Tripod Mount Camera Straps

[tonyci]

I am in the market for a replacement strap for my 5d MK4. The supplied strap is safe but not very comfortable. I usually carry gear in a camera back pack, but there are times when I walk around without the need for the back pack. Most of the straps I have seen in stores are the type that screw into the tripod socket. Looking at my canon at least the base of the camera surrounding the tripod mount looks like its plastic. Not sure I would want a 5D Mk4 and say 70 - 200 lens hanging on such a strap mount.
What do others feel about camera straps attached to the tripod mount ?.
Cheers
Tony

[AK83]

..... The supplied strap is safe but not very comfortable. I usually carry gear in a camera back pack, but there are times when I walk around without the need for the back pack.

...... Looking at my canon at least the base of the camera surrounding the tripod mount looks like its plastic. Not sure I would want a 5D Mk4 and say 70 - 200 lens hanging on such a strap mount.
What do others feel about camera straps attached to the tripod mount ?.
.....

Personally I wouldn't do it(and don't).

I have minimal experience with Canon cameras, and zero with the 5DMkIV, but ... if the tripod surround looks plastic, it's only superficial.
The body itself is magnesium, and the tripod socket screw will be anchored deeper into that magnesium body. Not just on the outside.
So to mount the camera(+whatever lens) to the body and then to a tripod is no different to mounting the strap to that tripod socket either.

The Canon 24-70/2.8 has a weight of nearly 1kg, which is not too far off what some of the 70-200's weigh, and that lens mounted to the body has to be held up via that tripod socket when mounted to a tripod(which I assume wouldn't be uncommon).
So I doubt that there is any weakness in the 5DMk4's tripod socket.

The question arises(for you) if this is going to be a comfortable manner in which to carry the camera(and any attached lens).
The issue for me wouldn't be the strain on the tripod socket, but more so the strain on the camera's lens mount anyhow!

Do you use any particular tripod release plate system.
If you haven't had any experience with the Arca swiss QR system, I recommend you look into them/those.
If you already have a tripod release system(eg. Manfrotto), I can highly recommend a wholesale switch to an Arca Swiss type for ease of use and extra stability.
I generally use and prefer the products from a bloke called Hejnar(Google his website).

I know of camera straps that incorporate a Arca Swiss release plate setup .. but this implies that you have a quick release plate on the camera at all times too tho.

Another point to note too: how do you use the camera's strap. Do you use it as a neck strap or shoulder strap.
My understanding of the camera strap is that it is a shoulder strap, not a neck strap, as is the way I see most folks using it!
They're best used as shoulder straps and should cause little to no discomfort when used in this way.
If you haven't tried it this way, I suggest you try and see if that helps a little.

Of the once or twice that I have used my camera strap, it's only ever used over the shoulder .. but I 'never' use it, and prefer to carry camera in hand all the time, otherwise the camera is tripod mounted and tripod slung over the shoulder.

But!! the one thing you really don't want to be doing is, mounting the 70-200 (which I assume is the f/2.8) .. and using a strap on the camera body at all! the weight of the lens on the lens mount could distort it enough to make a major difference.
You're better off using a strap on the lens(foot) so that the lens carries the weight of the camera(ie. as it would when tripod mounted!)

So .. if that was something you're looking to do, then a strap with a quick release plate for mounting to the lens is best advised.

Hope that helps.

[Bytemrk]

I think AK83's point about weight on the lens mount is the most important point - you would be crazy to rely purely on the camera body tripod mount.

I also don't have any experience with Canon bodies or lenses either , but I have used a Nikon D750 with a battery grip and 70-200 f/2.8 lens with a sling style strap and actually didn't mind it.

The strap I was using was a Carrryspeed similar to this:

Ron Paulk's take on the Carry Speed FS-Pro Camera Sling - YouTube

The one I have allows me to hang the main strap off the tripod foot of the lens - and a second off the camera body. ( I feel a little more comfortable with more than 1 attachment point)


I certainly don't use it all the time, in fact I tend to swap around between 2-3 different straps depending what I am doing. But at times I do find the sling quite useful.