Would you buy this from me, and for how much?

[WillCAD]

Those of you who saw me at MouseFest 2006 probably noticed that I was wearing my camera on a harness instead of a traditional camera strap. Well, the one I wore at MouseFest was just a mock-up that I made to see how well it worked; I have since created a much better final version from scratch.

But I have had a few people ask me about it, and I'm wondering how well it would sell if I put them out for sale.

So, with Tagrel's permission, I'm posting a poll here to see how much interest there might be in my camera harness as a commercial product, and what sort of price would be appropriate for it.

I've written up a fancy description and had my buddy the photographer take a few product shots (see below).

The questions I have are:

1) Would you buy this product?
2) Does $30 seem reasonable?
3) Would you buy the optional media card pouches?
4) Does $10 for a pair of media card pouches seem reasonable?
5) Would you buy the optional back suspender strap?
6) Does $5 for the suspender strap seem reasonable?


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http://willcad.org/images/harness/th301-002.jpghttp://willcad.org/images/harness/th301-012.jpg
http://willcad.org/images/harness/th301-010.jpghttp://willcad.org/images/harness/th301-014.jpg

The WillCAD Camera Harness is a unique new system for carrying heavy cameras.


Unlike an ordinary camera strap, the WillCAD harness puts the weight of a large camera on your shoulders, not your neck, distributing the weight evenly to both the left and right sides of the body while holding it securely, even when your hands are away from the camera. But when adjusted correctly, the harness allows easy shooting from both the horizontal and vertical positions.

Made from super-tough 2" wide polypropelene strapping and plastic fixtures, the WillCAD harness has no metal pieces to scratch or scuff your camera, no sharp edges to poke you while wearing it, and is fully size-adjustable for maximum comfort.

The WillCAD harness comes standard with foam shoulder pads, D-ring attachment loops that fit standard 5/8" camera strap slots, and snap swivels which allow the camera to be quickly and easily detached from the harness.

Optional accessories include a belt strap, Compact Flash (CF) or Secure Digital (SD) memory card pouches, and a vinyl ID pouch.

Other "camera" harness systems on the market are actually designed for use with binoculars, not heavy SLR cameras. Made from thinner, 1" straps and lacking shoulder pads, these harnesses can dig painfully into the shoulders when used with a heavy camera and are uncomfortable for long-term wear. The WillCAD harness, with its 2" straps and shoulder pads, is comfortable enough for all-day wear while walking, hiking, or enjoying your favorite theme parks.

[roodad]

I had a very similar rig about 40 years ago that I wore for backpacking. It was called a Cuban hitch. It was good, but the straps were too narrow, asyou point out. Your design is much better. My one concern is the plastic sliders in the back, which look like they could be uncomfortable if you were seated. I would buy it and pay your price. I have a very large card in my camera, so I would not buy the optional media card pouch. It would be nice if you could incorporate a camera raincoat that would fold over the camera in inclement weather, much like the rain covers for packs.

[DSNY FN]

That is a brilliant idea I know carrying our D80 Nikon around the parks all day gets a little heavy and wears on teh neck with the thin strap you get from Nikon.

[Ursulinda]

If I was a man, yes. For a woman, the front latch strap is in the wrong place (and I'm not sure there is a better place).

It's a genius idea, Will! When I carried an SLR, it KILLED my neck. $30 seems very reasonable. I might go as high as $50. Might buy the pouches - the cost seems reasonable. Don't know about the suspender strap - not sure what piece that is.

[WillCAD]

I had a very similar rig about 40 years ago that I wore for backpacking. It was called a Cuban hitch. It was good, but the straps were too narrow, asyou point out. Your design is much better. My one concern is the plastic sliders in the back, which look like they could be uncomfortable if you were seated. I would buy it and pay your price. I have a very large card in my camera, so I would not buy the optional media card pouch. It would be nice if you could incorporate a camera raincoat that would fold over the camera in inclement weather, much like the rain covers for packs.

Nah, I've worn it and you can barely feel it when you sit down. The shoulder pads go all the way back to the X and keep the plastic sliders from touching your back.

If I was a man, yes. For a woman, the front latch strap is in the wrong place (and I'm not sure there is a better place).

It's a genius idea, Will! When I carried an SLR, it KILLED my neck. $30 seems very reasonable. I might go as high as $50. Might buy the pouches - the cost seems reasonable. Don't know about the suspender strap - not sure what piece that is.

I guess I should improve the description of the suspender strap; it hooks to the d-ring in the middle of the X and goes down to hook on your belt in the small of your back. The overall effect is like wearing a pair of suspenders, because it takes some of the weight off your shoulders and transfers it to your belt.

[MissBianca]

It's a really interesting product, Will! I know the weight of the camera is something that keeps me from getting a better one. I think I would need to see the product on a small female model before saying whether I'd buy. Perhaps an X arrangement for the front horizontal strap? Linda's right that it looks like it wouldn't work for us. Does it come in pink? ;)

[kathleena]

Hi Will

I remember seeing this last Dec and thinkin I would love something to take the weight of my camera off my neck.

I agree with with the women, the design would not be right for us in the front. I would rather not have all those clips in the back. I would rather see something that you slip your arms into and the clasp in the front.

I think the price is very reasonable, considering what I paid for a nice camera strap (one that is soft and "bounces" to absorb shock).

On a personal level, I think that it would be too hot for me to have on all day at WDW. But that is an age factor (hot women come from all age groups, some of us are just hot in flashes! :D), so I doubt I could use it.

But if I did use it, pink or preferably purple would be a big draw. And pouches for cell phone, IDs, wallet etc as women don't usually carry them in their pockets, most of us have little bags.

[Robb]

Yes, I would. I would have made a "does it work with Nikons" joke, but alas...

I would not have "options", as you will pay for them with the chance that they might not sell. I would have them as part of the package, and add onto the overall sale price. This way, your margin is higher, and you don't have to worry about having extra pieces in inventory. I do think $10 for a card carrier is a little high, as I am not paying that for some media now.

[WillCAD]

It's a really interesting product, Will! I know the weight of the camera is something that keeps me from getting a better one. I think I would need to see the product on a small female model before saying whether I'd buy. Perhaps an X arrangement for the front horizontal strap? Linda's right that it looks like it wouldn't work for us. Does it come in pink? ;)

Actually, I'm trying to find a female model to take a few additional pics. I figured it would be good to have pics of the product on multiple people of different sizes and shapes.

I'm not sure what you mean by an X arrangement for the front strap; it's just like a strap on backpacks that keeps the shoulder straps from slipping off your shoulders.

Hi Will

I remember seeing this last Dec and thinkin I would love something to take the weight of my camera off my neck.

I agree with with the women, the design would not be right for us in the front. I would rather not have all those clips in the back. I would rather see something that you slip your arms into and the clasp in the front.

I think the price is very reasonable, considering what I paid for a nice camera strap (one that is soft and "bounces" to absorb shock).

On a personal level, I think that it would be too hot for me to have on all day at WDW. But that is an age factor (hot women come from all age groups, some of us are just hot in flashes! :D), so I doubt I could use it.

But if I did use it, pink or preferably purple would be a big draw. And pouches for cell phone, IDs, wallet etc as women don't usually carry them in their pockets, most of us have little bags.

If you clasp it in the front, then it wouldn't allow the camera to raise up to your eye.

The clips on the back are not really clips, they're just belt sliders. They're absolutely essential to allow the straps to be size adjustable, but because of the shoulder pads, you can't feel them at all.

As for adding extra stuff to the system, it only works for small stuff like memory cards. Even a small cell phone would weigh the strap down too much and make it inconvenient when you raise the camera to your eyes, or poke you in the face when you tried to take a shot. I tried putting some additional stuff onto the harness, but the only things that worked were the media card pouches, a tiny lens cloth, and my little remote shutter release.

For the moment, black is all I can manage; nylon webbing is tough to find in multiple colors. If it took off, additional colors would be the first thing I'd add. I'd probably start with beige first, though; beige is a nice neutral color that works in hot climates better than black.

Yes, I would. I would have made a "does it work with Nikons" joke, but alas...

I would not have "options", as you will pay for them with the chance that they might not sell. I would have them as part of the package, and add onto the overall sale price. This way, your margin is higher, and you don't have to worry about having extra pieces in inventory. I do think $10 for a card carrier is a little high, as I am not paying that for some media now.

Well, as long as Nikons use the same industry-standard strap lugs as Canon cameras, it'll fit.:lol:

And actually, it's $10 for TWO card carriers. I left them as additional options because A) they take a lot of labor to assemble, B) some folks won't want them, and C) it will allow me to keep the cost of the base unit down.

[roodad]

Just wanted to add that now that I know what the suspender strap is, I would get it as well.
WKO padding are you using for the shoulder straps? Will it absorb perspiration?

[WillCAD]

Just wanted to add that now that I know what the suspender strap is, I would get it as well.
WKO padding are you using for the shoulder straps? Will it absorb perspiration?

It's a closed-cell foam that doesn't absorb any moisture.

I was curious to know, so I immersed a piece in a cup of water for 2 hours and it didn't absorb a drop. I guess that's as close to waterproof as it gets!

[MissBianca]

I'm not sure what you mean by an X arrangement for the front strap; it's just like a strap on backpacks that keeps the shoulder straps from slipping off your shoulders.

Think Playtex...

I'm not a backpacker. :lol:

[Barrie]

Hi Will - What a great idea! I would definately consider purchasing it. $30 would not be too high for something that made it easier to carry a heavy camera.

Here are my thoughts about it. My first thought was that it was too bad that it wouldn't work for women. If it was more like a backpack in how the straps go around your armpits rather than over your chest, that might work better. The cross strap would also need to be higher. Of course, then the straps that go to the camera might be in a weird place - I'd have to try it. The camera straps might need to be higher as well. They could hang from where the cross strap connects to the arm straps so they would hang down the center of the body.

You have to keep in mind that women not only come in all different sizes, but (and I know I'm opening myself up to all kinds of harassment here!) we also hang at many different levels - all of which would effect the fit of your product. It would have to fit in a way that none of the straps would rub any, shall we say, tender areas.

As far as accessories go, I would definately pay $10 for the little pouches. In fact, this week I paid exactly that for 2 pouches for my op/tech strap to carry an extra card and a remote shutter release. I think they are very handy and worth the money.

I think you should also market your belt system along with this strap. I would still need a way to carry all the other crap I carry in my camera bag/purse. I'm not sure I could carry the whole bag very conveniently with this system. I carry it with the strap criss crossing my body and I think it would bang into the camera. I've been looking for a backpack but haven't found one I like.

Although - as I type this I am having a thought (they trickle in you know!). If I had a backpack type camera bag that had a chest high cross strap with couple of D-rings at the connection points that I could clip the camera straps to... hmmm, can you make that? It could be a deluxe version. Now THAT I would pay some big bucks for!

My last thought is about the suspender strap - can we say wedgy?!

It's a pretty cool system Will. I hope you make millions! Just remember us little folks when you do - dole whips all around!

[Mark]

I'd buy one for $30 bucks. I'm not sure how often I'd use it, but it would be a nice option. I've never found a perfect camera carrying system, so I have a variety and use whichever one seems best for the job at hand. Your strap would be nice for outings with a single heavy lens. It would be especially useful when hiking in rough terrain. I could even combine it with my belt system when I needed to carry a few extra items.

Maybe sometime Barrie will post a shot she took of me showing how absurd I looked at WDW last week. I had some much stuff lashed to me that I looked like a shambling mound of metal, glass, and nylon.

[Barrie]

Just remember, you asked for it!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2230/1629843737_9730d0db5f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fodw/1629843737/)

[Ursulinda]

Oh. My. Aching. Back. (first thought)
How clever of them to pick a background that coordinated with his shirt (second thought)

[Robin]

I'm not sure what you mean by an X arrangement for the front strap; it's just like a strap on backpacks that keeps the shoulder straps from slipping off your shoulders.

She's talking about a 'cross your heart' effect. The X would be like the one on the back, except in the front instead of the clasp being directly over the breasts.

Could the clasp in the front be lowered to where the straps for the camera go, or would that ruin the balance?

My suggestion would be to make the memory holders credit card size. I don't know where you have them placed now, but the front of the harness just below the shoulder might have the room. This would give people the option to put their memory, credit card, park pass or ID in the pocket.

[Scottwdw]

Mark...you may be an amateur but you look like a pro. They give you any flak at the parks?

[imagineerwannabe]

Will, just wondering if you could use it for video cameras also?. There is a three point maneuver with video cameras where you hold with both hands and push against the stomach. This reduces movement and shake of the camera, and steadies the video. Your invention places the camera in that exact position at the rest point and could provide additional reduction in movement.

Not sure if that is overly important or you intent, but could be a mash up of you original idea.

[SusanP]

I think it is a great idea and the ultimate cheapo in me would pay that price...but...the camera geek that I would buy it for is my sister and it simply would not do for a woman, most especially her! I've often thought of trying to make something like yours for her since I first saw your picture...but haven't tried yet.

ETA: if you can find a willing female model...perhaps having the front straps very close to the armholes...I wonder if you could put the chest strap high enough to not be in the way, but so that you could still lift the camera without choking yourself. Or could the chest strap be eliminated-would that put too much stress on the camera?

[WillCAD]

Here are my thoughts about it. My first thought was that it was too bad that it wouldn't work for women. If it was more like a backpack in how the straps go around your armpits rather than over your chest, that might work better. The cross strap would also need to be higher. Of course, then the straps that go to the camera might be in a weird place - I'd have to try it. The camera straps might need to be higher as well. They could hang from where the cross strap connects to the arm straps so they would hang down the center of the body.

I think you should also market your belt system along with this strap. I would still need a way to carry all the other crap I carry in my camera bag/purse. I'm not sure I could carry the whole bag very conveniently with this system. I carry it with the strap criss crossing my body and I think it would bang into the camera. I've been looking for a backpack but haven't found one I like.

Acrually, the straps DO come over your shoulders and under your arms, just like a backpack. The chest strap is merely there to keep the shoulder straps from falling off your shoulders when you raise the camera up to take a pic.

I've looked at marketing the belt system in the past, and the costs of putting it together would require me to price it too high to make any kind of profit, not to mention that if you price it too high nobody would buy it.

I'd buy one for $30 bucks. I'm not sure how often I'd use it, but it would be a nice option. I've never found a perfect camera carrying system, so I have a variety and use whichever one seems best for the job at hand. Your strap would be nice for outings with a single heavy lens. It would be especially useful when hiking in rough terrain. I could even combine it with my belt system when I needed to carry a few extra items.

I use it mainly in the parks, but I have also used it on a paying gig I had over the summer (where I had to carry the camera all day) and it was comfortable and convenient.

She's talking about a 'cross your heart' effect. The X would be like the one on the back, except in the front instead of the clasp being directly over the breasts.

Could the clasp in the front be lowered to where the straps for the camera go, or would that ruin the balance?

My suggestion would be to make the memory holders credit card size. I don't know where you have them placed now, but the front of the harness just below the shoulder might have the room. This would give people the option to put their memory, credit card, park pass or ID in the pocket.

If I made the front an X, then the whole thing wouldn't move and you wouldn't be able to get it up to your eyes to take a pic.

The memory card pouches are one accessory, but I will also offer a vinyl ID pouch that will work for ID, park passes, etc.

Will, just wondering if you could use it for video cameras also?. There is a three point maneuver with video cameras where you hold with both hands and push against the stomach. This reduces movement and shake of the camera, and steadies the video. Your invention places the camera in that exact position at the rest point and could provide additional reduction in movement.

Not sure if that is overly important or you intent, but could be a mash up of you original idea.

Since the attachment method is simple snap hooks, the system will work with anything that has two places to attach hooks. Whether it would be comfortable to shoot it from the rest position would depend on the camera, the person, and how high the straps are adjusted.

I think it is a great idea and the ultimate cheapo in me would pay that price...but...the camera geek that I would buy it for is my sister and it simply would not do for a woman, most especially her! I've often thought of trying to make something like yours for her since I first saw your picture...but haven't tried yet.

ETA: if you can find a willing female model...perhaps having the front straps very close to the armholes...I wonder if you could put the chest strap high enough to not be in the way, but so that you could still lift the camera without choking yourself. Or could the chest strap be eliminated-would that put too much stress on the camera?

You can't move the chest strap any higher, or it wouldn't allow you to lift the camera up to take a shot.

I could simply leave the chest strap off; it works fine without it, I added it mostly to keep the straps from slipping off your shoulders when you take a shot, which is only a problem if you keep the straps pretty loose, as I usually do.

[Robin]

You can't move the chest strap any higher, or it wouldn't allow you to lift the camera up to take a shot.

I could simply leave the chest strap off; it works fine without it, I added it mostly to keep the straps from slipping off your shoulders when you take a shot, which is only a problem if you keep the straps pretty loose, as I usually do.

Is the chest strap removable? I originally thought it was sewn to the sides and then clips in the middle. If it was done as a sort of sideways suspender with claps at both ends a person could adjust it for comfort or leave it off.

If you are a short person (or short torso) you could purchase an extra strap to do 'suspenders' in the front.

[WillCAD]

Is the chest strap removable? I originally thought it was sewn to the sides and then clips in the middle. If it was done as a sort of sideways suspender with claps at both ends a person could adjust it for comfort or leave it off.

No, on my prototypes it's not removable, but I am considering changing the design to make it removable.

[WillCAD]

UPDATE:

The chest strap was a response to a problem with slippage; when I arrived at my final design, I found that the shoulder straps slipped off my shoulders sometimes when I raised the camera to my eyes to take a picture. I solved the slippage problem by adding the chest strap. Slippage was never a problem in the rest position, or when walking, only when I raised the camera to take a pic.

None of my early prototypes had the chest strap, and slippage was never a problem with them until the final design. After all the complaints on the boards about the chest strap, I went back to the drawing board and re-evaluated the design. I tried the harness on a few other people, and found that slippage was not a design flaw, but was caused by the fact that I had adjusted the shoulder straps too long, and there was too much slack in them.

Once I snugged the shoulder straps, the slippage problem went away, and the chest strap became unnecessary.

I haven't tested the concept on rough terrain like a mountain hike, but on regular terrain it's steady as a rock. As long as straps are adjusted snugly so that the camera sits on your stomach, just above the belt line, you can walk around all day and never worry about the slippage problem. I've worn my prototypes to WDW, to Hershey Park, to the National Mall and its various monuments and museums, and on a couple of paid photo shoots. Not only did they work fabulous, but they never drew a second glance or mention from anyone; I had actually been a little worried that people might laugh at me when I wore it.

So, with the removal of the chest strap, I believe I have finalized my design, and I've even had my first order! But even so, I'm not quitting my day job just yet...

[MikeS]

Throw in the camera and it's a deal! ;)

[WillCAD]

Well, after having a dozen or more people express interest in my camera harness at MouseFest, I have put together a page for them on my web site and I'm taking orders:

http://willcad.org/image_harness.html

I have high hopes that I'll get a bunch of orders from people who inquired about it at MouseFest!

[Robin]

Congrats on the harness being a hit!

Don't forget to add a female model.

I hope this new venture goes well. I can picture the harness in fun colors in the future.

I was wondering...is it safe to attach your pins to the harness since it's a weave or would it damage it? Would it be comfortable due to the placement of the straps? It made my neck hurt just to look at some of those loaded down lanyards.

[WillCAD]

Congrats on the harness being a hit!

Don't forget to add a female model.

I hope this new venture goes well. I can picture the harness in fun colors in the future.

I was wondering...is it safe to attach your pins to the harness since it's a weave or would it damage it? Would it be comfortable due to the placement of the straps? It made my neck hurt just to look at some of those loaded down lanyards.

The production model is unisex Robin - the chest strap that gave pause to so many is now easily removable.

The weave of that nylon webbing is very loose, so it accepts pins quite well without any damage. I have a couple of pins on my harness, but I put them up high, so that the pin backs are between the webbing and the shoulder pads. I never feel them.

I suppose I could create a pin harness, too... imagine walking around the parks with a harness full of pins!

[WDWDen]

I love the idea of a female model. I think it would really help your add. You should do women with large chests and women with small chests. Just to show how versatile this thing is, you could use women with super sized chests. You should probably have them wearing only a bra. You know, so the add can cleary demonstrate where the rubbing points are. You can never be too thorough Will.

[TiggersPal]

That's a really cool thing, WIll, and I can tell you that I'm going to your website to check it out. I have this new camera, you know, and carrying it in NYC was a total pain in the butt because every time I wanted to take a picture, which was about every 10 seconds, I had to either get it out of the case or if I just carried it around my neck, I'm pretty short and it was completely uncomfortable, not to mention that it tried to crash into everything it got near.

I love it, I love it, and maybe colors will come later:)

Great job, I really think it's genius!

[Kelly Grannell]

Just remember, you asked for it!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2230/1629843737_9730d0db5f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fodw/1629843737/)


That looks like me! (the gears, I mean). Can we have anymore people useing 70-200 f/2.8 IS with 430 ex? :woot: