Torso retractable camera lanyard?

[hobkyl]

Ive searched around online for something but didnt find what I was looking for. Wondering is such a thing exists? There are numerous other options..but I couldnt find anything like what I am looking for.

This came to me as I was bent over strapping in my snowshoes over the weekend. I had the camera around my neck and it was swaying back and forth and twisting the strap as it spun around freely away from my body.

Essentially I am seeking something that would strap around your torso and have a retractable lanyard attached to it. At the end of the lanyard would be a screw that would mount to the camera as a tripod would. This would keep the camera close to your body at the chest/abdomen position (as it would be if hung over your neck) and would prevent it from swinging about. The retractable lanyard would allow you to pull it out and up to your eye to take a photo.

My hopes is that a simple design such as this would be much cheaper than the other camera carrying options out there.

[Matt]

I haven't seen something like that (maybe you can invent it)

but here are some things i have seen

http://www.lu.ma/loop

http://abella.net/?page_id=140


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di-XEIkc3E8
http://www.spiderholster.com/

[hobkyl]

That Spider system is nice. My only concern with that is if worn on your hip, it can get caught on branches or if you fell sideways it wouldnt be protected. I dont know about the sling though, seems as though the camera could still swing freely and it still wouldnt be protected from side impacts.

Ill have to see if I can locate a retractable lanyard from a id badge or something and see if I can fashion something.

[spec]

If you could get your hands on a janitor's retractible keychain you'd be golden. Clip the retract-o-unit to the chest strap of your backpack, then you could either concoct something that would go onto the keyring and mount it to your camera's tripod hole, or you could hook the keyring to your camera strap somehow. Those keychains are usually fairly heavy duty (if you don't end up with a cheap-o one), and can hold a pretty good amount of weight before they 'sag' yet they are still easy to pull out for use.

[hobkyl]

Indeed Andy...I did find some heavy duty retractable key rings online and will purchase one and give it a go. Thanks for the suggestion.

[spec]

no problem!

Oddly enough:

http://www.kyledesigns.com/product/HEAV ... -Cord.html

[hobkyl]

Shhh! I was trying to inconspicuously promote it.

[hobkyl]

Now if I can find a tripod screw with an eyelet....I'll be all set