Warning for BlackRapid Users

[Gdad]

Just thought I would share a scary experience from the weekend. I got a BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap a month or so ago and while I do like it- I had a good fright using it yesterday.

Lately I have been doing a lot of tripod shooting so I have been using the D-Ring on the bottom of the tripods quick release plate for a connection point instead of the actual FastenR-2 that came with the strap. (See pictures below- not mine but you get the idea.) Interestingly- this was a topic of discussion at the big DIS'r 'Summit' a few weeks ago because when using the provided fastener the captive swivel connector on the strap tends to scuff up the bottom of the camera- while when using a wider release plate then the bottom of the camera is protected. HOWEVER, it looks like the D-Ring on the quick release plates (at least on my Bogen) is NOT designed to support the weight of a camera and lens.

So here is the story: Out shooting yesterday- D700 & 14-24 f/2.8- the camera was hanging at my side as it had been all day. I reached down to take a shot and when I do something just feels different. So I look at it and it is completely disconnected from the strap. Puzzled- I checked the captive strap connector to see if it came loose or unscrewed or something- but it's tight. Then I see the D-Ring on the quick release plate is gone- and I find it on the concrete by my feet. I have no idea how the camera did not fall- since it must have been hanging just by half of the ring in the slot held in place by it's own weight and then let go completely when I picked it up. The D-Ring snapped back into place fairly easily so obviously it does not take all that much force to break it free either- probably just pressure from the side rather than from straight down.

So be carefull out there- I don't want to even think about what might have happened.

Strap Connector - ConnectR2

Good Idea- FastenR-2

Not a Good Idea- quick release plate similar to mine that 'failed'

 

[annnewjerz]

O....M....G. That is scary. I've never noticed the connector that screws into my tripod socket to be anything but extremely tight and secure. This is precisely why, even though it's a pain in the butt, before starting tripod work I always put my OpTech neck strap back on.

Is it annoying to have to use two straps throughout a day of shooting? Sure is. Does the comfort level of my BlackRapid strap make up for it? Sure does.

 

[JoeDif]

Thanks for the heads up. I've been thinking about doing that same thing. I guess I won't now.

 

[Code]

Wow.. this is actually something I've been wondering about for a little while. I saw the title of this thread and as I waited for it to load, I thought "oh no, his camera hit the ground". Glad I was wrong, but wow that is crazy close. Going back to the FastenR. Thanks for the heads up. But now I need to figure out how to make the ConnectR stop scratching the edge of my lens mount.

I've never noticed the connector that screws into my tripod socket to be anything but extremely tight and secure. This is precisely why, even though it's a pain in the butt, before starting tripod work I always put my OpTech neck strap back on.

Ann, I'm trying to understand what you mean by this.. you use a neck strap when your camera is on a tripod?

 

[SC Mouse Fan]

I have been using the quick release plate on the Black Rapid strap too. I guess I will switch back to the FastnR.

 

[annnewjerz]

Ann, I'm trying to understand what you mean by this.. you use a neck strap when your camera is on a tripod?

HAHA, not really...but that would be a sight. Sorry in advance for the long-ish explanation.

I screw the BlackRapid strap into the bottom of the camera directly. So, when I want to use the tripod, I have to screw in my quick release plate, which I can't do with the BlackRapid strap still connected. As a result, when it's time for night shooting I put away the BlackRapid strap and reconnect my OpTech strap through the normal loops on the side of the camera. When I shoot, I hold onto the neck strap for some extra security.

I have put my quick release plate into the clamp on my ballhead incorrectly in the past while doing "light painting" in the pitch black, causing my camera to come falling off (luckily into the grass). Now, I make sure I have a hold of my camera when I shoot. It might cause some minor movement while doing long exposures, but at least I won't end up with a broken camera. If it falls again, I'll have a hold on the OpTech strap looped around my wrist.

 

[Code]

Ahh gotcha.. you have a point, no more convenient switching between tripod and handheld on the BR strap

 

[Gdad]

Going back to the FastenR. Thanks for the heads up. But now I need to figure out how to make the ConnectR stop scratching the edge of my lens mount.

There is also some rubber on the bottom of my camera which is trying to curl up as the rubber on the fastener tightens down now. I thought just using the tripod plate was the perfect solution but obviously not.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I had run across information about this when I was looking at the BR strap but hadn't quite realized exactly what would happen! Glad that your camera didn't take the fall!

Here was a discussion on the subject and it sounds like BR is working on something for the quick release plates. From this website: http://terrywhite.com/techblog/archives/3732

" Fausto says:
October 21, 2009 at 9:52 amI also clip my R-Strap to the d-ring on the Manfrotto tripod plate. I called Manfrotto and asked about this, they told me the d-ring was not designed to carry the weight of the camera and they “wouldn’t recommend doing that”. I’ve seen quite a few shooters carry their camera this way and they all say they trust it. I still do it but I just don’t take my hand off the camera anymore.
Have any of you ever had any problems or noticed any damage to the d-ring?

Reply
Jeff Webb says:
October 22, 2009 at 3:36 pmBlackRapid is working on a replacement screw for the Manfrotto plates. The prototype was stainless steel and ready to take the weight of the gear. It would just replace the screw in the plate transferring the weight back to the camera’s socket."

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I would also advise those of you using the old BlackRapid connector to replace it with a ConnectR-2. On the old one, the hook didn't screw lock.

I still had the old strap lying around upstairs with the intent to replace the connector before my next trip. When I put my photo gear away a few weeks ago, I hung the new strap near the old one. My wife picked up the old one and started using it. On Friday, she went to school to shoot valentines pics (she's yearbook photographer). At some point during the day, the camera came unhooked and fell to the ground. It was a 5D Mark 2 with a 24-70 (with hood). The camera stopped working after it hit the ground. Opening and closing the CF door was enough to get it working again. Everything seems fine now.

That's actually the second time that lens has hit the ground. The other time it was attached to my 1D Mark 2 along with a 580 EX flash. In that case, the lens lost the ability to focus at longer focal lengths but the camera and flash were fine. That was right in the middle of a WDW trip. I was sitting with the boys in the Columbia Harbor House and my oldest wanted to hold my camera. He played with it for a bit and then put it back on the table and promptly knocked it onto the floor. It was about $180 to repair the lens. If I recall, I ran into BobQuincy about half and hour later and my meager social skills were probably way below normal.

I'm probably not someone that you should buy used gear from.

 

[fan1080]

Wow, nice timing, thanks folks!

I'm all set to leave for Orlando tomorrow afternoon, with my newly purchased BlackRapid Strap, and my intention was to just use the tripod mount instead of the BR connector!

 

[boBQuincy]

I was sitting with the boys in the Columbia Harbor House and my oldest wanted to hold my camera. He played with it for a bit and then put it back on the table and promptly knocked it onto the floor. It was about $180 to repair the lens. If I recall, I ran into BobQuincy about half and hour later and my meager social skills were probably way below normal.

I work with a bunch of engineers, your social skills were above average for my usual environment!

 

[Groucho]

Ouch! Glad you hand your hands on the camera before it all fell apart. I'm glad I was using the "real" FastenR on the tripod mount of my 300mm lens when I was using it.

I don't know if you're aware, but they just introduced the FR-3 FastenR... more info here.

If they come out with an updated D-ring to strengthen a Monfrotto QR plate, I will probably be in line. The bottom of my K-7 is all beat up after my trip. The metal is fine but the covering is all scraped up.

As a result, when it's time for night shooting I put away the BlackRapid strap and reconnect my OpTech strap through the normal loops on the side of the camera. When I shoot, I hold onto the neck strap for some extra security.

I'm similar - I leave the short Op/Tech loops in my neck strap rings all the time. (One of my straps came with parts that are only 2-3" long so they're not really in the way.) If I ever want to use the neck strap, it takes two seconds to attach it and I'm in business. If I'm going to use the tripod, I try to wrap the Op/Tech around in in a way that will catch it before it hits the ground. I am too nervous to just leave the camera sitting on top of the tripod all by itself, especially next to the fence watching Illuminations!

 

[Groucho]

I had kind of a "duh!" moment when looking at my new RS-7 strap (the connector on my old one was overly tight, so Blackrapid sent me a new one without even waiting for me to return the old one! Nice service - now I just need to get to the post office to drop off the original.)

I never paid attention before, but it probably makes sense, when attaching the CR-2 to the FastenR on the camera, to make sure the side that opens is facing the front of the camera. I think what happens is probably the knurled grip on the locking piece, or maybe even just the edges of the opening, might be responsible for all the scratching on the camera body. Hopefully the other side, which is just smooth metal, will be a little less likely to do damage.

I also noticed a new plastic clip on the back part of the strap, where you adjust the length. Its sole purpose appears to be to keep the doubled over part of the strap together. (It's kind of hard to explain.) Interesting. The label on the bag in comes in is also totally different and there are different cards inside. I guess they're always refining...