My Life Outdoors

Photography is important to me. As a result I always have a big heavy DSLR with me when I hike. Carrying such a large bulky camera has proved difficult. I like to keep my camera ready so I can take a picture at a moment’s notice. But carrying the camera in my pack is inconvenient and I find myself skipping pictures I would normally take because I don’t want to dig my camera out of the pack.

Me with the MYOG Camera Sternum Strap Clip

Carrying the camera around your neck doesn’t work either. If you have ever tried to hike with a camera around your neck then you know what a pain in the neck it is (no pun intended). As you walk the camera swings side to side (sometimes rather violently) and the strap against your neck is annoying to say the least. In the past I would just hold my camera by my side to avoid wearing it around my neck  I always thought…there has to be a better way.

It would be great if I had a way to clip my camera onto my packs sternum strap. With this idea in mind I started brainstorming. The easiest way to mount anything to a camera is the tri-pod mount. Most tri-pods these days have a quick release camera mount. My Sunpack 2001 UT is no exception. I thought there has to be a way I can adapt the quick release assembly to clip to a pack’s sternum strap. Of course tri-pods aren’t cheap (but they have gotten cheaper)… so I started looking for a way to use the tri-pod’s quick release assembly without destroying the tri-pod.

I loosened the adjustment that allows the tri-pod to switch between horizontal and vertical camera orientation and pulled the bolt out. Once the bolt was removed I was able to completely detach the quick release assembly. I had to make sure I didn’t lose the nut that held the bolt in place. I put the nut back on the bolt for safe keeping and put the bolt in my sock drawer (again…for safe keeping).

Bolt that adjusts the horizontal and vertical camera orientation.

Remove the bolt

Remove the quick release assembly

Be sure not to lose the nut. Screw the nut back onto the bolt for safe keeping.

I then looked around for something that I could use to clip the assembly onto my sternum strap. I found a cheap L-bracket at the hardware store. I used a hammer and large pliers to fold the L-bracket into a clip.

Cheap L-bracket. Use a hammer to fold the bracket over.

Use pliers to finish folding the bracket.

At first I looked for a way to bolt the L-bracket clip onto the quick release assembly. I even looked at drilling a hole in the back of the quick release assembly. But this was all too complicated. So I went to the store and bought strong composite glue capable of bonding to both metal and plastic. I bought Loctite Epoxy which has seemed to work well.

I glued the metal clip to the back of the quick release assembly managing to get it a little crooked right before it bonded. I allowed a few hours for the glue to dry and then clipped the whole thing onto my sternum strap. I slid the clip over my strnum strap…and then went and got my camera. I then attached the quick release plate to the tri-pod mount and clipped it into the assembly.

L-bracket clip glued to the back of the Quick Release Assembly. A little crooked…oops!

L-bracket clip glued to the back of the Quick Release Assembly.

So far I have hiked close to 50 miles with my camera sternum strap mount and have been amazed at the result. I keep the camera strap around my neck in case the clip fails for any reason. (I don’t want my camera falling of the side of a cliff.) The sternum strap clip keeps the strap off my neck and the camera stays put when I walk. When something catches my eye…it is easy to release the camera… snap a picture…. and then put it back.

Finished Sternum Strap Clip on my pack.

Here is the camera attached to the Quick Release Sternum Strap Clip. The camera is hanging a bit due to there being no-weight in my pack.

I think I paid under $5 bucks for both the glue and the L-bracket together. The tri-pod I already had (and paid a lot more for then they sale today). Best part…the permanent metal clip on the back of quick release assembly doesn’t interfere with tri-pod movement. I can reattach the quick release assembly and still use the tri-pod like normal. Just make sure you don’t lose the bolt and nut.

All the supplies I used: Small L-Bracket, Loctite Epoxy Glue, Tri-pod with quick release head.

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