gugie 

My goal is to have a camera ready to snap at a moment's notice. I'm not interested in an always on video camera. I found this on the interwebs, but $82? Check out the videos, it seems like exactly what I'm looking for.

kc0yef 

I use a Binocular chest harness

chest rig

gugie 

Nice, a lot cheaper, and there's a Cabela's near me...

bwilli88 

It would help to know what camera you have.

gugie 

Point and shoot with standard lanyard attachment.

pastorbobnlnh 

The Mettle strap, while hard to fully envision from their pictures and videos, could be easily made from items purchased at JoAnn Fabrics for probably $10-15 (maybe even less). I agree the price is outrageously high (as are all of their limited items IMO). Just a little bit of sewing/stitching would be needed to complete the project.

T-Mar

If it's only a point and shoot camera, I'd just carry it in a jersey pocket. or replace the OEM lanyard with a key lanyard and stuff it down the front of your jersey.

due ruote 

+1 or just a cord long enough to go around your neck and still reach a jersey pocket.
I tend to sweat when I ride so I wouldn’t want it inside the jersey, and the harness looks uncomfortable. Ymmv.

Lemond1985

Shoulder holster:



"Did I take six pictures or only five? Ask yourself this, 'Do you feel lucky, punk?'"

gugie 

I I find it difficult to get stuff out of my pockets while riding, and I'm afraid of dropping the camera (which I've done before).

I sweat like a hooker in church when I'm riding on a warm day.

Now that's an idea.

mgopack42 

I lost my point and shoot camera during Eroica CA. seems it popped out of my wool jersey pocket in the middle of a busy intersection in Paso Robles. i knew i dropped something there, but i felt around in my jersey pocket, and thought I felt it there. wish i had the SD card back is all!

rumrunn6

I use my feed bag

gugie 

I wasn't clear in my initial post, one of the reasons I want a strap is that I don't want to lose my camera by fishing it out of my pocket, handlebar bag, etc. and dropping it. I also find that many times the photo op is lost fishing around for my camera, which is why I wanted to explore the wearable option.

bwilli88 

try this
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...ing_Black.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...ing_Strap.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...trap_neck.html

gugie 

I think a combination fo that first one with an additional strap, like the Mettle strap has would do the trick. Thanks!

rm -rf

Pocket sized camera safety
My old camera was small, maybe 2.5 inches tall by 4 inches wide. It had a thin wrist strap. I wanted to carry it in my back pocket, but not drop it.

I made a loop of 1/8 inch cord, long enough to go around my neck and one shoulder and with a slight amount of slack when the camera was stowed in my pocket. Pass the loop through the hand strap, go around the camera, and pull it back. Now the hand strap is knotted onto the loop, but easily removable.

(I never did come close to dropping the camera!)

The camera had a automatic lens cover when it was powered off and the lens retracted. So I didn't worry about a bit of sweat on the front of the camera.

...Now, the 8 mp photos aren't quite up to current camera standards, not real sharp and muted colors. So I only occasionally use it for on the bike photos. I just added some strips of gorilla tape on the body to get a little better grip and don't use the neck loop. I won't be very sad if I drop it. No close calls so far.

It works way better than a phone for shots while riding. I can grab it, hit the power button which extends the lens, and one second later press the shutter, all without looking. No touch screen is an advantage here.

rm -rf

Full sized, DSLR camera strap

Now I have a full sized camera. A few years ago, I saw a blog post from a photographer that was using a BlackRapid sling strap. The small side strap keeps the shoulder pad from slipping.

I think this strap allows the camera clip to be locked in place, then unlock it and slide it up the strap to take pictures.

He had a photo of his large camera hanging upside down by it's base cliip, sitting in the small of his back on the strap, while riding his road bike.

BUT -- he followed it up a year later saying he no longer used it. I guess it really didn't work that great.

A full size DSLR or mirrorless isn't easy to carry on a bike. Even if it stayed perfectly in place, it's still heavy and likely annoying.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

backpack or belt clip
I have this Peak Design Capture Clip. The clip is attached to my day pack strap. The square base is screwed onto the bottom of my camera.

Walking, I just slide the base into the clip, it locks in. (but some users have reported dropping the camera when they were in a hurry and didn't actually slide it in. I don't let go of the lens barrel until I hear the click, and look down to make sure it's in.)

It takes two hands to remove. My left hand holds the camera lens barrel and lifts the camera. My right hand pushes the unlock button on the clip -- I can't quite hold the camera securely and press in the release with the same hand. Now slide the camera upward out of the clip -- easy.

The camera sits pointed down along the strap. It doesn't bounce around or swing out if I step over rocks or move fast. Way better than a neck strap.

I don't think this would work too well on a bike. And I'd have to stop riding to take a picture. Maybe I'll try it sometime.

~~~

I considered this Spiderlight clip. Using a ball and socket, it's fast and foolproof to latch on. The ball ended hook balances the camera very well, hanging horizontally. Downsides: expensive. The camera base piece is big, and might be in the way for holding the camera or setting it down.

I can see it would be perfect for action photographers, fast to clip or unclip.

gugie 

I think this makes sense to me, and costs very little. I'll give it a try!

canklecat

I've carried cameras while cycling for decades. You won't find a good quick strap that's also cheap. Ain't no such thing. The Mettle strap looks well designed for carrying on the small of the back. The Black Rapid is the industry standard for chest wear -- I know several pro photographers who use those.

When you need a camera quickly, forget fishing one out of a jersey pocket or handlebar bag.

Last night I could have used one when a driver turned left against traffic, asserting that her left on flashing yellow after yield trumped our green light because we were just cyclists and she was in an SUV. My handlebar mounted video camera didn't capture her license plate. If I'd had a proper camera on a quick strap ready to go I could have snapped photos as she turned.

But most opportunities where something like that is handy occur when we're in a group ride, can't stop or fumble around in a jersey pocket or handlebar bag for a camera.

I'd also want to be sure the Mettle strap is ambidextrous. My right shoulder was dislocated and broken last year when I was hit by a car (yep, another driver turning left against traffic, while looking at her phone, assuming her flashing yellow light and phone were more important than me). It was more than 6 months before I could reach behind my back to access a jersey pocket, and I doubt a Mettle strap on the right side would have been any better.

As long as the camera doesn't interfere with pedaling, a Black Rapid strap may be better. If you don't sweat too much or the camera is waterproof and can be rinsed clean.

canklecat

Regarding homemade straps, I've made some from para cord that are good enough for compact cameras like my Olympus Toughcam. I can quickly cinch up the strap to keep it from bouncing against my thighs. If I need to snap a photo I just point at the subject without looking at the rear screen or using the viewfinder.

But para cord will dig into the neck and shoulders quickly with even a small dSLR. It's useful only for small, lightweight cameras.

juvela

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How about a Kuban Hitch? Too bulky?

Then thar be these wunz -

https://www.amazon.com/Anwenk-Harnes.../dp/B01CM63TNE

-----

bwilli88 

Have @pastorbobnlnh make one from a tubular, cut off the sidewalls, cut thru the tread and sew one of these in to the seam rejoining it.

screw on of these on the bottom of the camera

Big Block

I also use the Peak Design components.
In your case, have a look at the Slide Lite in the sling style (at 7min 49 sec into the video)

Uyle

Don’t do it!
I don’t carry a camera when riding anymore. It would be very bad when you fall. It happened to me with a small p&s nikon J1 when I slides on a mud spot. The camera logged between my chest and the asphalt. I was very lucky for not break any rib.

pastorbobnlnh 

I like the way you think!

AKA, the original Tubular Tire Bar Bag!