Spider Holster redefines 'shoot from the hip'

(Credit: ShaiPhoto)

Bags and backpacks may be efficient ways to carry your equipment, but even the slingiest of sling bags can still be hard to maneuver and neck straps weigh and chafe after a while. Photographer Shai Eynav felt the pain and did something about it: he's developed what looks like a variant on a cell phone holster that lets you hang your dSLR from your belt.

The Spider Camera Holster takes a veteran design--a post that slides down into a well, leaving the attached object to dangle and rotate freely--and adapts it to work with the tripod socket on a camera.

It's a novel approach with some merit, although all the photographers here predicted that our pants would be around our knees if we tried it with a lens as heavy as the one pictured. I can also imagine the bruises on my thigh caused by a large pro dSLR like the Nikon D3.

Still, I shoot in a busy area where I need my hands at a moments notice, and this might beat my current solution, which is putting the camera down on any available surface--risking theft and damage.

Slated to ship this summer, the Spider Camera Holster is currently priceless.

Check out the creator's video after the jump.

[mollyoakley]

I've been waiting for something like this to come along. Can't wait until it's on the market!

[pfbarranis]

I was looking at the picture thinking "wow, that belt looks like carbon fiber... cool". I Googled for it, and sure enough, it looks like the guy's wearing the BlackHawk Carbon Fiber Belt http://www.streichers.com/ProductDetail.aspx?Catalog=Duty%20Gear&Category=BELTS&Prod=BH-4103CBK

I guess that explains how he keeps his pants up with that camera attached to it!

[ahaley42]

I'm not sure that I would trust my very expensive dslr to a holster such as that. I use the BlackRapid and love it! It balances the weight across your body and not on a shoulder, it also allows you to "shoot from the hip." Give it a try and perhaps a review. I'm not affiliated with them but would recommend it to any photog buddies. http://www.blackrapid.com/

[HoldSLR]

This looks pretty cool but it has two problems - it doesn't provide any protection for your expensive lenses and it interferes with using a tripod - I am surprised a pro photographer would do that. I invented an alternate camera carrier that solves both of these problems called the HoldSLR. The product has been shipping for several months with great success - www.holdslr.com.

[rkaussner]

I am a seasoned professional photographer who is based in Upstate NY with twenty-five years full-time experience in the world of professional imaging. I attended a professional photographer's gathering last evening in Rochester, NY where the Spider Holster was demonstrated and must say I am very impressed with the Spider-holster to say the least as were the other ten professional photographers present who got to try it out. My feeling is that this very unique and useful product is going to be a life saver for many professional photographers who want to save major wear and tear on their shoulders, wrists, hands, neck, etc. I'm definitely going to get one as soon as I can.