Equipment Aquisition Syndrome

[JoeDif]

On Saturday I had the priviledge of being a volunteer photographer for the HEADstrong Foundation lacrosse tournament. Two of the other photgraphers had the Black Rapids straps.

After seeing this rig in person all I can say is....I want this strap, I need this strap, I must have this strap. The DW saw me admiring my new future purchase and just rolled her eyes

 

[skr8pn]

On Saturday I had the priviledge of being a volunteer photographer for the HEADstrong Foundation lacrosse tournament. Two of the other photgraphers had the Black Rapids straps.

After seeing this rig in person all I can say is....I want this strap, I need this strap, I must have this strap. The DW saw me admiring my new future purchase and just rolled her eyes

I am 100% with you. I fully plan to have that strap before Dec. I'm to the point now I wear the neck strap like that anyway, across my body and under one arm. I just always end up flipping it over and ducking my head out of the strap to get the shot. I've got a birthday coming up and if the DW don't get it the other DW (dear wallet) will.

 

[annnewjerz]

On Saturday I had the priviledge of being a volunteer photographer for the HEADstrong Foundation lacrosse tournament. Two of the other photgraphers had the Black Rapids straps.

After seeing this rig in person all I can say is....I want this strap, I need this strap, I must have this strap. The DW saw me admiring my new future purchase and just rolled her eyes

All I can say is, it's fantastic. I took it for a walk around my town this weekend for its first real outing and I have absolutely zero complaints now.

It's comfortable, it's easy to use, the connection to the tripod socket feels really tight and secure, it holds two spare memory cards...the list goes on and on.

For $55 or whatever I spent on it (what kind of sick person really keeps track, anyway?), it's definitely worth the money. Tell your DW it would make a fantastic stocking stuffer.

 

[YesDear]

And I think we all have Mr Mark to thank for this lead. I mean that in a good way. I believe Mark was the first one to talk about it. What a trend setter he is!

 

[Quicklabs]

Your post is so compelling! You MUST get that strap! LOL

 

[Code]

(what kind of sick person really keeps track, anyway?)

 

[mabas9395]

I remember seeing a thread a while ago talking about these. Does anyone else have any thoughts on the RS-4 vs RS-5? For me, it's not a question of "if", just when and which.

 

[Icemann]

On Saturday I had the priviledge of being a volunteer photographer for the HEADstrong Foundation lacrosse tournament. Two of the other photgraphers had the Black Rapids straps.

After seeing this rig in person all I can say is....I want this strap, I need this strap, I must have this strap. The DW saw me admiring my new future purchase and just rolled her eyes

How cool is that you got to shoot some photos for The Headstrong Foundation I've been thinking about getting one of the Black Rapid Straps myself but have not seen one in action.I'm going to tell Laura that you said this a must have so she won't say anything when I buy it Thanks

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

So how do you all deal with putting the camera on a tripod since the strap screws into the tripod mount on the camera? I want one, but I am afraid I would drop the camera if I unscrewed it from the strap while trying to get it on a tripod. Are any of you concerned about this or is it just me?

 

[annnewjerz]

I do it too, to some extent. No worries---you aren't that sick. I keep track of all of the expensive stuff (body, lenses, tripod, software) and for the most part just look at anything $75 and under as any other normal expenditure, like a pair of shoes or something.

So how do you all deal with putting the camera on a tripod since the strap screws into the tripod mount on the camera? I want one, but I am afraid I would drop the camera if I unscrewed it from the strap while trying to get it on a tripod. Are any of you concerned about this or is it just me?

I am worried about it, but not worried enough to not buy one now that I know how much I like it.

What I plan on doing is taking my RS-4 for walking around during the day and then putting my OpTech strap back on for evening shooting. This way, when I go to put the camera on my tripod I have a strap to hold onto for extra protection. It might be a little redundant and inconvenient, but until I'm 100% secure with using my tripod (which I'm not yet since I've only used it maybe 3 times) I'd rather have something extra to hold onto for added security.

That being said, I dropped my D60 before straight onto our wood floors and it worked just fine (or at least that's what the person I sold it to tells me ).

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I now can give a big thumbs up to the Black Rapid Strap. I spent 4 days walking around DL and never woke up in the morning thinking I'd leave the camera behind b/c I was too uncomfortable from carrying it. I couldn't believe how much better I felt even compared to my OPTech!

I did use my tripod and in that case one night I put the OpTech back on. Another night I didn't and was a tad more nervous but I figured there are lots of times I could drop a camera so I was a dare devil. Luckily the equipment survived and my nerves really weren't shot.

It's super easy to remove the Black Rapid Strap. Two minor complaints. I wasn't thrilled with setting the camera down with the connector but it's not too bad. And at Disney with all the short people running around in total excitement I often walked keeping my hand protecting the camera at my side or lifting it out of the way so it wouldn't wack anyone in close quarters. What frequently happened is the strap would shift and the shoulder pad would slip down my back and I had to readjust often. Lifting the camera to shoot pictures also had the same effect. If anybody has a tip to stop that I'd love to hear it. Perhaps more breaking in will help.

 

[Groucho]

Hey R-Strap owners - mind taking a quick look at this strap and comment on how it compares?

It's obviously a copycat design (and he pretty much admits so) but they claim to have improved on a couple things. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but I found it while doing my initial few steps of tracking down the best price and was curious how it compares. It sells for $40 shipped, for comparison - a little cheaper but if seems inferior, I'd rather spend the money for the RS-4. The feedback on this one is pretty solid though, with a few "better than the R-Strap" comments here and there.

 

[IndyShutterbug]

Groucho,
From looking at the swivel connector mechanism, I would run away from that design. I have had my 2 black rapid straps for almost a year now, and the best upgrade they have made to them in the past year is the connector piece. The aftermarket doesn't look bad as a whole, but that piece just scares me. The producer of the California Sunbounce also makes a like design, but the Black rapid design is a great one.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Groucho - I agree with IndyShutterbug about the strap you're looking at. I'd be very concerned about the connector system - especially about the metal trigger snap "triggering" when I didn't want it to. I'm sure you could change it but that adds to the price. The strap itself does look comparable though.

Doesn't look like it comes in a Pentax model though.

 

[YesDear]

So how do you all deal with putting the camera on a tripod since the strap screws into the tripod mount on the camera? I want one, but I am afraid I would drop the camera if I unscrewed it from the strap while trying to get it on a tripod. Are any of you concerned about this or is it just me?

I have had no concerns taking the strap off my camera and placing it on the tripod. I use a RRS L bracket. I can mount the camera in portrait position without removing it. I can also attach a longer lens by the foot plate.

To be honest even when I use my optech, I would disconnect the strap from the camera before mounting on the tripod, so I have had not concerns. I know with the RRS clamp that when it is in there, it will not come out.

Once again just one person's opinion.

I do agree that I tend to keep my hand on the camera when it is at my hip, probably because, I am not used to it being there.

 

[annnewjerz]

Hey R-Strap owners - mind taking a quick look at this strap and comment on how it compares?

Please be forewarned, this is going to be the least technical explanation you've ever heard.

What worries me about the strap you linked to is the little lobster claw thingy that grabs onto the plate that screws intot he tripod mount. First, it looks like it's plastic. Second, it looks like it could very easily be hit and end up opening, causing the loop part of the screw on the connector to be "let go," taking your camera along with it.

(Are you still with me?)

On the RRS strap, the part that attaches to the screw is more like a carabiner. It's metal and there is a special little piece that screws down over the opening portion of the carabiner to secure it while your camera is connected. This way, the carabiner doesn't open up while you are shooting, causing your camera to become disconnected. If for some reason you want to take the body off of the strap...you unscrew the little thing on the carabiner, it works its way up the carabiner so the part that opens is free, and you can remove your camera with the connector still attached.

For only like $15 savings, I think I would probably just go with the RS-4. It really does feel completely secure. I was worried about having my camera dangle from the end of a screw but after getting it all set up, I'm confident I won't have any issues.

Anywho, hope that helps!

 

[wenrob]

DH had a band over here for an interview a few weeks ago and I snapped some pics, now they won't leave me alone about doing some pictures. I keep putting them off (I really, really don't like the pressure) and finally have agreed to do a few. My price? A Black Rapid Strap.

 

[annnewjerz]

DH had a band over here for an interview a few weeks ago and I snapped some pics, now they won't leave me alone about doing some pictures. I keep putting them off (I really, really don't like the pressure) and finally have agreed to do a few. My price? A Black Rapid Strap.

I think that's a great idea. I took some pics for a neighbor and really like them, didn't want any money for the pics (they were just some quick shots in the back yard), but once she saw them she told me she wanted to give me some money for them. I told her no, but as payment I allowed her to invite us over for some homemade lasagna and whoopie pies.

I think we should go back to the barter system of Lewis and Clark days.

 

[Gdad]

...and then putting my OpTech strap back on for evening shooting. This way, when I go to put the camera on my tripod I have a strap to hold onto for extra protection. It might be a little redundant and inconvenient, but until I'm 100% secure with using my tripod (which I'm not yet since I've only used it maybe 3 times) I'd rather have something extra to hold onto for added security.

Probably a pretty good idea- I was shooting with a friend of mine at MK EMH's on Sunday night (early yesterday morning technically) and his 5D mrk2 and 17-40mm hit the concrete when his tripod fell over. The camera was working but had a big crack in the casing- the lens was in a couple pieces. I felt really bad. I also kept a grip on my strap after that- too easy to make a mistake when you are dead tired from being at Disney all day or all week.

 

[Icemann]

Please be forewarned, this is going to be the least technical explanation you've ever heard.

What worries me about the strap you linked to is the little lobster claw thingy that grabs onto the plate that screws intot he tripod mount. First, it looks like it's plastic. Second, it looks like it could very easily be hit and end up opening, causing the loop part of the screw on the connector to be "let go," taking your camera along with it.

(Are you still with me?)

On the RRS strap, the part that attaches to the screw is more like a carabiner. It's metal and there is a special little piece that screws down over the opening portion of the carabiner to secure it while your camera is connected. This way, the carabiner doesn't open up while you are shooting, causing your camera to become disconnected. If for some reason you want to take the body off of the strap...you unscrew the little thing on the carabiner, it works its way up the carabiner so the part that opens is free, and you can remove your camera with the connector still attached.

For only like $15 savings, I think I would probably just go with the RS-4. It really does feel completely secure. I was worried about having my camera dangle from the end of a screw but after getting it all set up, I'm confident I won't have any issues.

Anywho, hope that helps!

I looked at the strap and I don't get that warm fuzzy feeling either.I don't trust that clip either.Think I will order the RS-4 This weekend