Forum: outdoors.stackexchange.com
Tags: <gear><rock-climbing><dslr>
Title: What's the best way to carry a dslr camera when rock-climbing?
Question: I am interested in hearing how people take their dslrs ( digital single lens reflex camera ) onto multi-pitch-rock-climbs. I have carried mine up in a small pack, but I end up taking hardly any pictures, since it is so cumbersome to get to it. What do professional climbing photographers/videographers do?

Answers:
sents: text: I wish I was still in Yosemite for this one.
text: I used to climb with some fairly well known climbers back in the day, "
text: Big Wall Pete" Takeda, the Parker Brothers, even happened on Peter Croft after he taught a class and we climbed for about 45 minutes.
text: Big Wall used to work for "Climbing" and did a number of photo shoots, I know how they get the pictures from above and away from the rock using bivouac style set ups, but I never asked about taking the big cameras up.
text: We used to take cheaper cameras up.
text: We would tape a loop on them, throw a biner on it and drag it up that way.
text: Almost always wrapped in a protective padded bag attached separately.
text: If you drag it behind you and in its own case, it is easier to get to than say in the center of your food bag.
text: Just remember that the camera is never to come un-clipped.
text: You could rig up something with a 6' sling attached to the back of your harness and then a second carabiner closer to the camera and clip it to say your hip, with a camera bag for protection.
text: This will give you quicker access, if that is an issue, but at the cost of being in the way.
text: The biggest reason why we stopped taking cameras up had more to do with the relatively lame angles you get from taking it from another climber's perspective.
text: Either you get their feet or the top of their head.
text: To get better shots, you need a separate team climbing ahead with bivouac gear to push you away from the rock, this will give you a lot better angle to shoot from.
text: And if you are going to be taking a DSLR, I am guessing you are a lot more serious about the shots, so you might want to look into getting that set up figured out.
text: For quicker and easier shots, you can lock off and stand horizontal off the rock.
text: This is easier, and more of an angle than just hanging, but might not bring justice to taking a DSLR up the rock.
answer_details: author: outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/664/BillyNair
score: 20
sents: text: My strong recommendation is one of the BlackRapid straps.
text: Black Rapid
text: - THE WORLD’S
text: MOST TRUSTED CAMERA STRAP
text: They are solid products.
text: Need some checking before setting off to make sure it's connected securely.
text: I'd personally probably add some sort of redudancy to the system if I was to go climbing with it, but I've done long hikes and it keeps the camera out of the way until right when you need it.
answer_details: author: outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/696/yarian
score: 8
sents: text: I recently got the Mantona Elements, an interesting hybrid camera/trekking backpack: The lower part of the pack contains a small removable camera bag, while on top of it there's some space (not too much, though) for gear, food, clothes, etc.
text: Alternatively, you can reconfigure it without the camera bag to use the entire space like a regular backpack.
text: I'm pretty happy with it
text: , it's comfortable to carry and not too large.
answer_details: author: outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/369/Michael Borgwardt
score: 8
sents: text: I've used a Black Rapid (clone) shoulder strap and added a carabiner that I attach to my belt loop to keep it from swinging or banging against the rocks.
text: I also connect the carabiner to the clip that attaches the camera to the strap so it holds the camera firmly at my waist.
answer_details: author: outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/6215/Jon
score: 6
sents: text: I use this strap for biking:
text: It's a crossbody strap with a stabilizer that keeps the camera securely on your back while biking.
text: It's perfect for mirrorless or compact cameras, but could hold a DSLR.
text: It works for skateboarding, hiking, and I imagine it's great for climbing when you want to keep the camera out of the way with both hands free.
answer_details: author: outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/14708/Peter Atkins
score: 4
sents: text: Just coming back from a climbing weekend where I manage to bring my camera around the rocks: I've added a peak design clip at the back of my harness and a simple strap.
text: The clip allow quick and easy manipulation of the camera, and the strap is only to assure not dropping the camera.
text: With this configuration, the camera is exposed, therefore I wouldn't advice to lead a hard route because in case of fall, the probability to break your camera would be quite high.
text: Here is how it looks (sorry for potato image quality, the good camera is on the picture...):
text: After a couple of usage, I'd add this method is really nice because it is really quick to be ready to take pictures.
text: The downside is that it is not that easy to clip back as you don't see what you are doing.
answer_details: author: outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/15491/Puck
score: 4
sents: text: I use the Manfrotto Offroad 30L pack.
text: This does have a very good adjustable & comfortable fit and works well when you have a loaded harness.
text: It is not too bulky and I rarely need all the space even with overnight bivy and all inside.
text: The camera gear stays at the bottom in it's own are, (only room for camear plus 2 lenses
text: so Canon 80D 12-28 f4 & 70-200
text: f 2.8), I tend to carry a little more gear than I should
text: but it's no difference in reality & the bulk is tideied away.
text: An APS-C DSLR is the right size for me, cold wet hands and a micro 4/3 doesn't work.
text: I have the PD Capture Clip V3 also but haven't yet found where to put it when Scrambling / Climbing, but for Multi-pitch the DSLR with 12-28 f4 is within reach to get out but not so easy to put back in, but when the photo is worth it I can do it.
text: Actually for climbing this works very well, it is the tricky scrambling which I have to plan better for with this setup.t
text: is a little larger than the Mantona Elements and the same as one of the LowePro's.
text: I'm so happy with mine
text: I have two!
text: When I need more camera gear I have an additional insert in the top and still enough space for overnighting up top.
answer_details: author: outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/18809/Andrew James
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
Using a strap and clip is recommended, as are Black Rapid straps, along with a carabiner to attach the camera firmly at the waist. Special packs are also available, such as the Manfrotto Offroad 30L pack, or the hybrid Mantona Elements pack.
Manfrotto and Mantona backpacks, tape loops, clips and straps are effective.