Author Topic: Carry-solution for sport + wait for EP-2? (Read 2552 times)

johngraham · « **on:** July 21, 2009, 10:10:46 AM »

Hello all

Which carry-solution do you recommend for the EP-1 when doing sport like mountainbiking?

Up to now I have only had a Canon DSLR and it is much too big to take comfortable on a mountainbike trip.

Therefore I think that the EP-1 has an ideal size.

But I would like to carry it in a comfortable way but at the same time it should be easily reachable and it should not be in the way. I think that carrying it with the normal strap it not that good because when you are bent forward on the bicycle the camera on the strap also swings forward. This could be uncomfortable, especially if it starts swinging around plus it could hit against the handle bars and get damaged.

One solution that I saw is the Y-strap (http://figitalrevolution.com/y-strap/) but if you have any other suggestions this would be much appreciated.

Also, how long do you think it will be until the next compact mFT camera will be available? Since I currently have a Canon DSLR I can wait. If this will take more than a year then I might get the EP-1 now already. But if it will be in six months then I am willing to wait.

Thanks
John

Brainkite · « **Reply #1 on:** July 21, 2009, 11:27:30 AM »

Wow, your Y-strap is very impressive, i also ride a lot on my Cannondale Capo and i always have to put my OM-4 in my bag, it's just impossible with a normal strap. Sometimes i put the strap a bit like te Y-strap (with one arm in), it's very confortable, but very difficult to bring the camera to the eye.
I think i'm gonna build my own one, the idea seem very efficient.

For the other question, i don't think the next e-pX will come in one year. They have too much simple problems to update, now that the e-p1 is fnally done, it'll be easy to make it much better very quickly. And they don't want Panasonic to present an E-P1-like without all the deffaults before them.
Well that's what i think...

johngraham · « **Reply #2 on:** July 21, 2009, 11:40:21 AM »

Hi Brainkite

You can probably make your own Y-strap when you get the right material.

Do you think that for the E-P1 it will allow to hold it far enough away from the body to use the LCD properly?

Thanks
John

zentrum · « **Reply #3 on:** July 21, 2009, 11:51:57 AM »

I use gordy's straps. http://www.electricedge.com/gordy_s_straps/ I have seen another user here using them too - and he makes a similar setup to your 'y strap'. Very well made stuff

Brainkite · « **Reply #4 on:** July 21, 2009, 12:15:48 PM »

Done!
Used a flat attachment rope, a big keyring, works greatly! You can push a bit the camera to your back or on the tummy , very smooth and confortable.
Actually I do not have any E-P1 yet, but plan on buying the 17mm+VF kit, and i used my Olympus OM4 to test my homemade Y-strap.
You can make it longer to be able to use the screen, but this is pointless because you don't have a lot of mouvement liberty and the camera is less stable when moving. But it's still better that a normal strap, much more confortable and stylish.
Love it!!

johngraham · « **Reply #5 on:** July 21, 2009, 03:11:05 PM »

Great!

Congratulations, you were very fast.
What did you use as a connector to attach the camera to the ring?

I do not have an E-P1 yet either but it is coming closer.
I already got an old Minolta MD 50mm 1.7 lens very cheap on ebay - it arrived today.
Now this lens is sitting on my desk begging me to get a camera body so that it can be used to take some great photos again!

Cheers
John

Brainkite · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2009, 05:04:01 AM »

Well, the OM4 already have 2 very small attachment rings fixed on the body normally made to attach the trap on each side (you can look for a picture on the web). So i used only one of those to attach the camera only on one side, as he does with the y-strap.

Tested a bit today and i prefer carying the camera on my right side, cause i'm right handed so it's easyer to reach the camera with my right hand if it's pushed on my back.

Ghene · « **Reply #7 on:** July 24, 2009, 04:45:35 AM »

A Y strap is very easy to make, if you buy materials on e-bay it is even cheaper.

theveed · « **Reply #8 on:** July 24, 2009, 06:24:02 AM »

That's sweet!

jwardell · « **Reply #9 on:** July 24, 2009, 06:44:41 AM »

The only issue I can see with the Y-strap is that it is designed for a camera with a viewfinder to be put up to your eye, and the E-P1 is held out in front of you; there might not be enough play in the strap to do so.

gDallasK · « **Reply #10 on:** July 24, 2009, 07:55:47 AM »

I worry a bit about the wisdom of carrying a camera on your body - by means of any attachment except in a pack on your back. In the event of a fall the camera would almost certainly be damaged - and it might also inflict further damage on the rider if it impacts on an unprotected part of the body.

jwardell · « **Reply #11 on:** July 27, 2009, 06:42:49 AM »

Well after spending the day on saturday shooting with the included Oly strap worn diagonal like the Y strap, it can only be even shorter than the Y. So I am going to order a Y strap, and probably one of their wrist straps as well. I'll let you all know what I think.

Brainkite · « **Reply #12 on:** July 27, 2009, 07:12:51 AM »

Quote from: gDallasK on July 24, 2009, 07:55:47 AM

I worry a bit about the wisdom of carrying a camera on your body - by means of any attachment except in a pack on your back. In the event of a fall the camera would almost certainly be damaged - and it might also inflict further damage on the rider if it impacts on an unprotected part of the body.

Yeah, i wear my camera with a strap only when i'm chilling in town with my bike, not very fast.
But otherwise, i have my Boblbee Megalopolis which protect perfectly my back and the stuff parked inside? Notebook, SLR, it's protected from any kind of impact strenght, and won't impact my back directly, because of the shell.
The best sport carying solution for me, by far...

johngraham · « **Reply #13 on:** July 27, 2009, 02:16:38 PM »

Today I finally got to make my own y-strap as well as a wrist strap with the left over material. I have it in such a way that the wrist strap is always attached to the camera.
If needed I can quickly attach the y-strap and the wrist strap stays on too - they do not get in each other's way.
Let me know if you would like to see a pic of how it looks.

gDallasK and Brainkite, I agree with both of you that the y-strap should only be used when biking leasurely on easy terrain, and that it belongs protected in a backpack for everything else.

Good light and have fun!
John

JsH / E-P1 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 27, 2009, 03:29:01 PM »

Quote from: johngraham on July 27, 2009, 02:16:38 PM

Let me know if you would like to see a pic of how it looks.

Good light and have fun!
John

I want to see this, always cool to see peoples solutions

infoforest · « **Reply #15 on:** July 28, 2009, 04:51:00 AM »

I carry a Maxpedition Versipack Fatboy to haul around my various gadgets. The e-p1 fits in the main compartment. I have the zoom lens and it fits best lying on its back, lens up. It can go in bottom down but that is too tight a fit for me. With the 17mm lens I think it could go that way fine.

There is some padding on the back and compartments in the front of the bag that give some protection. I dropped in a couple of pads from a camera case on the bottom and it seems as well protected as in a camera bag. Lying on its back, there is a snug fit against the top and bottom of the camera and about an inch of space on the side.

The canvas and strap on the bag are heavy and the squeeze fasteners are stiff but it is comfortable to carry around. It might be a bit much for biking but is a handy street bag.

It is available from a variety of online sources. I got mine from Ranger Joe's.

Have fun,
Mark

Home

Forum

Help

Search

Calendar

Member Map

Media

Donations

Login

Register

Carry-solution for sport + wait for EP-2?