What a pain in the neck...

Daniela

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Hello everyone,
as someone who carries my camera around my neck (I have tried holding it but I don't like it), I'm struggling with neck discomfort and looking for solutions. I keep switching the broad strap that came with my N80, and that usually works in the wintertime, when I wear a scarf and the strap on top. However, spring has arrived and neck pain with it.

Can you recommend a strap? FWIW, I usually walk around for 2-3 hours at a time, camera around my neck the whole time. Also, I just weighed both my N80 and my FG and they both weigh around 700g, lenses included (that was a shock!).

Thank you!
 

AnselMortensen

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I prefer a strap made by OpTech, made of 'wetsuit'-type material.
It has a springy stretchiness that seems to make my camera feel lighter.
( I use it with my F3HP/MD-4 combo, and also my N90s/MB-10 combo. )
 

Anon Ymous

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Perhaps you could try a longer strap and hang the camera on your shoulder.
 

MattKing

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I like long camera straps worn crossbody.
Something like this internet image:
 

btaylor

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AnselMortensen said:
I prefer a strap made by OpTech, made of 'wetsuit'-type material.
It has a springy stretchiness that seems to make my camera feel lighter.
( I use it with my F3HP/MD-4 combo, and also my N90s/MB-10 combo. )
Click to expand...

+1 on the OpTech. I have a bunch of them.
 

Hassasin

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what kind of neck pain? Is this from sharp edges of the strap, in which case OpTech would help solve, or tissue/muscle pain from weight, where OpTech will kick the can down the road a bit.
 

Don_ih

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Daniela said:
I have tried holding it but I don't like it
Click to expand...

Perhaps you should try to do that a bit longer, though. You may not like it because of habit - you might get used to the feeling of having it in your hand. Some people wrap the neck strap around their wrist a few times instead of using a wrist strap.

Alternatively, you could get a harness, like this one:


That would put the bearing equally on your shoulders.
 

guangong

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All depends upon the makeup of the kit. For rf camera with 50mm or wider lens I use a wrist strap and carry camera in jacket pocket. Sometimes a 85 or 90mm lens in another pocket. Even a Nikon F or F2 with prism is pocketable. I often see folks carrying humongous camera-zoom lens combos and often wonder why. When asked why the heavy artillery, the usual reply is that they are “photographers”. That’s when I whip out my Minox.
If carrying a camera so heavy as to cause neck pain, why not use a small shoulder camera bag that fits camera?
 

blee1996

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Another vote for OpTech, especially for my heavier camera and lens combo. For example, Nikon F4 with 17-35/2.8, Pentax 6x7, Fujica G690 etc.

But for majority of my lighter cameras, e.g. Nikon FA/FM2/FG/EM, I use wrist straps either from OpTech, Peak Design, or generic brand. Wrist straps are more stealth, and faster.
 

loccdor

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MattKing said:
I like long camera straps worn crossbody.
Click to expand...

This is my strategy too. Crossbody is much more comfortable. As you mention they need to be a little longer than a strap you would just hang from your neck.
 

fgorga

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I agree with all of those saying a cross body strap is the way to go. I also like products from Op/Tech.

The harness idea is also a good one. I use a harness with my binoculars which I often carry along with the camera.
 
OP
OP

Daniela

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Thanks for all the suggestions. The pain/discomfort is due to the weight of the cameras.

I'll give an OpTech neck one a try, first. I hate anything one-sided (like a sling) and the harness seems like too much, but I might consider it if there isn't any other choice.

Thank you!
 

cliveh

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Why not sell both cameras and buy a Leica II with a 50mm lens. Small and lightweight it will fit in a pocket. You can then go looking for a hole in a fence behind the Gare Saint-Lazare.
 

jeffreyg

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If you’re not in a rush to grab a shot think about a day pack. Easy to distribute the weight and you might carry an extra lens. I (used to) carry a Hasselblad, light meter, a couple of rolls of film and an additional lens that way. Not a full backpack but it carries the weight the same way. You might find room for even a snack.
 

Roger Thoms

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Last edited:

grain elevator

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Don_ih said:
erhaps you should try to do that a bit longer, though. You may not like it because of habit - you might get used to the feeling of having it in your hand. Some people wrap the neck strap around their wrist a few times instead of using a wrist strap.
Click to expand...
I'll pile on this, although I also use straps cross-body as well as from the neck. There are multiple ways of carrying a camera in hand and one might need to figure out the right one. I carry a 35mm camera in my left hand, thumb and index finger around the lens, body on the palm, so I don't have to change the position of that hand to use it. A wrist strap or the neck strap slung around the wrist helps for a secure feeling.
Neck strap always hurts after an hour or so.
 

MattKing

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Daniela said:
I hate anything one-sided (like a sling) and the harness seems like too much, but I might consider it if there isn't any other choice.
Click to expand...

For clarity, I don't use a one-sided connection - the strap ends attach to the two different loops.
If I'm carrying a bag, the camera goes cross-body on one shoulder, and the bag goes cross-body on the other. It looks like cross-bandoliers!
 

abruzzi

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