One of the perennial problems of hiking with a decent camera is lugging the gear around.

The camera, in particular, is a problem. With a traditional camera neck strap, the camera not only swings all over the place, but it gets in the way when you bend down. If I keep my camera in my pack, then it takes ages to get at it, and most of the time I just don’t bother taking pictures, it’s too much trouble. A neck strap is just as much of an issue when I’m working in a church, it gets in the way, and taking communion with a camera strapped around your neck is not exactly an inconspicuous way of working. Finally carrying a camera on a neck strap gives me a neck and backache — even with the small and light Fuji’s.

… it’s one of the most useful pieces of camera gear I’ve bought …

I have found an excellent solution to the problem. I first saw the Peak Design Capture Clip several years ago. It lets you clip your camera to a belt or strap and it has a quick-release lock that holds the camera in place so that it cannot accidentally fall out. However, two things put me off buying one at the time. First was the price, and secondly, I didn’t want the big heavy Nikon hanging off of my belt or backpack.

Having ditched the Nikon, and wanting to take more pictures while I’m hiking and backpacking (if I say I’ll be going hiking and backpacking, just maybe I will actually get out more), I decided that the time was right to buy one.

Expensive it is — well-made it is too. There is a lot of attention to detail, and Peak Design provides a lifetime warranty. There’s no fear of it falling out, it’s out of the way and instantly accessible.

The Capture Pro ARCA-SWISS style baseplate on the bottom of the Fujifilm X-E3 shown with the belt/strap clip it slots into. Copyright © 2018 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

I tried out an alternate fixing screw with the Capture PRO ARCA-SWISS Style fixing plate. My thinking was that this fixing screw would save me having to carry an Allen key around. Then I realized that the Peak Design supplied Allen key has a key chain clip on it, and it also fits my tripod. I might as well stick with the original fixing screw – and I’ve since found out I can get an Allen key bit or my Leatherman pocket knife too. Copyright © 2018 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

The camera release twists to lock the mechanism, just in case you want to be doubly sure your camera isn’t going anywhere without you. Copyright © 2018 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

• Would I buy another? Yes, it’s an essential bit of gear for me.
• Would I recommend buying one? Absolutely.

I see the Capture Pro V3 is now available on Amazon (I bought mine direct from Peak Design).

Monopod / Tripod

The Capture Pro’s ARCA-SWISS style camera baseplate also dealt with another problem. I’ve been looking for a monopod I can use when I’m shooting in a church. I can’t maneuver a tripod around in the middle of a service, but carrying a monopod — especially collapsed, should be easy.

My first-step towards getting a monopod was to purchase an ARCA-SWISS compatible ball-head for my existing tripod. No sooner had I researched and ordered a ball-head, than a special offer came up on a tripod that converts to a monopod and is fitted with a removable ball-head. The cost of the tripod was the same as buying a monopod and ball-head. As an added bonus it allows me to retire my existing tripod which has a missing foot, is huge even when collapsed, and weighs a ton. Sold!

I sent the ball-head mount I’d just bought back (which was a shame is it was a very nice one) and ordered the new tripod. My initial impressions of which are that it is so much lighter and easier to use than my old one. I hope this means I’ll be using it a lot more, certainly I will have fewer excuses for handheld shallow depth of field images. We shall see.

The tripod’s makers claim (in Chinglish) that the monopod can be used as an “Alpenstock”. If it really can be counted on to replace my hiking pole, that might be another advantage. Though I’m not so sure I want to use one of the legs of my tripod in the mud and rocks of the Ozark’s trails, let alone immersed in the creeks and puddles.

Note. Unlike the Capture Pro, the tripod didn’t last more than a couple of years. We replaced it with a Manfrotto 290xtra which has been doing sterling work in the studio.

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