Black Rapid's "R-strap" REVIEW w/photos

ORION wrote in post #6751107
I attached it to the left side of my L-bracket.

how'd you do that?

I have the R-Strap and am going to sell it. First of all I got it for wedding work. I am a two camera wedding shooter and cannot get the hang of using the strap with another body. I have tried it VERY briefly at two weddings--- I am going to give up and sell it. It has been sitting in one of my bags----for all summer-- time to let her go.

Thanks for taking the time to do the review.

I really like the storage part (as a jounalist, I always carry extra batteries/cards to an assignment and it sure would be nice not to have to carry them in my pockets), but I could not live with the single anchor point/having to take the strap off every time I'm using a tripod...too bad...I've been searching for a strap that shouts "BUY ME NOW, FOOL!!!" for over a year lol....

Skids wrote in post #6761992
Has anybody had any experience of using them with a flash attached too (580 EX II in my case)

I am paranoid about having the extra weight of the flash and also the flash pulling against the hot shoe mount when hanging upside down.

Yep. Same flash, no trouble at all here. No hard knocks, but I'm pretty careful.

I have to add that I don't like it on principal. Why do manufacturers have to use metal hardware that beats the crap out of your gear? I can see that big snap clip going through the front of an "l" lens or beating the hell out of the screen while in the bag.

troypiggo wrote in post #6763521
Yep. Same flash, no trouble at all here. No hard knocks, but I'm pretty careful.

Thanks for that.

Is it still convenient and comfortable to use in that configuration too?

IMO just as convenient as without the flash. The camera hangs upside down, with the lens pointing backwards, so the flash is also pointing backwards. So it's within the width of the camera body against your side. Might just play with the height of it (ie adjust strap length) to suit your body/hip so the flash doesn't hit anything.

I walked around with the R-Strap and 30D pretty much full time overseas for 3 weeks. Had the flash on it for maybe 1/4 of that time. No dramas here.

yes, we both use ours with flashes attached more often than not, and certainly at all our paid jobs...works fine. No issues whatsoever.

jacobsen1 wrote in post #6762348
how'd you do that?

On my RRS 40D Gripped L-Plate, they provide you with another tripod hole on the left side of the bracket where our pc cords are. And was lucky enough that the fastener screws in perfectly.

See below:

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bbrovold wrote in post #6763589
I can see that big snap clip going through the front of an "l" lens or beating the hell out of the screen while in the bag.

This is one of the reason's I'm using spectra on mine... Yes, I still have the same clip, but I made the spectra loop long enough the clip is clear of the body in use. In the bag, I simply unhook the strap since it's soooo easy. I only use a strap ~33% of the time though, so taking it off when I put the camera away makes more sense for me than leaving it on.

I can't wait to get my RS-4..should be on it's way.

For those of you who like the idea of the R.

the initial reason I bought this was because I haul two cameras and didn't want them both around my neck...

It won't be any worse than shooting portraits all day with the flash sideways. Its not something i would be worried about. I've gone all day with a 580exII attached. Never had an issue. The strap certainly won't have any issue either. Very secure.

bbrovold wrote in post #6763589
I have to add that I don't like it on principal. Why do manufacturers have to use metal hardware that beats the crap out of your gear? I can see that big snap clip going through the front of an "l" lens or beating the hell out of the screen while in the bag.

I always take the strap off and hang it on the outside of my camera case with the pouch provided by Rstrap. Works for me.

I have used what I call the "Sliding Camera Mount Strap" as a way to connect the camera to the sliding strap (R-Strap, or any brand). I can shoot all day with a long lens on my right, and another lens on the left side using a double harness I made. The camera connection strap doesn't get in the way under your hand when you use either camera in vertical or horizontal position. The carabiner slides easily into position along the strap, and you can put it back in place just as easily.

As you can see in the images, making the "Sliding Camera Mount Strap" connection would be a very simple DIY project. For the sliding strap itself, I first used a simple loop of lightweight 1 inch webbing looped diagonally over one shoulder, secured with a simple web adjuster. When you use two cameras, though, the criss-crossing belts get tangled, so I came up with a combined belt which has been tested in all day shoots this past Summer, and will be posted soon.

Here is a link to an image showing the camera connection for the right side camera:
http://bp1.blogger.com …-h/SlideMountBotTitle.j​pg

Here is a link to an image showing the camera connection for the left side camera:
http://bp2.blogger.com …h/SlideMountSid​eTitle.jpg