look rather good. Is the bit that goes under your pit irritating at all though?

[dogbucket]

Sun-Sniper for me