Black Rapid Backup Safety Strap

[Randy Digby]

Here is what I put together as a safety strap for my rig when using my RS-7. My camera body is entry level (XSi) but the MarkII is $$$ and after I read about a couple of equipment drops (some equipment failure and most operator failure) I put a couple of OP/TECH products together. The safety straps run from the main structural part of the RS-7 hardware to the camera body strap point. I put one part of OP/TECH 1301012 together with one part of 1301062 to get make the strap. I gave the other set to my son-in-law for his rig.

I apologize for the quality of the picture. I only have the one DSLR body so I had to take the pic with my smart phone. I carried it for two days in Disney World in January (with 18-135 lens) and it worked just fine. There is enough slack in the safety that it does not get in the way, and it makes a handy hand carry when I had the strap off my shoulder for some reason. Just thought I would share.

Safety Strap

[hb96tuner]

I LIKE!!!

I just got my Black Rapid RS-7 in the mail yesterday and have not yet had the chance to give it a try. My worry though is the plastic kam buckle on the rear of the strap. I have had these plastic buckles break on me in the past...especially in the cold winter months. My fix to that is going to be a small lenght of 1/8" aircraft cable looping from each end of the strap.
The other small thing I noticed was the metal on metal of the connectors....a small lenght of rubber heat shrink should do the trick.

[Randy Digby]

They sell an accessory called the "BUCK" that wraps around the back buckle. I think it's advertised as a safety, but what I think it is actually for is to make it difficult for someone to walk up behind you, grab your rig with one hand and release the buckle with the other hand and run away with both feet!

[hb96tuner]

Originally Posted by Randy Digby

They sell an accessory called the "BUCK" that wraps around the back buckle. I think it's advertised as a safety, but what I think it is actually for is to make it difficult for someone to walk up behind you, grab your rig with one hand and release the buckle with the other hand and run away with both feet!

Another reason for why I will be adding in the 1/8" aircraft cable to this section of the strap....safety and security!!

[Bad Habit]

I'm a firm believer in redundancy in systems, if something can fail it will. I'm curious though, it seems everyone has heard or read about Black Rapid failures, but it's always ancedotal.

what fails or causes the drops? Does the tripod mount in the camera fail or is it something on the strap?

[Randy Digby]

Bad Habit, I've seen one pic of the swivel section parting, another of the carabiner breaking but most of what I have read has been operator error of not screwing the eye bolt in securely or engaging the lock thimble on the carabiner.

[Bad Habit]

I can understand the operator error with not checking the tightness. I think people also just let it dangle and flop and I wonder if that adds to the stress on swivel and carabiner.

I have one and for as simple as it is, it's one of the best accessories that I've bought (although it's still over priced). I rarely don't have my hand on the camera though, and usually am holding it by the grip. Sort of an obsesvive thing, I am constantly checking the tightness of the eyebolt.

[Randy Digby]

I really do like my RS-7. I shoot as a hobby and on the trip to Disney my main job was helping to take care of the grand-kids while our daughter and son-in-law ran in the marathons. I toted the one year old most of the time and the strap worked great. I would have had to leave the camera behind if not for the RS-7 and I was able to get some nice shots along the way.

[EOS mE]

for the safety strap, i'd hook the connectR to the tripod collar from your 70-200L, then keep your safety as is, and throw on a hand strap.

so no matter what gives, they are all connected. the slack, i'd probably keep it shorter, cuz unless if you are super tall, the extra slack if it does drop, it might still hit the floor.

btw, where did you get the other strap from though?

[gakoenig]

My worry though is the plastic kam buckle on the rear of the strap. I have had these plastic buckles break on me in the past...especially in the cold winter months.

In a bit of a shocker, I'll defend Black Rapid on this one...

We at Luma have conducted pretty extensive testing on the Duraflex Rock Lockster buckle - we use to buy the American built ones by the case and Black Rapid uses the same part, but made in Duraflex's Asian plant (denoted by the "UTX" stamp molded into it).

That buckle is one totally tough SOB, to the tune of about 280lbs. My fat ass can hang off of one. They are also made from Acetal (the injection molded derivative of a polymer also known as Delrin). While Acetal parts are not as strong as Nylon, the Acetal is non-hydroscopic... unlike the Nylon, the Acetal won't suck up minute amounts of water. This is what causes Nylon buckles to fail in cold - the water they contain freezes and expands, creating minute fractures in the polymer, causing it to fail under load.

We trusted the Rock Lockster to carry thousands of user's cameras. It is not a point of failure I would worry about on a Black Rapid.

[jser]

I have a simpler system, it's called "insurance" new for old.

[Ivann]

Clever.

[luciddreamer]

Or instead of using Op-tech to fix your Black Rapid you could have saved a bunch of money by using the Op-tech shoulder strap. I've used mine for at least two years with never a worry. It works great and that 12 pounds of camera and lens feels like a couple of pounds now.

[Randy Digby]

Nothing against Black Rapid. I purchased mine AFTER I saw failure pics (only two and on this form or others, can't recall) and read the operator error reports knowing that I would devise a safety after I received it. I love the Curve - it is very comfortable. And I am a fairly tall guy so if it has to work, the safety strap will not let the rig hit the ground. The safety strap is taken up as tight as it will go in it's current configuration. I purchased my OP/TECH stuff from Amazon.

[jser]

What fails, where, more info please

Thank you