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

dan j wrote in post #7040116
Hmmm, looks a bit more secure than the clip type slider. It looks so simple, I'm surprised they're having trouble getting it made.

Thanks,
dan

I suspect it's being made overseas...

ruchad1 wrote in post #7092169
I have the R-Strap R1. Portrait shooting is a little weird but i got used to it. Shooting with 2 cameras is a breeze now.

would you recommend it even if you were only shooting one body? I'll be traveling soon and was considering using it on my main body.

A friend of mine was on a photo vacation when the stitching on his RS gave way and his camera (1D) hit the deck, checking the other straps in the party revealed three other straps that were also close to letting go. Blackrapid have improved the stitching on the new straps and to their credit paid for my friends camera repair.

esco wrote in post #7093994
would you recommend it even if you were only shooting one body? I'll be traveling soon and was considering using it on my main body.

Yup. I went to Hawaii back in November with just one camera (1D mkIII) attached to the R strap. No probs at all. Pretty handy, actually.

ninja279 wrote in post #7095799
A friend of mine was on a photo vacation when the stitching on his RS gave way and his camera (1D) hit the deck, checking the other straps in the party revealed three other straps that were also close to letting go. Blackrapid have improved the stitching on the new straps and to their credit paid for my friends camera repair.

Wow, I hadn't heard that before. They really seem well made to me now.

Oh, and welcome to POTN.

I just bought the RS-4 and took it on my dog walk this morning. The access is smooth and easy but I am not all that comfortable with the lens hanging out where it can be clipped by something. I also worry about losing a lens cap as it moves about. Have any of you had this problem?

papagei wrote in post #7097505
I just bought the RS-4 and took it on my dog walk this morning. The access is smooth and easy but I am not all that comfortable with the lens hanging out where it can be clipped by something. I also worry about losing a lens cap as it moves about. Have any of you had this problem?

One of the pluses of the Black Rapid straps is their abilty to be brought in action quickly. If you'r wandering around with a lens cap on your camera, you're defeating the purpose of the strap. Besides, if you have hood on your lens, you shouldn't worry about losing the cap...

JWright wrote in post #7098252
One of the pluses of the Black Rapid straps is their abilty to be brought in action quickly. If you'r wandering around with a lens cap on your camera, you're defeating the purpose of the strap. Besides, if you have hood on your lens, you shouldn't worry about losing the cap...

Good point. I have a new 18-200 on my 50D, but am waiting for the hood, so I did not have one today - then again, there's even more sticking out to be clipped! There are a lot of walled properties here in Albuquerque and I now worry about passing too close to them, so I end up walking with my hand on my camera. Defeats the hands-free concept.

The plastic tubing as a solution for a camera strap that costs $50 is nothing less than ridiculous.

I'm *still* waiting for my new improved FastenR that I paid for and ordered months ago.

Basically, this thing is not ready for prime time and their customer service isn't either. Not recommended, look at other alternatives first.

J.

I Love love love this strap. It takes all the weight and distributes it well. It is so Fast and easy. I did however wear it over my leather coat once and that didn't work out, as the coat was too slippery and the strap kept sliding.

What kind of plate shall I get so I can have it on a tripod. I hate need to change the baseplate to the tripod plate. Idears? I want it secure!

I just used a normal manfrotto-style base plate with D-ring, tie my optech strap to it, and sling my setup over one shoulder. Since it's only over one shoulder, it's easy to bring the camera up, shoot, and put it down in one quick motion.

I like the idea of the R Strap... I attached my free SmugMug neckstrap (flipped over) to a Camdapter plate. Works pretty well, and only costed me $20. (Cost of Camdapter plate bought here from a POTNer.)

Just got my R4 and really like it. Makes using 2 cameras a breeze. I use a smug mug strap for the one around my neck (very comfortable) and the R4 as intended. I have not experienced camera spinning etc. as others mentioned but I think that is due to where I have it hanging (just below my hip towards the small of my back) and that camera always has a 70-200 attached. As far as bumping goes..if someone gets that close to bump my lens we better be really good friends I saw a couple of posts about shooting in portrait but I have had no problems with that either. All-in-all, I really like this strap and recommend it.

A question. I have a Black Rapid RS1. Use it all the time, as well Tripod, Normally. I HATE-HATE-HATE that I must change the plate to use my tripod. I have read that manfrotto have a tripod plate with a d-ring. How safe is that? I have read on some forums that its not. So my question, is Is there any way to have a secure connection to the camera and still be able to have it on a tripod withut removing the damn plate everytime?

I use a RRS l-bracket on the body, then tie a bit of spectra to the loop on it's base... This gives me a connection for the r-strap w/o having anything in the way of the tripod clamp.

I ALSO have a bit of spectra through the top right lug on the body so if I take my L-bracket off I can still use the r-strap. The spectra I'm using is small enough to work w/o getting in the way but rated at a ton breaking strength. My only concern is chaffing, but I just check it every once in a while.