Keyhole Hands Free Camera Harness, Black

Stellar product if you want to carry your big camera bicycling or out for a hike. Both activities happen here in CO on a regular basis. Keeps the camera stable/accessible and out of the way. Very inexpensive insurance to protect expensive optics.

Too many parts and did not fit my women's size backpack straps were too loose

When you carry a larger camera to hike, you want: 1. Quick access: otherwise why lug around that weight? 2. Reasonable security 3. Minimal weight and fuss In my opinion, the Keyhole camera strap harness is the best available solution on the market, as of 2014. Why? Because it does achieve the three criteria I listed above. I used a Sony full-frame SLR (A99), combined with a dust/moisture resistance lens for the camera (Sony 16-50mm, 2.8). It is a great camera for the outdoors (great image quality, element resistant), but weights about 4 lbs. I have tried 3 different chest packs, a number of camera straps, protective covers, before I found this. I learned about this little device from Backpacker magazine gear guide. In short, it is a plastic plate with a keyhole that allows you to slide the camera in and out. The plate is secured to the shoulder harness of your backpack by 2 or 4 quick release connectors/straps. The camera is secured to the plate via an adapter that you have to fix to the tripod mount on your camera. You still loop the camera strap around the neck, but the weight should be on the plate when you hike, the strap is an additional layer of security in case the camera slide out of the keyhole. It is simple. In practice, it serves the purpose admirably. Access is as easy as sliding the camera out of the plate. It is quite stable. The best part about this system, when compared to a chest pack setup is the simplicity and integration with your own pack. A typically chest pack or other similar design requires you to "wear" another vest-like thing, or at least some straps around the shoulder, while the Keyhole doesn't. The problem with additional vest, or straps is that they chaff, especially when the harness of your pack is over the straps. Very uncomfortable, particularly in summer when clothes is thin. Minor drawbacks experienced by me include: 1. Need to have a backpack with appropriate nylon straps incorporate on top of the harness "pads". In some backpacks, the nylon straps don't extend all the way down the "pads" to the arm pit area. That means the plate and the camera will sit uncomfortably high, can close to your neck. I have to use my Mountain Hardwear SummitRocket 40 and not my Vaude daypack because of the strap length issue. 2. When the camera is mounted, the lens touches my belly when I walk, annoying at best. (I don't have a big belly, 6'2, 180 lbs) 3. When taking off the backpack for a break, you have to remember to take out the camera, release the plate from the harness (one side), before it is possible to take off the pack. This takes a little getting used to. And I only use the top two connectors for the plate (so I only need to release one connector) to make this process quicker. 4. A little expensive for what it is. 2.

Works as advertised. Allows you to carry your camera hands free but still close to your chest without having it bounce around while you are hiking. Unclasps easily if you need to grab a quick photo op. It attaches partly to a backpack shoulder strap, so you need to be carrying a back pack also, AND the back pack needs to have a 1 inch wide strap accessory strap (which I believe most do) that the harness attaches to. So you can meet those 2 requirements, its perfect!

The idea of a secure quick release for my camera when hiking led me to purchase the Keyhole. It does provide security and easy access but the way it attaches to the packs shoulder straps negates the control I have over the spacing of the straps over my shoulders. This is simply a matter of physics. The narrow breastplate (Keyhole) is 2.5" wide and my shoulder straps at rest vary between 9" and 11" apart. When I insert my camera is the plate the forces at work pull my shoulder straps together (uncomfortable). I am used to varying the position of the straps as I hike for comfort. The Keyhole set up will force them inward removing any control I have over positioning. Since I am a hiker (avid) who takes the occasional photo rather than a photographer on a walk this won't work for me. I haven't given up on the Keyhole I just need to find a way to hang it without it taking over my control of strap spacing. Maybe a rigid plastic strip to widen the Keyhole attachment points?

This is only good when it is attached to your backpack. Take off your backpack, this has to come off and be put back on. Also, there is no safety strap to stop your camera from dropping and breaking (or falling into the water). I suggest your buying a harness which is independent of a backpack/daypack. Update: I spent quite a quite a bit more and got a camera harness which is excellent: a Cotton Carrier. You can buy one from Amazon or directly from Cotton Carrier online.

I bought this to use with my Rebel t4i, which I had not yet had out on any kind of real excursion. I tested it out on a hike up Guadalupe Peak in Texas. It worked as advertised. You just need to be sure your backpack has the right straps in front for it to anchor to. (Common 1-inch straps.) It completely saved my neck from the strain of the camera strap, and it was so simple to reach down and pull the camera up to snap a picture. I even liked the lens cap keeper strap. The camera did not bounce around, but held steady, and it was really simple to slip it back into place. I can't imagine taking a long hike like that without this harness. It does make taking the pack off a little more complicated, because you need to lift the camera out and unbuckle two more straps than normal, but considering the benefit, that's worth a couple of extra seconds. The only thing I wish it had was a screw hole in the knob you screw into the bottom of the camera. Then you wouldn't have to take the knob off to mount the camera on a tripod. Also, it would be nice to have some kind of keeper for the knob when the harness is being stored. I was afraid I'd lose it before I got there to use it. Great product!

I am very happy with my strap. it works as advertised and mskes my camera seem light. The big lens is much more comfy hanging down rather than sticking out, and the velcro tape does keep the lens from sagging down. I reccommend for back pack users or with a harness. Only problem is if you want to keep a quick release plate on your camera you can't use the keyhole! I would like to see them tackle this problem!