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What a pain in the neck...

Daniela

Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2017
Messages
1,184
Location
France
Format
Multi Format
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!
 
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. )
 
Perhaps you could try a longer strap and hang the camera on your shoulder.
 
I like long camera straps worn crossbody.
Something like this internet image:
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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?
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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!
 
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.
 
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.
 
Last edited:
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.
 
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!
 
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