I know this post will get downvoted to oblivion but I’m genuinely curious. I hear lots of talk saying that heavy gear and lenses cause people neck pain and it hurts to carry all that ‘weight’ around. I’m currently hauling a Sony a7iii with the Samyang 24-70, the heaviest standard zoom lens for that mount, and the whole setup is around 1,6kg; I’m a concert photographer and am no stranger to having the camera around my neck or in my hands for up to 3 hours at a time. However I NEVER experienced any discomfort, matter of fact I enjoy the feeling of weight in my hands. So my question is, how come so many people complain about this problem and are seeking to cull every gram from their gear? Are people too weak to carry a mere kilo around their neck? I genuinely cannot understand
For that camera, I would go with a belt clip system, something like:
I’m with you when it comes to work. I wouldn’t think twice about dual wielding a 24-70 f/2.8 and 70-200 f/2.8 when that’s the right kit for the job. It’s also not that taxing to carry them for 3 songs, take your crowd shots, and chill until the next artist comes on.
In the day to day, though? Fuck that. A single body and your flavour of the month prime is the way to go 9 times out of 10. The kit weighs a lot more when you’re not being paid to carry it.
Personally it’s your choice, you like default neck straps that’s fine.
I use a blackrapid strap as it gives me the freedom of dropping my camera to my hip and running if I need to or quick shots. For me if I’d use a neck strap I can see my camera taking a dive to the ground or jumping up and hitting my face.
So your strap works for your shooting style. That’s great for me, it wouldn’t.
Peak design capture clip with ccw belt.
Get a Spider Holster and carry it on your waist.
For those not wanting to sling things around their neck and shoulders, check out Think Tank’s Speed Belt and bags (like the Speed Changer). I have the belt + 3 bags (usually only use two at a time) and it has been very nice to take the weight off of my shoulder (used a messenger bag before). Only downside is that sometimes your shirt rides up and then you kind of feel exposed at the midriff.
What i don’t get is why out the sling on your neck? I always kept it over my shoulder
never had any pain, but my telephoto alone weighs more than your setup there, and many professionals will shoot for more than 3h
I don’t use neck straps, I don’t any holders, just my hand on a grip of the body, zero neck pain, and my setup varries between 1.5kg to 3kg+. On the heaviest side, my upper back starts to show some complaints after longer time of shooting. But I don’t use that setup often, otherwise monopod would be introduced.
Not everyone is a concert photographer OP. Some people are nature/landscape who need to hike for miles to take their shot. Others are event photographers who need to be quick on their feet to get to where the action is at.
Also not everyone has a healthy pain-free body. If you’ve injured your neck, back, knees, wrists, or are just older, but you still love photography, you want as light a kit as possible.
Just because you’ve “never” experienced any discomfort, doesn’t mean other people haven’t.
My heaviest hike was few hours with 10kg backpack with gear. I did it 3 days in a row, and took some nice photos.
Next week I’m going for 4 days, but reduce my load to ~6kg.
I hear lots of talk saying that heavy gear and lenses cause people neck pain
I disagree with respect to this subreddit. I see a lot of what goes on around here, and I do not see much talk about that here at all.
Also it seems like most of the people posting here do not use a neck strap and instead use a shoulder or cross-body strap, or a holster.
So maybe this is not a great place for the target audience of your question.
how come so many people complain about this problem and are seeking to cull every gram from their gear? Are people too weak to carry a mere kilo around their neck?
Fatigue, strain, and other forms of discomfort are not necessarily the same issue as lack of strength.
But yeah, some people will feel pain in situations where you don’t, and vice versa. Different people are different. If you’re comfortable with your neck strap, that’s great for you. If someone else has problems with their neck strap, I’m pretty sure they aren’t just making it up. They’re just not as lucky as you. It’s okay for them to want to do something about it, even if you don’t need to.
Also it seems like most of the people posting here do not use a neck strap and instead use a shoulder or cross-body strap, or a holster.
I don’t understand why anyone would use a neck strap. Black Rapid all the way!
Where are all the complaints you claim to be seeing here?
Carrying camera gear fucks up your neck and shoulders because it’s not ergonomic design, not because people are weak. I got a vest that holds my camera and very heavy wildlife lenses and keeps the weight on my chest and hips instead of my neck and shoulders. Lifesaving.
Also “a mere kilo” my dude my BATTERIES weigh a kilo.
I dont have the camera around my neck, and i also never have a strap around my camera since its like impossible to have a useful one with an R6 plus battery grip.
Yes its heavy, but thats mostly due to lenses and battery grip.
But you either have a good backpack or any bag you can easily take with you or at least reduce the gear you are taking with you(leave the rest in the car for example)
Thats how i do it.I have a sidebag for quite some time now but i am considering going back to a backpack beacuse its not so one sided. I had problems with my shoulders once but the best solution is to think before you shoot and just take with you what you really need or want to test out.
Problem is i love to use prime lenses, so i have like 5 primes and one zoom.
3 hours with one camera and one lens is not even comparable to normal event photography that can easily go 8-12 hours and involves multiple lenses, sometimes dual cameras, and lighting.