Back Rapid straps

[davidd]

Morning,

Just wondered what you lot thought about them? Is the fact they use the tripod mount annoying? Is the RS-5 worth the extra £10 for a pocket?

Are there any alternatives?

Thanks

D

[tim-b]

davidd said:

Morning,

Just wondered what you lot thought about them? Is the fact they use the tripod mount annoying? Is the RS-5 worth the extra £10 for a pocket?

Are there any alternatives?

Thanks

D

I have a sun sniper pro strap, similar thing. Last week it unscrewed itself and dropped my 5dmkii and 100-400L, from my waist height onto a gravel surface...

I can't imagine I didn't screw it in tight, I'm pretty conscientious with my kit, so I don't know how/why it happened. But the scariest thing is that after testing it since, it's clear that once it's slightly loose the motion of walking will quite quickly unscrew it all the way(despite the steel ball-bearing design).

My conclusion; these type of straps are very comfortable and easy to use, but I would strongly advise you to adapt some kind of tether from the strap to the standard strap lug, that's what I will be doing before I use it again.

[Cheib]

I have a Black Rapid RS7...had it for about a year. I use it on my D7000 and have had no problems at all. The twp biggest lenses I have are a 24-70 and 70-200. I use a grip so that is the weak spot in my mind, sometimes the locking wheel on my grip is not 100% tight...not an issue with the 70-200 but it is with the 24-70.

Apart from that I think it's brilliant. I can go for a walk with the 70-200 on the camera and not really be bothered about it.

[tog]

I have one, but found I couldn't really get on with it so rarely use it. Maybe one day I'll persevere with it and grow to like it. The tale above however is not the only tale I've heard of the screw coming undone, so do be careful with them.

[AndrewEH1]

I have one and use it only with my 70-200mm on the tripod mount.

Works pretty well, but I feel that the nylon strap that they use isn't very good, too thin and gets really twisted up.

[AndrewEH1]

tim-b said:

I have a sun sniper pro strap, similar thing. Last week it unscrewed itself and dropped my 5dmkii and 100-400L, from my waist height onto a gravel surface...

I can't imagine I didn't screw it in tight, I'm pretty conscientious with my kit, so I don't know how/why it happened. But the scariest thing is that after testing it since, it's clear that once it's slightly loose the motion of walking will quite quickly unscrew it all the way(despite the steel ball-bearing design).

My conclusion; these type of straps are very comfortable and easy to use, but I would strongly advise you to adapt some kind of tether from the strap to the standard strap lug, that's what I will be doing before I use it again.

I ditched the supplied screw on thingy straight away, just use your normal tripod QR plate if it has a metal loop on it.

[markmullen]

AndrewEH1 said:

I ditched the supplied screw on thingy straight away, just use your normal tripod QR plate if it has a metal loop on it.

Please don't, the loops aren't made to support the weight of the camera, it is well known and Black Rapid issued a warning about doing that.

I use a DR1 (dual harness) which splits down so I can use just one side if I want, it is superb, shooting a wedding reception for a friend a few weeks ago I had both sides in action, on the left was a 1D2 with a 24-105 and flash, on the right a 1Ds2 with 135mm F2 and flash, so a really weighty combo, I was like that from 2pm till 1am with no discomfort.

If you want to use your tripod with BR you've got a couple of options, they do a fastener which replaces the standard screw on a Manfrotto RC2 plate and is made to take the weight. The system I use is a pair of Kirk 1 inch Arca Swiss clamps (QRC1) and converted all my tripod heads to Arca Swiss, when I am carrying the camera is is clamped into the 1 inch clamp, when I want to use it on a tripod I loosed the clamp, remove the camera and drop it onto the tripod. I did it this way so I could buy an L bracket (also Kirk). The M plate is another option if you don't need an L bracket.

[GTSDave]

I did a write up on the RS-7 a while back:

Copied and adjusted slightly...
I bought the Black Rapid RS-7, as a turn of luck I won £50 worth of vouchers at work so used them to purchase from Amazon... I had been planning on buying one anyway, but I had felt that £50 for a strap seemed steep.

That aside, my initial feelings is that it is extremely well made, and much more comfortable to use than a standard strap, and saves you from feeling like the stereo-typical Japanese tourist with your camera round your neck. The camera sits on your hip and slides up the front of the strap when you lift it to your eye... (The video on the RS-7 link above will explain that better if my description is not that good).

So far I am extremely pleased with it, but I can see issues if you are someone who uses a Tripod regularly, as obviously the tripod mount on the Camera is being used for the strap, but there appears to be a specific mount that can be purchased from Black Rapid to get round this and use with Manfrotto quick release plates. Fasten R-T1

The only other thing is that there is a clip which is mounted at the rear of the strap, just below the shoulder pad, which it would not be all that difficult for some idiot to undo with the flick of their fingers, sending your camera crashing to the ground, but again Black Rapid have an add on called Buck, which covers the clip and stops it being easily accessed. Having looked at reviews online it would appear that this issue has been mentioned a few times, and several people have simply put a cable-tie through the clip to stop it being unclipped, which seems like the best & cheapest way around this potential issue.

All in all, have to say... It is great! Really pleased with it, and would definitely suggest that if the £50 price tag is justifiable, then well worth getting.



This was written about 18months ago, I have to say that I am still loving the strap, and it is so much more comfotable to use and carry than a normal camera strap, especially considering that a large proportion of the time I carry it when walking the dog in the countryside. Camera hangs comfortably near your hand, get it set up correctly and it is right there when you need it.

I love it, and would definitely recommend it to anyone who is considering buying one.

[MartinP]

Another Black Rapid DR1 (dual) user here and agree with Mark's comments above. Fantastic piece of kit, I can carry a pair of 5D mk ii's with heavy lenses all day at weddings in comfort. Love the fact it splits, so also works as a single harness. I attach one of my bodies to the harness with their adaptor for the Manfotto quick release plate, so can easily pop it on a tripod if needed.

Can't really think of any negative comments about it.

[MikeGTi]

I had an RS7 for my 5D2, was great.

I've seen that CustomSLR make a similar strap that looks like it's had more thought involved in it's construction - never seen one in the flesh though.

[dxbtiger]

I bought the pocket less version the day before I went to Japan at the end of July, absolute joy to use compared to the OEM Nikon strap imo.

Had a variety of lenses attached from a 50mm through to a 70-300 and it worked great.

[ian in lancs]

tim-b said:

I have a sun sniper pro strap, similar thing. Last week it unscrewed itself and dropped my 5dmkii and 100-400L, from my waist height onto a gravel surface...

I can't imagine I didn't screw it in tight, I'm pretty conscientious with my kit, so I don't know how/why it happened. But the scariest thing is that after testing it since, it's clear that once it's slightly loose the motion of walking will quite quickly unscrew it all the way(despite the steel ball-bearing design).

My conclusion; these type of straps are very comfortable and easy to use, but I would strongly advise you to adapt some kind of tether from the strap to the standard strap lug, that's what I will be doing before I use it again.

Not the first time Ive heard that! The design flaw claimed a friends D3 / 70-200 combo.

[davidd]

ian in lancs said:

Not the first time Ive heard that! The design flaw claimed a friends D3 / 70-200 combo.

Is this the same design as the Black Rapid?

[GTSDave]

As I said above, I have been regularly using a Black Rapid RS7 for about 18 months and I have never had the mount on the camera go loose, but then the swivel clip on the strap will move before anything on the camera does. I check mine regularly and have never needed to tighten it, so personally I don't think there is that kind of a design flaw on the Black Rapid straps.

[tim-b]

ian in lancs said:

tim-b said:

I have a sun sniper pro strap, similar thing. Last week it unscrewed itself and dropped my 5dmkii and 100-400L, from my waist height onto a gravel surface...

I can't imagine I didn't screw it in tight, I'm pretty conscientious with my kit, so I don't know how/why it happened. But the scariest thing is that after testing it since, it's clear that once it's slightly loose the motion of walking will quite quickly unscrew it all the way(despite the steel ball-bearing design).

My conclusion; these type of straps are very comfortable and easy to use, but I would strongly advise you to adapt some kind of tether from the strap to the standard strap lug, that's what I will be doing before I use it again.

Not the first time Ive heard that! The design flaw claimed a friends D3 / 70-200 combo.

Yes, I read of a few cases of it happening before I bought the strap, but dismissed them in a kind of 'it won't happen to me because things like this only happen to stupid people who can't manage to tighten a screw' standpoint. Well I guess that attitude didn't work out too well for me....

Since then I've read about a lot more cases, so be careful guys! As I said before, I will be improvising a 'back-up' tether before using one of these type straps again....

[bramley]

I've got the double strap, generally it's very good. Criticisms: if you crouch down you can clout your kit on the floor, and if you lean in to the boot of your car you'll hear a lovely clunk as the cameras smack into the back of the car/bumper

Well worth having though.

[ian in lancs]

davidd said:

ian in lancs said:

Not the first time Ive heard that! The design flaw claimed a friends D3 / 70-200 combo.

Is this the same design as the Black Rapid?

Was a black rapid; it's in the skip if you want it! As an engineer I won't be suspending a D700 and one of the trinity lenses on a single 1/4 screw and then wave it about!