Disaster (nearly) today with BlackRapid

I went out this afternoon with my Canon 5D III and 70-200 F2.8 II to take some Boston shots after the snow storm yesterday.

Since this setup is pretty heavy (5D is gripped, with L bracket), I attached my BR strap to the lens.

I was walking around, and everything was fine, when all of a sudden, somehow, the lens release must have been pushed rubbing up against my side, or my hand, who knows...

The 5D body fell off the 70-200, right onto the wet brick sidewalk. It made the worst sound possible, and some lady had a more horrified look on her face then I did. My screen protector flew off the camera.

Fortunately it landed on it's back. Nothing entered the camera mirror box area that I can see.

Miraculously, the camera still works. But, there is a big crack in the chassis up near the focus point button, and the LCD cover for the info window was damaged as well. I drove directly to the local camera shop, and off to Canon it is going. It looks like damage should be limited to about $250.

Now I can't really truly blame the black rapid, since the strap and mechanism didn't fail. I've been using a black rapid for a couple of years now without a problem... but this is surely something to be careful about!

I thought surely I had just destroyed a $3500 camera...

Hi, same thing happened to me over the Christmas time. The repair cost me £300 ($450) so you were luckier (?) than me.

When I posted my experience other posters suggested that I get the lanyard that connects the camera body to the strap. This I did.

However, the fact that Black Rapid have this accessory available suggests that they are aware of the problem.

I think that in the hanging down position the release button bounced of my iPhone which I carry in my front trouser pocket.

The experience has dampened my confidence in the Black Rapid strap.

The 5D M3 / 70-200 II F2.8 combination is a tad loose in my opinion. Would the same thing have happened with a lens that is a tighter fit?

It is hard to concentrate on looking for good potential images when you are worrying about your kit.

I know the feeling. My confidence in the strap is shot. Gone. And I love the black rapid.

$250 is what I was quoted, but it might be more...

Now I am thinking of going to a regular strap that uses the camera strap lugs.

Nearly?? LOL! Sounds like it was a disaster. I guess it isn't a real disaster until it is over $500 in damages

In all seriousness now: That sucks. I used a BR style strap but didn't feel comfortable completely. Preferred the Optech sling strap that connects to the OEM strap connectors. Nothing can back off or unscrew from.

Ryan0751 wrote in post #16694264
I know the feeling. My confidence in the strap is shot. Gone. And I love the black rapid.

$250 is what I was quoted, but it might be more...

Now I am thinking of going to a regular strap that uses the camera strap lugs.

May I kindly suggest the Luma Cinch v2 ?

Vulture Equipment Works VEW-A4S .that would not have happen.

Dear Ryan,

I'm sorry for your troubles. Spend $ 25.00 and get an OP/TECH sling instead of throwing more money at the problem. It ain't the coolest thing on the market but it WORKS! I'm sure you know by now that more money expended does not equal greater security.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

xeodragon wrote in post #16694429
May I kindly suggest the Luma Cinch v2 ?

That looks interesting. If you have the lug piece on the 70-200, how do you switch to a standard lens? It doesn't look like it can be unclipped easily?

jtmiv wrote in post #16694504
Dear Ryan,

I'm sorry for your troubles. Spend $ 25.00 and get an OP/TECH sling instead of throwing more money at the problem. It ain't the coolest thing on the market but it WORKS! I'm sure you know by now that more money expended does not equal greater security.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

I don't know... that doesn't look sturdy. First, the cloth straps to the camera body. Second... those plastic clips (one of those just broke off on my bag today, bad day for camera gear for me).

The 5D III with 70-200 F2.8, battery grip is probably about 6 pounds!

Dear Ryan,

I routinely walk around with a 1DMK2 and a Sigma 150-500 attached to an OP/TECH sling, that's about 8 pounds. It gives no indication that it will ever fail and the web straps that attach to the camera lugs are not the least bit worn. I bought the rig used from a pro sports shooter that usually used it with a 70/200f2.8 or 300f2.8.

It's good stuff, it's cheap, and it's made in Montana. What more do you need to know? Try it, you'll like it.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Not sure what this failure has to do with the sling. Sounds like the lens came loose from the mount. If the strap was attached to the camera, then the lens would have fallen. I don't anything short of a redundant solution where the lens attached to the body independently would have saved both the body and the lens.

Scrumhalf wrote in post #16694582
Not sure what this failure has to do with the sling. Sounds like the lens came loose from the mount. If the strap was attached to the camera, then the lens would have fallen. I don't anything short of a redundant solution where the strap is attached to the body independently would have saved both the body and the lens.

I was thinking the same. How did the lens come off the camera? And the lens did not drop?

Sorry for your misfortune. Hopefully you get it back good as new.

Scrumhalf wrote in post #16694582
Not sure what this failure has to do with the sling. Sounds like the lens came loose from the mount. If the strap was attached to the camera, then the lens would have fallen. I don't anything short of a redundant solution where the strap is attached to the body independently would have saved both the body and the lens.

I think the point is that the strap placed the camera in a position where it was more likely to be accidentally released, and yes, that a strap that connected both components would have helped.

mike325 wrote in post #16694592
I was thinking the same. How did the lens come off the camera? And the lens did not drop?

Sorry for your misfortune. Hopefully you get it back good as new.

I have no idea really. I was just walking along, and my jacket or something must have hit the release, and then the camera just twisted the right way. The lens was still attached to the black rapid.

I've used this same setup for a couple of years now, so this could be a freak occurrence, but come on... there must be a better solution.

jtmiv wrote in post #16694577
Dear Ryan,

I routinely walk around with a 1DMK2 and a Sigma 150-500 attached to an OP/TECH sling, that's about 8 pounds. It gives no indication that it will ever fail and the web straps that attach to the camera lugs are not the least bit worn. I bought the rig used from a pro sports shooter that usually used it with a 70/200f2.8 or 300f2.8.

It's good stuff, it's cheap, and it's made in Montana. What more do you need to know? Try it, you'll like it.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Ok, I don't doubt your knowledge, just judging by the pictures I see on the web.

So you don't use the strap with the lens at all, just the body?