Black Rapid Camera Strap

Echo9er

Has anyone got any experience with this strap?

I sa a demo of it at a workshop and it looks to be pretty neat, but I just wanted to have some first-hand reviews of it befor I bought one.

http://blackrapid.com/

Thanks...

20DNoob

I picked one up this past spring and love it. The brief time I wasn't using it was when I change over all my plates to Arca Swiss. Then I found an older version A-S mount on the cheap and stuck it on the FastenR and now I'm back to using it once again.

Shane422

Y strap
I have one and like it quite a bit. My only complaint is that the FastenR makes it difficult to set the camera down on its base. I'm thinking of getting a Y strap as well. It attaches to the strap lugs on the camera and also frees up the tripod mount for mounting to a tripod.
http://figitalrevolution.com/y-strap/

David Evertsen

Echo9er wrote:

Has anyone got any experience with this strap?

I sa a demo of it at a workshop and it looks to be pretty neat, but I just wanted to have some first-hand reviews of it befor I bought one.

http://blackrapid.com/

Thanks...

I have been using one for about 3 weeks. Shot Parades, Football and even some Hockey. I bought the RS-2 and love it. It makes it so easy to carry a big lens and camera on the sidelines or even into the stands and not have a problem. I double check the attachment every time when I go through my preshooting ritual. The phone holder is small won't fit a PDA but they tell you that, I put business cards in it. I have 2 50D batteries and 2 4gb flash cards in the strap. That about maxes it out. I think I will get a bigger one for my phone if they come out with it..

I was always fussing with the regular camera strap and was afraid of dropping it on the sidelines. This won't happen now. It makes it easy to move from one spot or place to another even just wandering..

It is well worth the price. I got a new 50d and never put the canon strap on it..


David Evertsen
www.phabulousphotos.com

Echo9er

Hey, All.

Thanks for the feedback. This looks like a really good product, I think I'll get one.

Will let you know what I think..

Thanks again....

pmbpro

I agree with David. I bought one back in May and it's fantastic! I would consider this strap to be my "Purchase of the Year" for 2008.

luv

Both hubby and I have them and LOVE them. We leave the manfroto base screwed in to the camera at all times. This way it goes from Rstrap to tripod to monopod very quickly and easily. I LOVE my Rstrap

-luv
(note like a PP I also dont like the fastener than you can buy with the Rstrap. I MUCH prefer my baseplate.)

Code Blue

luv wrote:

Both hubby and I have them and LOVE them. We leave the manfroto base screwed in to the camera at all times. This way it goes from Rstrap to tripod to monopod very quickly and easily. I LOVE my Rstrap

-luv
(note like a PP I also dont like the fastener than you can buy with the Rstrap. I MUCH prefer my baseplate.)

can you snap a quick picture of the way you have it set up?

luv

Code Blue wrote:

can you snap a quick picture of the way you have it set up?

I have this plate attached to my camera full time. This is the plate that came with my tripod and also fits my monopod. See the D ring on the bottom? When I use the Rstrap I connect the clip to that Dring. Easy peasy. Base never leaves the camera. If I mangled that description I can snap a pic tonight

kdog

I believe the D ring on that plate is designed for operating the screw, and could easily pop out of its holes. There's no way I'd trust it holding my camera.

luv

kdog wrote:

I believe the D ring on that plate is designed for operating the screw, and could easily pop out of its holes. There's no way I'd trust it holding my camera.

Taken from the BlackRapid site: http://blackrapid.com/fastenr.php

If you’re using a tripod plate with a d-ring, you may not need the FastenR. Simply attach the R-Strap to the d-ring, and you’ll be able to release the camera quickly from the strap for mounting on your tripod.

kdog

luv wrote:

Taken from the BlackRapid site: http://blackrapid.com/fastenr.php

That's ok, I still wouldn't do it. BlackRapid didn't design the plate, did they? How do they know how secure the D ring is? Unless the tripod company specifically indicated that the D ring on their plate is designed to support the weight of a camera, plus potentially heavy lenses hanging from it, I wouldn't trust it.

Nubster

I read a couple stories on other photog sites where people had the strap setup this way and eventially the D-ring opened up causing it to fail. One guy was in his bed room and the camera fell on to the bed but the other guy's camera took a ride down a flight of concrete steps.

Scott_Quier

Nubster wrote:

I read a couple stories on other photog sites where people had the strap setup this way and eventially the D-ring opened up causing it to fail. One guy was in his bed room and the camera fell on to the bed but the other guy's camera took a ride down a flight of concrete steps.

That hurt just thinking about it!! :cry

dlibrach

Nubster wrote:

I read a couple stories on other photog sites where people had the strap setup this way and eventially the D-ring opened up causing it to fail. One guy was in his bed room and the camera fell on to the bed but the other guy's camera took a ride down a flight of concrete steps.

I too did not want to trust the entire weight on that little D-Ring. Instead I attached a common key ring to one of the camera loops on the side of my 5D. I attach the strap to that. Although it might not sound solid, those little key rings (especially if find the right one) are pretty frickin' solid! The camera still sits in a nice comfortable positing on my side and is easy to grab and shoot in a flash.

I have the strap with the extra little bit to store a cell phone, batteries, cards...etc. Personally I find once loaded with stuff, the strap sneaks down a bit and makes it awkward. I'm probably going to just cut it off. I would suggest getting the original one. 4 of my good shooting friends now use them and we all love 'em. No problems here.

D

20DNoob

At first I was using the D ring also, then I gave it a go to see just how much force it took to pop it out. It wasn't very much so that's why I went with the A-S clamp. A few layers(5) of electrical tape make sure it stays closed and it's been good to go ever since.

Nubster

dlibrach wrote:

I too did not want to trust the entire weight on that little D-Ring. Instead I attached a common key ring to one of the camera loops on the side of my 5D. I attach the strap to that. Although it might not sound solid, those little key rings (especially if find the right one) are pretty frickin' solid! The camera still sits in a nice comfortable positing on my side and is easy to grab and shoot in a flash.

I have the strap with the extra little bit to store a cell phone, batteries, cards...etc. Personally I find once loaded with stuff, the strap sneaks down a bit and makes it awkward. I'm probably going to just cut it off. I would suggest getting the original one. 4 of my good shooting friends now use them and we all love 'em. No problems here.

D

I was wondering how it would work just attaching it to the regular strap mount. I think I would feel the most secure doing it that way.

dlibrach

Nubster wrote:

I was wondering how it would work just attaching it to the regular strap mount. I think I would feel the most secure doing it that way.

I figured it has got to be the strongest part since that's were a regular strap hangs from!

I placed mine on the left side (opposite side of the shutter release). That way it is still quite easy to work with and does not get in the way when shooting (with or without a grip). Although it hangs slightly differently than when attached to the bottom, it still sits in an ergonomic fashion against the side of the body. Does not flop around at all while moving.

kdog

Why not just use the FastenR?

Shane422

This guy is selling a version that connects to the strap connections on the body just as dlibrach mentioned. I was think of doing the same with my Blackrapid strap since I lost the "Star" nut. Blackrapid won't sell a replacement. You have to buy a whole new FasterR. Attaching to the strap conections on teh body would actually allow the camera to sit on the base again as well. This is my one complaint about the FastenR. It makes it difficult to set the camera down on anything.

Nubster

kdog wrote:

Why not just use the FastenR?

Because you have to take it off everytime you want to put the camera on a tripod.

Also, does anyone know of the snap that attaches the camera to the strap has been improved? I think I read awhile back there were some issues with it come unhooked and Black Rapid was in the process of making a new improved fastener and I think even replacing the ones that were already sold.

kdog

Thanks for the info.

I've got RRS plates on both of my bodies. Nice thing about the RRS plates, is that they have a strap slot machined into them, and of course they sit flat. Looks like this ought to work worth the Black Rapid strap I would imagine.

luv

Nubster wrote:

I read a couple stories on other photog sites where people had the strap setup this way and eventially the D-ring opened up causing it to fail. One guy was in his bed room and the camera fell on to the bed but the other guy's camera took a ride down a flight of concrete steps.

That's good to know! The Dring on my plate seems really stiff still. I'll be keeping a much closer eye on it from now on though. Thanks.

-luv

sellis

love 'em
I bought two a year ago for me and my wedding assistant. I love how the camera hangs and is quick to grab and ready to shoot and very comfortable. I don't find the pockets too useful, not quick enough access to get to a battery or memory cards in a hurry at a wedding. I keep a lens cloth in the phone pocket for easy access.

As for the revised connector, it's just a piece of plastic tubing that prevents accidental unclipping. I bought a small locking d-ring (screws shut) and keep the clip taped shut. Before I did that, I had a couple instances where I grabbed the camera and it came unclipped somehow.

It's a great strap.

Sam

iambarefoot

I'm thinking about gifting one of these to my step-dad for Christmas, but he's a big dude (6'8" and about 375#), so does anybody know how far out these gadgets will adjust? BlackRapid says something about 'most size photographers', but this guy is definitely in the 99th percentile....

EDIT:
Oh and I noticed that the Y-strap video showed left-hand use, while the R-strap video showed right-hand use ... I'm guessing they'll both go either way, but can anyone say for sure?

Angelo

I've had my black-rapid since early summer and I absolutely love it. No problems with it ever. The most handy way of carrying my camera all day - ready to shoot always.

jasonstone

Looks really good - but would it be handy for when moving around with the kids? on a hike? etc.
or does it move around on your hip too much?

Thanks and cheers, Jase

sellis

jasonstone wrote:

Looks really good - but would it be handy for when moving around with the kids? on a hike? etc.
or does it move around on your hip too much?

Thanks and cheers, Jase

I used it while hiking in Maine's Acadia NP last summer and was quite happy with it. The nice thing is that it's secure and not going to slip off your shoulder, but it's also ready to go as soon as you grab it. I think when I was doing a lot of walking or climbing on rocks, I positioned it more behind me. It bounces around much less than having a strap around your neck.

iambarefoot

iambarefoot wrote:

I'm thinking about gifting one of these to my step-dad for Christmas, but he's a big dude (6'8" and about 375#), so does anybody know how far out these gadgets will adjust? BlackRapid says something about 'most size photographers', but this guy is definitely in the 99th percentile....

EDIT:
Oh and I noticed that the Y-strap video showed left-hand use, while the R-strap video showed right-hand use ... I'm guessing they'll both go either way, but can anyone say for sure?

Anyone?

Angelo

iambarefoot wrote:

I'm thinking about gifting one of these to my step-dad for Christmas, but he's a big dude (6'8" and about 375#), so does anybody know how far out these gadgets will adjust? BlackRapid says something about 'most size photographers', but this guy is definitely in the 99th percentile....

EDIT:
Oh and I noticed that the Y-strap video showed left-hand use, while the R-strap video showed right-hand use ... I'm guessing they'll both go either way, but can anyone say for sure?

I'm 6'1" and I have my strap set so my camera hangs at hand level, which is to say buttocks level!

At that position it's like grabbing for a gun in a holster, ready to go.

Add 7" for your dad's height and that would put camera a bit more at waist level - still good. At my current setting I think I still have some extra play in my strap - so a taller man should be just fine.

iambarefoot

Angelo wrote:

I'm 6'1" and I have my strap set so my camera hangs at hand level, which is to say buttocks level!

At that position it's like grabbing for a gun in a holster, ready to go.

Add 7" for your dad's height and that would put camera a bit more at waist level - still good. At my current setting I think I still have some extra play in my strap - so a taller man should be just fine.

Thanks! I just put the order in - heck, I may get one for myself, too....