Bandolero style camera strap

After reading about the R Strap from Black Rapid and seeing that so many were interested in such a strap and that a lot of them had even tried making thier own, I couldn't help but try it out myself.  Below are my results, including the supplies and steps needed for you to make a similar one.  Note that an original R strap costs over $45 new, but temper that with the fact that their connector is custom made and looks a bit more finished and professional.  Mine costs under $25 and chances are you can probably find everything with in a few miles from your home.

The benefits of this type of strap is mainly peace of mind.  Wearing it over the head and shoulder eliminates the possibility of the strap falling off your shoulder with $5000 worth of gear attached.  Properly assembled, the camera will slide along the strap making it even more accessible than with a regular camera strap worn over your shoulder or even draped over your head hanging in front of your body.

The basic items you need are a strap and hardware to affix it to the tripod mounting hole on your DSLR.

After a lot of thought, I picked up an equipment strap used by rock or mountain climbers at the pro shop of a local indoor climbing gym.  These can also be found at many of the larger sporting goods stores.  If you can't get one there, you will be able to find them on the web.  I have to give credit to photographer Jody Gomez of Murrietta California for this idea.  She also has made  her own strap.  Mine is from Black Diamond.  Other brands and styles are available.  Choose one that will fit your needs and body.  They are adjustable, but large people may need to look for another option.  At 5'9" and 160 lbs, fully extended mine hangs to just above my waist.  This is maybe just a little long for the final adjustment as the camera hangs just a bit lower than I like.

The connection hardware I picked up an my local big box hardware/lumber yard/home appliance store/garden center.  The pieces are a 1/4 x 20 x 1/2 stainless steel bolt and nut, a chain repair link, and a heavy duty D-Ring picture hanger.

There were only 2 modifications I had to make from original conception and purchase to my final.  The D-Ring hangers needed the mounting hole drilled out to 1/4 inch and the excess slag removed with a file.  I found it easiest to tape the hanger to a piece of wood with duct tape instead of holding it with my had as I drilled it.  It's just a lot safer.  The other consideration is that the chain repair link needs to be large enough to easily slip back and forth on the equipment strap.

What you need:

Tools: 7/16 wrench or one sized to fit the nut, file, 1/4" drill bit and drill

Climbing equipment strap

Chain repair link, heavy duty D-Ring picture hanger (you want the bail to make the u shape turns shown below),
a 1/4 x 20 nut, a 1/4 x 20 x 1/2 stainless steel bolt ( a normal bolt would work, but the stainless ones won't rust or cause rust in your camera mount hole)

Here's everything shown with a pro body

Slip the D-Ring hanger's base over the bolt and affix the nut so that the bolt comes completely through the nut,
but not so tight that the whole d-ring won't swivel on the bolt between the bolt head and the nut.
If the bale retaining hump is too high it may have to be pointed towards the bolt head so that it will clear the camera body.
Once you try it, you will know.

Next, open the chain link and slip it over the d-ring as shown below

before closing the link, insert the bolt into the camera and tighten the bolt head till the nut just touches the camera base.
Then tighten the nut firmly (but do not over tighten) with the wrench.

your work should now look like this:

place the equipment strap through the chain link and tighten finger tight.
It need to be tight, but not so tight that you won't be able to undo it.

your done!

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