Tips to balance the camera with flash around your neck?

Hi everyone,

 

This may sound silly, but when I carry my camera (Nikon D80) with flash (SB 800) around my neck, the weight of the flash makes it

constantly tip forward. If I put the strap around my opposite shoulder it helps, but I feel like I am less quick with the camera.

 

Does anyone have any helpful hints to carrying your primary camera?

When I am shooting an event I use a Really Right Rtuff "Wedding Pro Flash" bracket and I will many times simply

hold onto the camera/flash combo by carrying it by the bracket itself. I have a Domke Gripper Strap on my camera

which I also use to put the entire setup over a shoulder (not opposite shoulder) and that seems to work but I wouldn't

ever put it simply over my neck as the neck strain can't be good given the weight involved (I typically use a D300 and

a 17-55/2.8 with the SB-800).

I don't use a strap. It posed problems for me, getting caught on chairs, rails, stairs and pretty ladies!

 

So I don't use a strap on my neck or anywhere for that matter. Just to let you know I usually have a PWizard on the flash

hot shoe and use off camera flashes.

 

Hope this helps you!

I never use the straps around my neck when I'm actually shooting - only transitioning from place to place. I also don't let my assistant's use the strap around their necks either. I can't get the camera fast enough. They don't dare do it either because they know I'll probably choke them while I'm trying to get the shot or pull their arm off while they're struggling to get loose of it. ;-)

Generally, I'd say you will have to find a solution that works for you, because people all have their own likes and dislikes. However, the simple solution is to change the distribution of weight via the connection point between the strap and camera. Try a Black Rapid strap, which would put the connection point under the camera, so the camera and flash would hang down flat against you. Or use a strap system (hand strap or vertical grip) that connects to the camera via lugs on the right side.

Thanks for all the responses! I like the idea of the Black Rapid strap and the hand strap, so I'll check those out.

First of all, if it's your main camera it wouldn't need to hang around your neck, it should be in your hands shooting! :)

 

When I use my second camera from my shoulder, I just swap them.

 

 

Lou

I'll admit that while shooting with flash, I do use a strap, but only to "rest" my arms when not shooting. My hands are still around the camera, ready to bring it up at a moment's notice, but the strap serves to allow some of the weight to rest on my neck instead of my arms, which needs to remain rested for a steady shot.

 

That said, for shorter events, no strap. It all really depends on the length of the event. ;)

I leave the strap on but not around my neck- I wrap it once around my right hand for safety.