How to dual wield cameras with big lenses?

[Brett8883]

I’ve agreed to shoot a friend of a friend’s engagement party and while I’m confident I can get good photos I’m an architectural photographer who takes his good ole time taking photos with prime lenses so I’m ever so slightly worried about the fast paced environment. I’m thinking about renting a second Sony A7RIV so I can have my choice of primes from either camera or go with a 24-70 2.8 on one and a prime (probably 85 1.4 or 135 1.8) on the other.

I know lots of photographers dual wield cameras like this but how do you comfortably and safety carry two cameras with big lenses like this? Is there a like harness or something?



thanks!

 

[dmanthree]

Black Rapid dual camera harness. Designed for just that purpose.

 

[Smaug01]

One on each side.

I only have one, but it seems like they'd balance each other out if you had one across each shoulder.

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www.caselogic.com

It's the best way I've found for having a heavy rig be handy.

 

[John Crowe]

Those are not particularly big lenses. I think for one event you can make do.

For most of my digital years I have had one crop body and one full frame, and would often simply split the event into segments where I would be shooting one or the other.

The last wedding I did I had the two cameras but had to rent a zoom for the second body. It was well worthwhile. I used a third lens for some specialty photos.

 

[Bob A L]

Rent a wider range zoom.

 

[Gato Amarillo]

Two cameras is always a good idea for this kind of thing, for both flexibility and backup. If those are your available lens choices I'd go with the 24-70 and 85.

Many event photographers use 24-70 plus a 70-200 -- which is more what I thought of when you said "big" lenses. Do you know what the lighting will be like, and have you thought about a flash?

When I did news coverage I kept it pretty basic, with just a couple of standard straps about an inch wide. The main camera was around my neck riding on my lower chest. The secondary strap was on my left shoulder with the camera at a convenient height for me to rest my left hand on it. That way I could rest my arm a bit, and also could put tension on the strap to keep it from jumping off my shoulder when I was walking or running. The downside, of course, is that shoulder strap can slip off -- you have to be aware of that.

Some of my colleagues put both cameras around their neck riding one above the other in front.

Or you can go across the body with one or both straps, if you can keep from getting tangled up.

And you will get plenty of suggestions for the various harness systems -- which can be a good way to go if you do this on a regular basis but can be expensive for a one-time deal.

Gato

 

[commiebiker]

 

[Lensmate]

I’ve agreed to shoot a friend of a friend’s engagement party and while I’m confident I can get good photos I’m an architectural photographer who takes his good ole time taking photos with prime lenses so I’m ever so slightly worried about the fast paced environment. I’m thinking about renting a second Sony A7RIV so I can have my choice of primes from either camera or go with a 24-70 2.8 on one and a prime (probably 85 1.4 or 135 1.8) on the other.

I know lots of photographers dual wield cameras like this but how do you comfortably and safety carry two cameras with big lenses like this? Is there a like harness or something?

thanks!

A compact messenger-style camera bag:

Manfrotto Manhattan Speedy-30 Messenger (Gray) MB MN-M-SD-30 B&H (bhphotovideo.com)

-M

 

[Brett8883]

All good suggestions thanks guys!

 

[Brett8883]

Two cameras is always a good idea for this kind of thing, for both flexibility and backup. If those are your available lens choices I'd go with the 24-70 and 85.

I’ve got:

12-24 2.8

24-70 2.8

70-200 2.8

35 1.4

50 1.4

85 1.4

135 1.8

Open to suggestions for two lens pairing.

I also have a 70-200 2.8 but no way I’m gonna lug that thing around all night.

Many event photographers use 24-70 plus a 70-200 -- which is more what I thought of when you said "big" lenses. Do you know what the lighting will be like, and have you thought about a flash?

Yea that’s for bring this up that was gonna be my next question. It’s outdoors early evening into dinner time. It’s summer here in the states so stays light pretty late but will certainly need some fill flash.

They are going to give me an area where I can set up an outdoor studio scene for portraits where I can put up stationary strobes or continuous lights so I’m set on that but I am not sure what I’m gonna do for when I’m walking around yet and open to suggestions. Preferably a way to use only one flash that will work for both cameras. I’ve got a Godox V860 II

 

[Brett8883]

Lol

I like it!

 

[TacticDesigns]

I’ve agreed to shoot a friend of a friend’s engagement party and while I’m confident I can get good photos I’m an architectural photographer who takes his good ole time taking photos with prime lenses so I’m ever so slightly worried about the fast paced environment. I’m thinking about renting a second Sony A7RIV so I can have my choice of primes from either camera or go with a 24-70 2.8 on one and a prime (probably 85 1.4 or 135 1.8) on the other.

I know lots of photographers dual wield cameras like this but how do you comfortably and safety carry two cameras with big lenses like this? Is there a like harness or something?

thanks!

For years I used to shoot 2 cameras at my daughters' gymnastics and cheer competitions.

Telephoto zoom for isolated shots, and wide angle zoom for environmental shots or shots of the entire team.

During a routine too many shots would be lost to by swapping lenses. <2 minute routine. A lot faster to just change cameras than lenses.

What I would do is have the strap of the camera with the telephoto lens around my neck.

And I'd have a messenger style camera bag on my shoulder. Inside it I would have the camera with the wide angle zoom. But there is lots of space for other stuff in the bag, like spare memory cards, batteries, lenses, flash unit.

If I was shooting with the telephoto, I could quickly let that camera dangle by my side as I'd grab the wide-angle camera from the messenger bag.

And . . . I was completely mobile with that set-up.

As a parent shooting cheer, as soon as the performance is over, you had to get up and leave quickly to let the next set of parents move in, so I needed a set-up that I could move quickly with.

Take care & Happy Shooting!

 

[used5dsquared]

I’ve agreed to shoot a friend of a friend’s engagement party and while I’m confident I can get good photos I’m an architectural photographer who takes his good ole time taking photos with prime lenses so I’m ever so slightly worried about the fast paced environment. I’m thinking about renting a second Sony A7RIV so I can have my choice of primes from either camera or go with a 24-70 2.8 on one and a prime (probably 85 1.4 or 135 1.8) on the other.

I know lots of photographers dual wield cameras like this but how do you comfortably and safety carry two cameras with big lenses like this? Is there a like harness or something?

thanks!

These are what I use for weddings and they're amazing. Two connection points on the camera, one on the bottom of the camera as the main holding point and a second safety strap that I attach to the left-hand side of the camera. Plus they're comfortable to wear.

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holdfastgear.com

 

[Gato Amarillo]

snip

They are going to give me an area where I can set up an outdoor studio scene for portraits where I can put up stationary strobes or continuous lights so I’m set on that but I am not sure what I’m gonna do for when I’m walking around yet and open to suggestions. Preferably a way to use only one flash that will work for both cameras. I’ve got a Godox V860 II

For this kind of deal there's a lot to be said for TTL flash on the camera. If you get good moments and good expressions no one will gripe about the lighting. (OK, maybe some grumpy old rule-bound photographer might pick at it, but none of the real people.)

Gato

 

[Gato Amarillo]

...

These are what I use for weddings and they're amazing. Two connection points on the camera, one on the bottom of the camera as the main holding point and a second safety strap that I attach to the left-hand side of the camera. Plus they're comfortable to wear.

https://holdfastgear.com/products/camera-swagg

Love the idea of the safety straps!

 

[TacticDesigns]

snip

They are going to give me an area where I can set up an outdoor studio scene for portraits where I can put up stationary strobes or continuous lights so I’m set on that but I am not sure what I’m gonna do for when I’m walking around yet and open to suggestions. Preferably a way to use only one flash that will work for both cameras. I’ve got a Godox V860 II

For this kind of deal there's a lot to be said for TTL flash on the camera. If you get good moments and good expressions no one will gripe about the lighting. (OK, maybe some grumpy old rule-bound photographer might pick at it, but none of the real people.)

Gato

For receptions, I have used off camera flash.

Not much but a few times.

The benefit of off camera flash is that you can hold the flash unit up high and get the shadows down low, out of frame.

You can also drag the shutter, with a shot that brings in a lot of motion blur, and then manually trigger the flash with your other hand (while holding the flash off the camera) to highlight and freeze the dancers on the floor.

Those 2 things alone are IMHO to big "pros" for using off camera flash for something like this.

Take care & Happy Shooting!

 

[Gato Amarillo]

snip

They are going to give me an area where I can set up an outdoor studio scene for portraits where I can put up stationary strobes or continuous lights so I’m set on that but I am not sure what I’m gonna do for when I’m walking around yet and open to suggestions. Preferably a way to use only one flash that will work for both cameras. I’ve got a Godox V860 II

For this kind of deal there's a lot to be said for TTL flash on the camera. If you get good moments and good expressions no one will gripe about the lighting. (OK, maybe some grumpy old rule-bound photographer might pick at it, but none of the real people.)

Gato

For receptions, I have used off camera flash.

Not much but a few times.

The benefit of off camera flash is that you can hold the flash unit up high and get the shadows down low, out of frame.

You can also drag the shutter, with a shot that brings in a lot of motion blur, and then manually trigger the flash with your other hand (while holding the flash off the camera) to highlight and freeze the dancers on the floor.

Those 2 things alone are IMHO to big "pros" for using off camera flash for something like this.

Take care & Happy Shooting!

I have used a remote cord and a quick detach bracket so I could do hand-held flash or keep it attached to the camera, depending on the situation.

 

[TacticDesigns]

snip

They are going to give me an area where I can set up an outdoor studio scene for portraits where I can put up stationary strobes or continuous lights so I’m set on that but I am not sure what I’m gonna do for when I’m walking around yet and open to suggestions. Preferably a way to use only one flash that will work for both cameras. I’ve got a Godox V860 II

Can you just swap the flash between the cameras?

Swapping flash units IMHO is a lot quicker than swapping lenses.

Just take-off, put-on. And then make sure your settings are good to go.

For this kind of deal there's a lot to be said for TTL flash on the camera. If you get good moments and good expressions no one will gripe about the lighting. (OK, maybe some grumpy old rule-bound photographer might pick at it, but none of the real people.)

Gato

For receptions, I have used off camera flash.

Not much but a few times.

The benefit of off camera flash is that you can hold the flash unit up high and get the shadows down low, out of frame.

You can also drag the shutter, with a shot that brings in a lot of motion blur, and then manually trigger the flash with your other hand (while holding the flash off the camera) to highlight and freeze the dancers on the floor.

Those 2 things alone are IMHO to big "pros" for using off camera flash for something like this.

Take care & Happy Shooting!

I have used a remote cord and a quick detach bracket so I could do hand-held flash or keep it attached to the camera, depending on the situation.

+1

That sounds like an optimal set-up!

Take care & Happy Shooting!

 

[commiebiker]

snip

They are going to give me an area where I can set up an outdoor studio scene for portraits where I can put up stationary strobes or continuous lights so I’m set on that but I am not sure what I’m gonna do for when I’m walking around yet and open to suggestions. Preferably a way to use only one flash that will work for both cameras. I’ve got a Godox V860 II

Can you just swap the flash between the cameras?

Swapping flash units IMHO is a lot quicker than swapping lenses.

Just take-off, put-on. And then make sure your settings are good to go.

For this kind of deal there's a lot to be said for TTL flash on the camera. If you get good moments and good expressions no one will gripe about the lighting. (OK, maybe some grumpy old rule-bound photographer might pick at it, but none of the real people.)

Gato

For receptions, I have used off camera flash.

Not much but a few times.

The benefit of off camera flash is that you can hold the flash unit up high and get the shadows down low, out of frame.

You can also drag the shutter, with a shot that brings in a lot of motion blur, and then manually trigger the flash with your other hand (while holding the flash off the camera) to highlight and freeze the dancers on the floor.

Those 2 things alone are IMHO to big "pros" for using off camera flash for something like this.

Take care & Happy Shooting!

I have used a remote cord and a quick detach bracket so I could do hand-held flash or keep it attached to the camera, depending on the situation.

+1

That sounds like an optimal set-up!

Take care & Happy Shooting!

for indoor settings I'll set up 2 remote flashes on stands diagonally opposite in the room. Depending on the venue, might even bounce them off the ceiling.

 

[Brett8883]

snip

They are going to give me an area where I can set up an outdoor studio scene for portraits where I can put up stationary strobes or continuous lights so I’m set on that but I am not sure what I’m gonna do for when I’m walking around yet and open to suggestions. Preferably a way to use only one flash that will work for both cameras. I’ve got a Godox V860 II

For this kind of deal there's a lot to be said for TTL flash on the camera. If you get good moments and good expressions no one will gripe about the lighting. (OK, maybe some grumpy old rule-bound photographer might pick at it, but none of the real people.)

Gato

For receptions, I have used off camera flash.

Not much but a few times.

The benefit of off camera flash is that you can hold the flash unit up high and get the shadows down low, out of frame.

You can also drag the shutter, with a shot that brings in a lot of motion blur, and then manually trigger the flash with your other hand (while holding the flash off the camera) to highlight and freeze the dancers on the floor.

Those 2 things alone are IMHO to big "pros" for using off camera flash for something like this.

Take care & Happy Shooting!

I have used a remote cord and a quick detach bracket so I could do hand-held flash or keep it attached to the camera, depending on the situation.