Camera tether suggestions??

I am new to underwater photography and just getting started. I have a Sony RX100 II, a Nauticam housing and a A.N.O 1800 lumen video light. I got a buddy that has a flash I may be getting from him.

Not 100% sure what I am going to use for a tray and arms. When I ordered the housing right after Christmas it had a deal on Blue Water that it came with a tray of some sort. It all comes in Tuesday and I will know what I got fully.

My question is, I want a feather of some sort to attach the setup to my BC when I need both hands free. I am looking to see what is suggested.

I dove with a fella once that had a fairly large setup and he had a paracord tether with a swivel snaps on each end.

Is there a product made specifically for this? Or is there a recommendation I can get from y'all?

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Hi J.Wal

Welcome aboard!

I'd suggest getting a couple of spring stainless steel carabiners from a marine supplies store and, as you mention, some paracord and make your own. It's easy, inexpensive and you can chose your colour (of cord) and length....

http://juststainless.co.uk/hooks.asp

Good luck and have fun with your gear!

Best wishes

As TimG suggests, that's what I did as well. I just bought some paracord, and a couple of brass snap hooks from the local dive shop and made my own. That way, I can get the length correct for me. Its easy and inexpensive.

I spoke with my GF and she is gonna tackle making me a tether! Got some cord ordered and some stainless carabiners with the locking cylinder.

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Now there's a GF worth sticking with!

I hope you're going to buy her something nice as a thank you.....

Hey, if you really want something fancy, ask her if she'd braid you a tether (using paracord). See:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Knots/

It's easy to do, you end up with a stylish tether and, man alive, they are indestructible. And, again, you choose the colour(s).

I made some for my GF (yeah, I made them for her) and she has them on her GoPro and I made a handle for my DSLR gear.

Just a quick question, excuse me for hijacking but I have been wondering the same myself. Making the tether is easy enough but how are you attaching it to the housing? What do you clip to?

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Any marine grade clip that will fit over the "neck" on the ball at the top of the handles should work. Something like this:

On a related question, when I tried this sort of tether attached to the handles, for carrying on land, my housing which is apparently front-heavy rotates 90 degrees with with the port facing downward and feels quite insecure. Any other ideas?

Hi BC83

A fair question - and not a hijack at all.

I've got a Subal housing which has a bracket under the mounts for the strobes arms which will allow something to be clipped on. I use 4mm stainless shackles similar to these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/STAINLESS-STEEL-shackle-Pack-Size/dp/B0082BSTG6/ref=pd_sim_60_22?ie=UTF8&dpID=31oB3u2ahmL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0WK47NWBTSB1B4HQDAK6

It's a very simple set-up to put together and costs very little. Most camera housings have something on them - even if it's an existing simple lanyard - which will allow a tether or handle to be attached. Sometimes you can add a stainless steel split ring to a fixing point on the housing - and then attach a tether to that. If you use, say for example, ULCS or Inon strobe arms - the type with a lattice-type, open construction, you can clip a tether to one of those with a carabiner; or add a split ring on the arms and clip a tether or handle to the split rings.

With a tether especially you are not putting a great deal of strain on the camera housing - or you shouldn't at least! It's only to attach the housing to, e.g., your BCD while underwater. I wouldn't suggest leaving it dangling when out of the water. So it doesn't have to be massively strong.

I'll add some pics later today

I am planning to do very similar. She ( the GF ) is planning to do a round braid just under arms length. May put a stainless shackle on the end that will attach to the camera and the other end will be a carabiner. That way it's a solid mount to the camera and a easier to detach part on my end.

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Ordered this for the end that will attach to my BCD.

May use this for the housing side also, or like stated above, get a stainless shackle similar to this.

I will use these to make small connections between my arm and body and to tie the unit all into its self.

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Looks good!

I'd be slightly wary of screwing the locking mechanism on that carabiner when it's on your BCD - other than that (and your GF coming up with the goods) I'd say you're good to go!

You have to post a pic though of the finished item - we may be able to get your GF some orders....

I can relate to those bow shackles coming undone. I used on to attach an SMB onto me (via a clip). It had been fine when I jumped in, and at the end of the dive when I when to reach for it, all I found was part of the shackle - the rest (including SMB!) had dropped off without me noticing.

I concur with everyone and making my own lanyard is the way to go. I also use beech straps which are very helpful. The beech straps are only used for entry and exits on shore dives or ladders. The lanyard is always attached to my bc.

http://www.bluewaterphotostore.com/bts-beach-diving-strap

I made one by splicing loops into a bit of rope (good excuse to learn to splice). Just don't do what I did and get complacent, let go of the camera swimming for the shot in 70m of water - it wasn't clipped on! the worlds fastest decent followed, caught the camera and found the wreck.

I too braided some bright orange paracord for a carry handle; a small stainless shackle at each end connects it to a fitting that is part of the ball at the top of each handle. I put a piece of clear hose over it to make it more comfortable to carry the rig. Boat crew always reach for the bright orange handle and not one of the arms. Nice. To carry the rig in or out of the water I have a Niteize S-biner on a shoulder D-ring, and clip the bright orange handle into it. I use a separate coiled Cetacea tether from the tray to my BCD while diving.

I too braided some bright orange paracord for a carry handle; a small stainless shackle at each end connects it to a fitting that is part of the ball at the top of each handle. I put a piece of clear hose over it to make it more comfortable to carry the rig. Boat crew always reach for the bright orange handle and not one of the arms. Nice. To carry the rig in or out of the water I have a Niteize S-biner on a shoulder D-ring, and clip the bright orange handle into it. I use a separate coiled Cetacea tether from the tray to my BCD while diving.

Can you post some photos of your setup?

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I too braided some bright orange paracord for a carry handle; a small stainless shackle at each end connects it to a fitting that is part of the ball at the top of each handle. I put a piece of clear hose over it to make it more comfortable to carry the rig. Boat crew always reach for the bright orange handle and not one of the arms. Nice. To carry the rig in or out of the water I have a Niteize S-biner on a shoulder D-ring, and clip the bright orange handle into it. I use a separate coiled Cetacea tether from the tray to my BCD while diving.

Can you post some photos of your setup?

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Can you post some photos of your setup?

 

 

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Here is the braided handle. The S-biner is on the strap. The clamps have a built-in shackle point.; they go between the balls on the arms and the first arm segment. The handle is about 14 inches (35 cm) long. The black on the braid is shrink wrap.

If you use strobes and arms, the arms tend to "droop" when you are carrying it at the surface.

With two section arms, I join the two arms together with a clip lanyard like those shown on here. I will try and find a picture of it.

I do not use lanyard underwater. I have seen too many people nearly lose their cameras because they have assumed that their camera is clipped to them when for some reason it is not. If it is in my hand, and i know that if I let go of it, I will drop it, it focuses my mind on not letting go

If some kind of emergency means that I have to drop it, it will have to be pretty serious!

I can use my carrying lanyard to clip it if I really have to. In truth though I have only done this a handful of times.

Adam