Jimmy Olsen
Member
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2012
- Messages
- 91
For the last 15 years I've been shooting exclusively with inexpensive point and shoots. Wanting to become a better photographer (and be able to actually get pictures of my kids playing sports) I purchased a Panasonic G3. I used it on my backpacking trip last year and am loving everything about the camera, so far (hoping to get the 20mm pancake before I leave!!!).
My frustration, however, is finding a convenient way to keep the camera accessible with a pack on and finding a comfortable way to carry it with a pack off. My opttech neck strap is uncomfortable. I could have just bought the wrong one but I don't like the weight of the camera around my neck (even though it is a pretty light camera) or the way it swings when I walk.
I thought I landed on an ideal solution for the former with the Clik Access. It's small and light weight. It fastens to my pack—without too much issue. Taking the camera out and inserting it a hundred or so times a day, however, became a chore...almost to the point where I'd skip a shot just to not have to fumble with it. Blasphemy! I know.
I started the hike taking the neck strap off when inserting the camera in the chest pouch. When I broke for lunch the first day, without securing the zipper completely, I almost lost my camera in Sawtooth Lake. It bounced off a few rocks but, thankfully, landed short of the water and did not suffer any damage. For the remainder of the trip, I left the strap around my neck while hiking. Like I said, I could have just bought the wrong one but the strap got real annoying real quick.
Pack-off breaks meant zipping up the camera pouch and unclipping two of the four clips securing it to the backpack, unclipping my chest strap, loosening and unclipping my shoulder harness and belt, etc. After a while I just stopped taking my pack off while my buddies lounged and stretched. That may sound a bit whiney but it was just easier to leave everything on if only taking a 5-10 minute break.
In anticipation of my trip this year (Grand Canyon) I've been researching alternatives.
The first thing that caught my eye was the Capture Clip (which lead to the Spider Holster and the Cotton Carrier) and am hoping someone here has used this setup (preferable with a m4/3 camera) and can give some advice. For those not familiar, the CC is a plate that screws into the tripod mount at the base of your camera and slides into a clip that secures to a belt or backpack harness. Of the 3 systems mentioned above the Capture Clip seems to be the best for my needs—and they recently released a smaller, m4/3s specific plate.
While reading about the Capture Clip I also came across the Black Rapid sling (the Sport Slim or Metro look nice). For the days I'd just be walking around or doing a day hike (no pack) this seems like it would work pretty good. Peak Designs (the makers of the Capture Clip) also make a hand strap and sling that look promising.
So, I guess my questions are...
Has anyone used the Capture Clip (or similar) while backpacking?
If so, did you like it, or have any issues?
Does anyone use the Black Rapid (or similar sling) with a m4/3s camera?
For those of you that use the Clik Access, do you experience the same frustrations?
My photography skills at this point are far outpaced by my camera hardware. But I want to learn and having a more frustration free experience will go a long way.
Thanks in advance for your help?
My frustration, however, is finding a convenient way to keep the camera accessible with a pack on and finding a comfortable way to carry it with a pack off. My opttech neck strap is uncomfortable. I could have just bought the wrong one but I don't like the weight of the camera around my neck (even though it is a pretty light camera) or the way it swings when I walk.
I thought I landed on an ideal solution for the former with the Clik Access. It's small and light weight. It fastens to my pack—without too much issue. Taking the camera out and inserting it a hundred or so times a day, however, became a chore...almost to the point where I'd skip a shot just to not have to fumble with it. Blasphemy! I know.
I started the hike taking the neck strap off when inserting the camera in the chest pouch. When I broke for lunch the first day, without securing the zipper completely, I almost lost my camera in Sawtooth Lake. It bounced off a few rocks but, thankfully, landed short of the water and did not suffer any damage. For the remainder of the trip, I left the strap around my neck while hiking. Like I said, I could have just bought the wrong one but the strap got real annoying real quick.
Pack-off breaks meant zipping up the camera pouch and unclipping two of the four clips securing it to the backpack, unclipping my chest strap, loosening and unclipping my shoulder harness and belt, etc. After a while I just stopped taking my pack off while my buddies lounged and stretched. That may sound a bit whiney but it was just easier to leave everything on if only taking a 5-10 minute break.
In anticipation of my trip this year (Grand Canyon) I've been researching alternatives.
The first thing that caught my eye was the Capture Clip (which lead to the Spider Holster and the Cotton Carrier) and am hoping someone here has used this setup (preferable with a m4/3 camera) and can give some advice. For those not familiar, the CC is a plate that screws into the tripod mount at the base of your camera and slides into a clip that secures to a belt or backpack harness. Of the 3 systems mentioned above the Capture Clip seems to be the best for my needs—and they recently released a smaller, m4/3s specific plate.
While reading about the Capture Clip I also came across the Black Rapid sling (the Sport Slim or Metro look nice). For the days I'd just be walking around or doing a day hike (no pack) this seems like it would work pretty good. Peak Designs (the makers of the Capture Clip) also make a hand strap and sling that look promising.
So, I guess my questions are...
Has anyone used the Capture Clip (or similar) while backpacking?
If so, did you like it, or have any issues?
Does anyone use the Black Rapid (or similar sling) with a m4/3s camera?
For those of you that use the Clik Access, do you experience the same frustrations?
My photography skills at this point are far outpaced by my camera hardware. But I want to learn and having a more frustration free experience will go a long way.
Thanks in advance for your help?