The Canon 1DS Mark II is one heavy beast.
With my most used lens ( a 28-135 IS), it checks in at five and a half pounds. I can stand it around my neck for about 3 minutes. I try my shoulder, but I find myself unconsciously switching which shoulder it’s on. I have an Optechs strap, a thick padded strap that is designed for heavy loads, but I don’t think they ever considered anything as hefty as this camera.
The other thing I noticed on my walk (to the Metro Theatre and back, to see Mad Hot Ballroom) was how overscaled the camera is built. The problem is, I have tiny hands. Most women have larger hands than I do. My first serious camera, over 30 years ago, was an Olympus OM-1, a diminutive SLR system that fit me to a tee. The Mark II is not an Olympus. I can barely wrap my hand around this SUV of a camera. It does not feel like an extension of my limbs the way my previous cameras have felt. But then, I’ve owned it for just 4 days.
I did some Googling for camera straps, and I’ve ordered two. One, called an Upstrap, is designed for hanging a big lunk like this securely around the shoulder. The other, a Kinesis X harness, straps it over both shoulders and across the back, rather like a front baby carrier. My Optechs fast clips will fasten right on it. It will make me look formidable, but it will probably be a lifesaver for all day assignments or weddings. I’ll give a full review here once I've tried it out.
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