Black Rapid ConnectR-2 showed up today!!!!!!

[Laramie]

Finally! Must have ordered this thing back in September or October. I'll post pics in a few minutes. Quality and finish looks good.

[SnlpeR]

the ConnectR-2 is nice
has a screw type thing that locks the gate

the FastenR-2 on the other hand i dont trust

[dalto]

Does anyone have a picture of the new ConnectR?

[Laramie]

Does anyone have a picture of the new ConnectR?

http://tylerlewisphotography.smugmug.com/photos/529286372_THWo7-XL.jpg


http://tylerlewisphotography.smugmug.com/photos/529286630_AWZvV-XL.jpg

[SnlpeR]

ive had it for less than a day..
and im not entirely pleased about it

this rubber crush washer is a joke

[SnlpeR]

ok
i just played with it

i basically LICKED (no seriously) one side of the rubber washer..the side that mates with the metal FastenR-2

wat this does is makes the rubber washer slide on the FR-2 as you tighten it..
now youll be able to fully tighten the FR-2 to the tripod threads

so basically the FR-2 threads bottom out in the hole where the tripod goes making it tight

ah the many uses of saliva

[tangcla]

lol. You remind me of primary school. Saliva used as glue. :p

[Laramie]

ok
i just played with it

i basically LICKED (no seriously) one side of the rubber washer..the side that mates with the metal FastenR-2

wat this does is makes the rubber washer slide on the FR-2 as you tighten it..
now youll be able to fully tighten the FR-2 to the tripod threads

so basically the FR-2 threads bottom out in the hole where the tripod goes making it tight

ah the many uses of saliva

I personally like the rubber washer better than that metal tightening/lock nut they had.

IMO, the rubber will grab at the surface area better and keep it from backing out. Plus, I use mine with a Kirk Quick Release, so a little blue loctite on the threads and she ain't goin no where.

[berniesiao]

$16 plus $5 shipping for that piece to correct an original flawed design? Are you serious Blackrapid? Your thievery knows no bounds!

[Laramie]

Was $5 for the people who ordered a while back. I agree, $5 isn't much better than $16, but the strap works well for my needs.

[claybuster]

ok
i just played with it

i basically LICKED (no seriously) one side of the rubber washer..the side that mates with the metal FastenR-2

wat this does is makes the rubber washer slide on the FR-2 as you tighten it..
now youll be able to fully tighten the FR-2 to the tripod threads

so basically the FR-2 threads bottom out in the hole where the tripod goes making it tight

ah the many uses of saliva
I sanded mine down with some coarse sandpaper to make it a bit thinner.

[SnlpeR]

thats actually not needed if you do the saliva trick..haha

and mine only came with one rubber washer
i thought i read something where it came with 2?
did yours come with a spare?

[claybuster]

thats actually not needed if you do the saliva trick..haha

and mine only came with one rubber washer
i thought i read something where it came with 2?
did yours come with a spare?
I got two with mine. Now I have one sanded thinner and one to spit on:D

[SnlpeR]

be a man and use your tongue
hahah

i dont think mine came with a spare
was it in the mesh bag or was it inside the zippered pocket
the business cards were within the strap when it was folded...but thats about it

[tangcla]

be a man and use your tongue

that's what she said ;)

[Laramie]

Mine came with a spare. But you could easily use something else.

[82NoMe]

no spare here

[JWright]

http://tylerlewisphotography.smugmug.com/photos/529286630_AWZvV-XL.jpg

Looks like my setup...

I personally like the rubber washer better than that metal tightening/lock nut they had.

IMO, the rubber will grab at the surface area better and keep it from backing out. Plus, I use mine with a Kirk Quick Release, so a little blue loctite on the threads and she ain't goin no where.

My take on the FastenR-2 (from another thread)

I bought two of the FastenR-2® which arrived yesterday. I was surprised to find these are a lot smaller than the website led me to believe. I have to say, I'm not enamored of the rubber compression washer idea, however. It just doesn't seem as secure as the previous FastenR.

I did a test just to see how tight it was. I screwed the FastenR-2 into the bottom of the camera, hooked it to the strap and then spun the camera to see if it would unscrew. (I did this over the couch so the camera would land on something soft if it came apart.) It didn't... But, as long as the swivel on the ConnectR (the clip) on the strap remains free to turn, it should be all right, but if the swivel jams, the FastenR-2 could come unscrewed from the camera.

Another thing that concerned me was the small amount of threads protruding above the washer. The tripod socket on my 40D is .350 inches deep (micrometer measured) and there is only .170 inches of thread protruding from the washer on the FastenR. That's over half of the socket threads that's aren't being used... It just doesn't seem to be enough to me.

Perhaps it's my aircraft manufacturing experience showing, but I think a better design would have been a longer thread and knurled stainless steel lock ring instead of the rubber washer. Something similar to their original design...

I'm sure there is someone that is saying that the rubber washer is nice because it won't mar the bottom of the camera, and I can respect that, but I'd rather risk a little cosmetic flaw for the added security. Since I use an A-S clamp on my strap I think what I'm going to do is remove the rubber washer and LocTite the FastenR-2 into the clamp. That should provide a secure enough application.

I discarded the rubber washer altogether and used aircraft-grade red LocTite to attach the FastenR-2 to my Kirk clamp. I used the strap for two days at Disneyland and it didn't loosen at all.

Was $5 for the people who ordered a while back. I agree, $5 isn't much better than $16, but the strap works well for my needs.

I lucked out on the ConnectR-2. I had ordered two of them and the second time I inquired about the delay Black Rapid canceled my order and refunded my money. At the time they said they were going to send them free of charge, but I really doubted that was going to happen. Well, they showed up yesterday... My faith in Black Rapid has been restored.

[tangcla]

I got my free ConnectR-2 and FastenR-2 as requested, however they only sent one :mad: I felt bad to ask for a second one so I said I'd pay for it. :D

[Runt808]

To Laramie & JWright,

Which Kirk Clamp do your guys use? would the QRC1 be good enough or should I use a bigger one?

Thanks in advance for any info.

Neal

[JWright]

My take on the FastenR-2 (from another thread)

I discarded the rubber washer altogether and used aircraft-grade red LocTite to attach the FastenR-2 to my Kirk clamp. I used the strap for two days at Disneyland and it didn't loosen at all.

An update on my choice to not use the rubber washer on the FastenR-2... I carried my camera with the 100-400 attached for the entire weekend at the San Diego Red Bull Air Races. At no time did the FastenR ever loosen in the clamp. It's a good, secure setup.

To Laramie & JWright,

Which Kirk Clamp do your guys use? would the QRC1 be good enough or should I use a bigger one?

Thanks in advance for any info.

Neal

When I first attached the R-Strap to a Kirk clamp it was to an older 2 inch wide clamp I had been using on my monopod. When I purchased two R-Straps from another forum member, I ordered two additional clamps from Kirk. I felt the QRC-1 was just a little too narrow and opted for two of the QRC-1.75 clamps instead.

Really Right Stuff has similar clamps, but I chose Kirk because the only suitable RRS clamp has a couple of lugs on the bottom that would interfere with the FastenR-2 (and the Kirk was less expensive...)

[Runt808]

When I first attached the R-Strap to a Kirk clamp it was to an older 2 inch wide clamp I had been using on my monopod. When I purchased two R-Straps from another forum member, I ordered two additional clamps from Kirk. I felt the QRC-1 was just a little too narrow and opted for two of the QRC-1.75 clamps instead.

Really Right Stuff has similar clamps, but I chose Kirk because the only suitable RRS clamp has a couple of lugs on the bottom that would interfere with the FastenR-2 (and the Kirk was less expensive...)

Thanks for the info JWright. Your own personal assesment is kind of how I'm leanng too. I was thinking that the QRC1 would be too narrow. For $15 more I may as well get the larger QRC1.75. Of course, as you and others have stated going this route does make an already expensive strap, a whole lot more so. :D This solution of using a quick release clamp does seem like one fo the best ones so far though. I apreciate you guys sharing your tips and tricks.

Neal

edit: Just ordered the QRC2 from B&H. Two reasons for going with the 2" clamp: 1. the 1.75" clamp was not in stock and 2. the 2" clamp was only $5 more. :p

[tangcla]

Did anyone else get the email from Blackrapid? They are sending out revised ConnectR-2s to everyone.

[SnlpeR]

i just got the email too
i have to read it again to see which part can fail

[MGW172]

i just got the email too
i have to read it again to see which part can fail

I didnt get the email, but I did get the ConnectR-2 yesterday. What did it say?

[ColinUK]

I didnt get the email, but I did get the ConnectR-2 yesterday. What did it say?

The email says,

"Dear Black Rapid customers using the new ConnectR-2 swivel hook,
It has recently come to our attention that there are a small number of the new ConnectR-2 (CR-2) swivel hooks out there that have a problem with detaching at the swivel. It involves the threaded pin that attaches the swivel to the hook. In a few rare cases, this pin has come unscrewed. We cannot possibly know which of the CR-2s in circulation have this problem. So, in the spirit of taking every right step, we are sending new CR-2s to every customer on our mailing list that has ordered them as an upgrade, or ordered an R-Strap having a CR-2. If you are receiving this email, then you will also be receiving a new CR-2 in the mail to replace your current CR-2 swivel hook. We highly recommend that you swap out your current CR-2 for the new one when it arrives.
When it arrives, it will be marked with tape so that you do not mistake it for the old CR-2, while installing it and reassembling your strap. If you would like some advice and instructions on the disassembly and reassembly of your R-Strap, we will be posting a new video on our website at www.blackrapid.com (http://blackrapidcom.createsend2.com/t/r/l/thpo/qdtduyku/r) to assist you in this process.
You do not need to return your old CR-2 to Black Rapid. There is also no need to reply to this email, unless you have special requests or particular questions. If that is the case, then we are available for your comments and questions, as always.
Thank you,
Black Rapid"

[MGW172]

The email says,

"Dear Black Rapid customers using the new ConnectR-2 swivel hook,
It has recently come to our attention that there are a small number of the new ConnectR-2 (CR-2) swivel hooks out there that have a problem with detaching at the swivel. It involves the threaded pin that attaches the swivel to the hook. In a few rare cases, this pin has come unscrewed. We cannot possibly know which of the CR-2s in circulation have this problem. So, in the spirit of taking every right step, we are sending new CR-2s to every customer on our mailing list that has ordered them as an upgrade, or ordered an R-Strap having a CR-2. If you are receiving this email, then you will also be receiving a new CR-2 in the mail to replace your current CR-2 swivel hook. We highly recommend that you swap out your current CR-2 for the new one when it arrives.
When it arrives, it will be marked with tape so that you do not mistake it for the old CR-2, while installing it and reassembling your strap. If you would like some advice and instructions on the disassembly and reassembly of your R-Strap, we will be posting a new video on our website at www.blackrapid.com (http://blackrapidcom.createsend2.com/t/r/l/thpo/qdtduyku/r) to assist you in this process.
You do not need to return your old CR-2 to Black Rapid. There is also no need to reply to this email, unless you have special requests or particular questions. If that is the case, then we are available for your comments and questions, as always.
Thank you,
Black Rapid"


Thanks for the response!

[ColinUK]

Thanks for the response!

You're welcome.:)

[WillOPhotos]

yeah happened to a guy on Fredmiranda hes came loose at a wedding and his 1d hit the ground!

[SnlpeR]

is it the 2 little pins on the "gate" that come out?
they looked to be pressed in...not screwed

[WillOPhotos]

it doesnt look like its threaded but it is! Pic taken by guy on Fredmiranda not my photo.

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/2717/connectr2b.jpg (http://img31.imageshack.us/my.php?image=connectr2b.jpg)

[SnlpeR]

im assuming they added locktite to fix the problem?

[SnlpeR]

whoa scary
i just took mine apart with a pair of plyers

[claybuster]

whoa scary
i just took mine apart with a pair of plyers
Does it look like some loctite will fix the problem? Or does it look like a problem with the threads not the right size?If just some loctite will work I would like to know so I can use it with a homemade strap.

[claybuster]

Does it look like some loctite will fix the problem? Or does it look like a problem with the threads not the right size?If just some loctite will work I would like to know so I can use it with a homemade strap.
Well...To answer my own questions. I just took mine apart.It didn't take much force to un-screw it either. The threads look good. I put some J-B weld into it and put it back together. I'll let you guys know in about 24 hours (set up time for J-B weld) how it holds. After all this hassle I'm just trying to get an extra connector out of the deal:D

[JWright]

Did anyone else get the email from Blackrapid? They are sending out revised ConnectR-2s to everyone.

They just can't seem to get it right with that ConnectR-2, can they?

I received the e-mail and the two I have seem to be fine. I keep checking them, but I think if they were going to fail they would have by now. I've used them a lot since I received them.

[claybuster]

Has anyone received the "new improved guaranteed not to fall apart" ConnectR-2 yet? I hope it doesn't take another 6 months like the old connectR. I received my e-mail a few days ago and expected to get it really fast because of all the problems they have had.

[according to jim]

Received my strap on Friday... then got the email they are sending the replacement soon. Have not received it yet. Quality Control?

Jim

[claybuster]

I tried to take my connectR2 apart again after putting some J-B weld in it. It sure seems to be holding because I can't get it apart. So now I can use my strap without having to worry (I hope). I wonder if Black Rapid will just do the same thing I did.

[Laramie]

I had the same experience as Claybuster.

I tried to take mine apart with a pair of channel locks and it was on there GOOD. But, I couldn't leave it alone, so I took it apart and there was lots of white residue on the threads. So there was definitely some thread locking liquid applied during the manufacturing process.

I added a healthy amount of my own blue loctite and I'm pretty confident that this will hold well.

Soon as I got my connectr-2 I could tell that it was put together either by threads or by being pressed in. Obviously threads are better. I'm still going to keep an eye out for a different loop/lock that I can use and just take it apart and just use the slide part that goes through the webbing. But we'll see.

[Joshua14321]

Are they charging for the replacement ConnectR-2?

~ Josh :)

[tangcla]

No, it's a freebie.