How to dual wield cameras with big lenses?

[Gato Amarillo]

So you got a hot shoe quick detach? Do you have a link for that?

Not exactly. It looked a little like this, but without the ball head. The handle would release from the base that attached to the camera. So you were holding the flash with a handle on it and a remote cord to the camera.

They used to be pretty common, 30 or so years ago, but I couldn't find anything modern like it, or even a used vintage job on on ebay. But it wouldn't be too hard to put something together.

Gato

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[Gato Amarillo]

Rummaged around the the miscellaneous camera junk box and came up with this:

Took an old flat bracket and put a light stand spigot in place of the original flash shoe. Found a stand adapter and put a cold shoe on it. Now all you need is a TTL remote cord for your brand of equipment. Of course it could be more elegant with a few minutes extra effort.

Or you could do something with an Arca mount and plate.

Gato

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[Bob Janes]

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!

There are harnesses, but I always feel a bit like I'm wearing toddler reins...

I tend to use a conventional strap - one over each shoulder (or one on a shoulder and one around my neck).

Facing the camera towards your body (ie backwards) helps with long lenses - it means the lens lies close to your body rather than sticking out.

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[biza43]

More importantly, are you comfortable shooting weddings? Are you proficient with using flash?

 

[ArtistAndCamera]

If you want, get a vertical grip for the camera with the wider lens. Hold that in your left hand upside down and the longer focal length-equipped camera in your right. You'll be able to get both FLs simultaneously.

 

[Rexgig0]

I would rather do it all, with one camera, with a high-quality mid-range zoom lens. I like having a spare body, and spare lens, which I would normally keep slung, inside a bag of minimal practicable size to accommodate just that second body, with lens mounted. The second lens could be another mid-range zoom, or, a zoom that complements the “primary” zoom, or, something like a high-quality 35mm or 28mm lens.

If I needed a specialized lens, for a specific, anticipated purpose, well, I would accommodate the request, but might use the “duty belt” concept, with individual lens pouches on a wide belt.

Double-harness rigs do exist, but, well, I’ll pass, unless someone is paying me the big bucks, to put up with being a beast of burden, plus a photographer, and to cover the added risk of damage, as cameras and lenses collide.

I do not “shoot events,” but sometimes will make a serious effort to get good images, at gatherings.

 

[Brett8883]

So you got a hot shoe quick detach? Do you have a link for that?

Not exactly. It looked a little like this, but without the ball head. The handle would release from the base that attached to the camera. So you were holding the flash with a handle on it and a remote cord to the camera.

They used to be pretty common, 30 or so years ago, but I couldn't find anything modern like it, or even a used vintage job on on ebay. But it wouldn't be too hard to put something together.

Gato

--
Personal pictures, kitty cats, road trips, and rural nostalgia:
https://www.instagram.com/j.r.sprawls/

Yea that’s interesting thanks. I’m now wondering if I could just strap the flash to the harness at the chest or over the shoulder strap. Will have to experiment but using a cord is a good idea I wouldn’t have thought of thanks

 

[What Me Worry]

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

I am waiting for a reply to the email I sent yesterday to Hold Fast Gear asking if it would be possible to place a custom order for the Camera Swagg. I currently have L brackets on my cameras and use Really Right Stuff QD (Quick Disconnect) Strap Swivels on my camera straps. This system allows me to leave my brackets attached at all times and still be able to effortlessly & quickly attach and detach a camera strap. I asked Hold Fast if it would be possible for me to send them a set of the QD Swivels and have those installed instead of their proprietary connectors.

While shooting at an outdoor charity sports event last week a wedding photographer was using a Camera Swagg and said he loves it. After researching other available options I am definitely going to get one. If Hold Fast is unable to make my custom request, I would appreciate your opinion on the following idea.

It looks like I should be able to take a hack saw and cut off their connector and then attach the RRS QD connector with a small chain link connector or a piece of paracord. This would enable me to still keep my brackets attached and use my existing camera straps when I use just one camera.

Thanks in advance for any ideas/suggestions/opinions you may have as a Swagg user.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1404104-REG/really_right_stuff_qd_strap_swivel_d_loop_qd_strap_swivel_d.html

 

[used5dsquared]

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

I am waiting for a reply to the email I sent yesterday to Hold Fast Gear asking if it would be possible to place a custom order for the Camera Swagg. I currently have L brackets on my cameras and use Really Right Stuff QD (Quick Disconnect) Strap Swivels on my camera straps. This system allows me to leave my brackets attached at all times and still be able to effortlessly & quickly attach and detach a camera strap. I asked Hold Fast if it would be possible for me to send them a set of the QD Swivels and have those installed instead of their proprietary connectors.

While shooting at an outdoor charity sports event last week a wedding photographer was using a Camera Swagg and said he loves it. After researching other available options I am definitely going to get one. If Hold Fast is unable to make my custom request, I would appreciate your opinion on the following idea.

It looks like I should be able to take a hack saw and cut off their connector and then attach the RRS QD connector with a small chain link connector or a piece of paracord. This would enable me to still keep my brackets attached and use my existing camera straps when I use just one camera.

Thanks in advance for any ideas/suggestions/opinions you may have as a Swagg user.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...qd_strap_swivel_d_loop_qd_strap_swivel_d.html

First, I do not recommend the hacksaw idea.

Second, you can use the straps I mentioned in tandem with your quick release things. You would just attach the Really Right Stuff QD to the camera (I guess those attach to your L-Bracket?) and then use the Camera Swagg to attach to that with its lock-pin connector. Then attach the safety strap to one of the built-in strap mounts on your camera.

Does that make sense?

 

[ggbutcher]

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!

If the party is indoors, I don't think you'd need much more than the 24-70. Actually, a wider lens might come in handy. Just saying...

I just did a day shooting railroad stuff outdoors and I carried two cameras, Z 6 with the 24-70 f4, and my old D7000 with the FX AF-P 70-300. I don't like to change lenses in dusty conditions, and things move fast in train yards so don't want the distraction of that activity. To carry both, I just shortened the strap of the Z 6 and lengthened the D7000 strap. Then, I put the D7000 on my neck first, then the Z 6, so the camera I used most was on top. And, the longer strap of the lower camera made it relatively easy to just pull it up without having to wrangle the straps. My only problem of the day was keeping both cameras close when I on-boarded and off-boarded the train we were riding, narrow steps on the end platforms.

FWIW...

 

[newnorm]

24-70, single wield. But if you really need to have two cameras for a shoot, I highly recommend the spider holster.

 

[What Me Worry]

First, I do not recommend the hacksaw idea.

Second, you can use the straps I mentioned in tandem with your quick release things. You would just attach the Really Right Stuff QD to the camera (I guess those attach to your L-Bracket?) and then use the Camera Swagg to attach to that with its lock-pin connector. Then attach the safety strap to one of the built-in strap mounts on your camera.

Does that make sense?

Thank you for your promp reply. Yes, your explanation makes sense. All four colors of the new cotton version are out of stock at Hold Fast and we’re also out of stock at B&H. Yesterday I submitted a “notify me when back in stock” at B&H and today I got an email from B&H that they are back in stock. I figured that was a “sign from above” so I immediately placed my order. As soon as I receive my order I will try out your idea before I do any hack sawing, LOL.

 

[Cryhavoc38]

Take a look at the harnesses from Black Rapid. They have some solid comfortable dual slings