BlackRapid

Whilst this is what I fear could happen, that video at the bottom offers a good backup (like the photo I linked to also).

Looking forward to hearing your analysis on the Q-Strap. How you going to stress test it? lol
 
gman said:
Whilst this is what I fear could happen, that video at the bottom offers a good backup (like the photo I linked to also).

Looking forward to hearing your analysis on the Q-Strap. How you going to stress test it? lol
Click to expand...

I won't be doing any destructive testing... I'll just jump around on my bed with my 100-400 hanging off it hahaha

That backup thing looks like a pain when you actually want to take a picture though.... I think I will use some kind of backup but can't decide what yet.

That failure does look worrying though.... That's the problem with cast material, a bit prone to failure. What we really need is something machined out of solid aluminium.
 
I have a Q-strap and handstrap on it's way.

I shall also give my own feedback here.
 
It's arrived and my first impression is money well spent.

I have re-threaded the strap. The way it came meant that every time I bring it up to shoot the shoulder pad moves off my shoulder.

The carabiner thing looks reasonably sturdy but feels a bit cheap. I might look at replacing it.

The L bracket seems sturdy enough. And I bought a D ring thing that also feels solid enough.

If you want any pictures of stuff up close let me know.

Overall I am happy with my purchase but do feel a safety feature of some shape or form is needed.
 
gman said:
I've been looking at the BlackRapid straps and a few of the alternatives and I came across one called a CarrySafe, but it was the mounting plate that caught my interest.

I'm wondering if the ones which screw straight into the tripod mount are perhaps putting an awful lot of local stress on that point on the camera, whereas the ones which use the plates are spreading the load more?
Click to expand...

Not had the problem with the tripod mount in the camera body itself but I normally shoot with a battery grip (Mieke) fitted and the tripod mount on that gave out recently.

I have recently purchased a Benro tripod and the camera plate for that -I think it's the same as an Arca Swiss plate - has extra threaded holes so I keep the plate on the camera and use of of the spare holes for the BR strap.

Only time will tell if it works, or not :thumbs:
 
Cheers for all the feedback. I think I'm going to look into this some more as I'm not 100% comfortable with it all. As said I'd be using the lens collar mount instead so if I can get a fail safe brought into the equation then perhaps it will work for me.
 
I've bought some of this to use as a failsafe:


Ripping off Sam's idea :thumbs:
 
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gman said:
Interesting again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUK7G5Gy5B4

Although we don't know if it's caused damage and it's just not apparent yet?
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I reckon that is pretty conclusive evidence that the tripod mount is a strong beast. If that didn't break it, then years of much much smaller forces are unlikely to cause fatigue. There are no reports of broken tripod mounts on the internet.
 
I got my Q-Strap today and then attached a Manfrotto QR plate to see if it would work.

They are not for budging unless I use a LOT of force. The back ups mentioned here look worthwhile.

I won't be using a hand-strap.


Q-Strap with Manfrotto QR plate. by Dougster8000, on Flickr
 
Steve, 92kg break strength eh? Nice. Post pics please.

Graham, that vid's quite reassuring -I'm hoping my implementation will be able to make use of that.

Doug - That tripod QR plate screw there? Is that the one that came with the manfrotto QR plate? If so, are you happy that enough of the screw thread is still able to screw into the camera's tripod mount (whhat with the addition of the q-strap plate)?
 
Garnett said:
Steve, 92kg break strength eh? Nice. Post pics please.

Graham, that vid's quite reassuring -I'm hoping my implementation will be able to make use of that.

Doug - That tripod QR plate screw there? Is that the one that came with the manfrotto QR plate? If so, are you happy that enough of the screw thread is still able to screw into the camera's tripod mount (whhat with the addition of the q-strap plate)?
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I'm going to combine some of the thread with one of these:
I'll make some sort of loop thing for threading it through the camera. Pics will be posted :)

It looks like it is the standard plate thread Dougsters used. I have an identical one. It has 5mm of thread, the plate is about 3mm thick..... Dougster I think you're mad.... You'd be better off just using the plates own hoop or getting a longer centre bolt.
 
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whom said:
I'm going to combine some of the thread with one of these:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400302749...NX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_500wt_1029
I'll make some sort of loop thing for threading it through the camera. Pics will be posted :)

It looks like it is the standard plate thread Dougsters used. I have an identical one. It has 5mm of thread, the plate is about 3mm thick..... Dougster I think you're mad.... You'd be better off just using the plates own hoop or getting a longer centre bolt.
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I wouldn't trust a 60p Karabiner from ebay to hold my camera that's for certain! It hasn't even got a locking screw gate on it, very unwise.
 
I use the system from http://www.carryspeed.com/
I got it primarily because I was impressed with their attitude of making very sure it cannot come apart.
The plate uses an Allen Key (stored in the plate), so it is way better than finger tight and is very secure.
The strap is secured using a limited movement ball joint so it cannot scratch your camera.
The ball joint is secured to the strap using a mechanism that's new to me (see the video), but is ultra secure and even that is backed up by an O-ring in case you didn't tighten it up properly.
The strap buckles cannot be released single handed, so no worries about it popping open.

So far I've used this system to cover two festivals and I've never found anything slackening or shifting.
And the neoprene strap is SO comfortable!

Edited to add - there is a UK distributor.
 
The tripod QR plate isn't taking any weight.

It screws onto the L=Plate

Even if it's on the tripod it will only be for macro shots.

Why is that mad??
 
DuncanDisorderly said:
I use the system from http://www.carryspeed.com/
I got it primarily because I was impressed with their attitude of making very sure it cannot come apart.
The plate uses an Allen Key (stored in the plate), so it is way better than finger tight and is very secure.
The strap is secured using a limited movement ball joint so it cannot scratch your camera.
The ball joint is secured to the strap using a mechanism that's new to me (see the video), but is ultra secure and even that is backed up by an O-ring in case you didn't tighten it up properly.
The strap buckles cannot be released single handed, so no worries about it popping open.

So far I've used this system to cover two festivals and I've never found anything slackening or shifting.
And the neoprene strap is SO comfortable!

Edited to add - there is a UK distributor.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, certainly an interesting alternative to my Blackrapid. Who is the UK distributor you bought it from?
 
Dougster said:
The tripod QR plate isn't taking any weight.

It screws onto the L=Plate

Even if it's on the tripod it will only be for macro shots.

Why is that mad??
Click to expand...

No but just two (ish) millimeters of bolt thread are holding the entire weight when it's upside down by your side. It wouldn't take many turns for it to undo itself either.


or8it said:
I wouldn't trust a 60p Karabiner from ebay to hold my camera that's for certain! It hasn't even got a locking screw gate on it, very unwise.
Click to expand...

It is only an emergency backup! And for that purpose it is plenty strong enough. It is unlikely to remove itself even without the locking gate.
 
Dougster said:
The tripod QR plate isn't taking any weight.

It screws onto the L=Plate

Even if it's on the tripod it will only be for macro shots.

Why is that mad??
Click to expand...
Sorry Doug. I think I got the digression started - I couldn't see the gap between the L plate and the tripod QR plate. They looked flush and so I thought you'd removed the screw that came with the Q-strap and were using the manfrotto screw alone.
 
Garnett said:
Sorry Doug. I think I got the digression started - I couldn't see the gap between the L plate and the tripod QR plate. They looked flush and so I thought you'd removed the screw that came with the Q-strap and were using the manfrotto screw alone.
Click to expand...

OHHHHH I see now. My apologies, it's not mad, it is perfectly sane.... sorry for my stupidity Dougster
 
whom said:
It is only an emergency backup! And for that purpose it is plenty strong enough. It is unlikely to remove itself even without the locking gate.
Click to expand...

Still wouldn't trust it, even as a backup. For 1% the worth of your camera you could get one that won't remove itself, not unlikely to.
 
or8it said:
Still wouldn't trust it, even as a backup. For 1% the worth of your camera you could get one that won't remove itself, not unlikely to.
Click to expand...

Well the chance of it coming off on any one day is less than 1%. The chance of the main clasp failing on that day is also less than 1%. Combined, that makes the chance of me dropping it less than 0.01%. Or one drop every ten thousand days.

As an engineer I have been taught that a number like that can be considered negligible, especially considering how many other and more likely ways that are for me to drop it.
 
whom said:
Well the chance of it coming off on any one day is less than 1%. The chance of the main clasp failing on that day is also less than 1%. Combined, that makes the chance of me dropping it less than 0.01%. Or one drop every ten thousand days.

As an engineer I have been taught that a number like that can be considered negligible, especially considering how many other and more likely ways that are for me to drop it.
Click to expand...

Well you're not the only engineer circulating this forum and I certainly question your percentages reached without any knowledge of the material strength of the ebay Karabiners other than a photograph of them.

I'll keep a look out for the thread entitled: Well what was the chance of that happening..... ;)
 
or8it said:
Well you're not the only engineer circulating this forum and I certainly question your percentages reached without any knowledge of the material strength of the ebay Karabiners other than a photograph of them.

I'll keep a look out for the thread entitled: Well what was the chance of that happening..... ;)
Click to expand...

Haha we shall see. They'd have to be made of Cheddar not to be able to hold at 5mm diameter
 
DuncanDisorderly said:
No problem
http://www.pec.co.uk/pecvnew/carry-speed-cs-pro-camera-sling-system.html
Click to expand...

And they take PayPal too. I just sold my old mobile on eBay so I can see the PayPal balance not making as far as my bank account...

What are they like with longer lenses? I have the sigma 150-500 and normally remove the tripod collar as it gets in the way although I could rotate it round 180 degrees and it seems perfectly balanced like that so I think it would work well.
 
Sorry for the misleading angle of my earlier image.

I have tonight fashioned a 'back-up' and will look into other clips in the future for bigger lenses.

whom, I also had to re-thread the strap and it also STINKS of oil/petrol!!
 
or8it said:
Thanks for the link. Does yours have the allen key locking screw or the new coin lock? It looks like they've changed the design from the video.
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Coin Lock - eek :|
Mines a proper Allen Key

gblades said:
And they take PayPal too. I just sold my old mobile on eBay so I can see the PayPal balance not making as far as my bank account...

What are they like with longer lenses? I have the sigma 150-500 and normally remove the tripod collar as it gets in the way although I could rotate it round 180 degrees and it seems perfectly balanced like that so I think it would work well.
Click to expand...

It comes with a strap designed to hold BIG lenses by both the tripod collar AND the body, so it hangs at a predictable angle - cough...
I'm sure I saw one of their videos when I was doing my research that covered it...
 
That Carryspeed system looks like a very good strap. With the "Can be fully disassembled for inspection" line they've really hit the nail on the head in terms of the weak link in the Black Rapid straps.

I'd rather the webbing strap went all the way over the shoulder pad though. I don't see why anyone would want swappable shoulder pads at the price of introducing two side release buckles, webbing-to-shoulder-pad stitching and the shoulder pad itself into the critical chain. The stitching and shoulder pad look fine, but just the risk of user error alone with the side-release-buckles is a big enough concern.

That said, they're three button buckles so user error is minimised - it's certainly the best commercially available design I've seen so far, everything considered.
 
I am a happy camera slingers (double) user

I'm looking with interest at those plates mentioned earlier, as they appear to leave the tripod mount available
 
Still been having a think about all this and I definitely think a backup running from one of the original strap mounts is needed as they are the points original designed to take load. It doesn't have to be a cable that take pressure, just enough to give you time to grab the camera should the main strap fail.

It just feels like you are putting all your eggs in one basket and what with screws being able to unscrew and cast pieces prone to failure it's seems a little too risky for my liking.

Now if you could integrate the blackrapid or similar with something like this then it could give you a second layer of protection as well as solve the bouncing about on your waist problem. Perhaps the model could come as an optional extra :naughty:

Would it be possible to combine this with the Blackrapid/Q-Strap etc?
 
Updated Q-Strap angle and temp back up cord.

I hope to be getting a 70-200 f2.8 USM II soon so I'll be looking at the set up pictured earlier in this thread.


IMAG0629 by Dougster8000, on Flickr
 
Carry speed ordered today and should be here tomorrow.
 
Anyone see this? A little worrying if true.
 
gman said:
Anyone see this? A little worrying if true.
Click to expand...

It looks like the plate was a bit small for some cameras but they replaced it with a new version in April. The manufacturers support seems pretty good from their response to other posters. Mine is due to tomorrow so I will let you know.
 
He didn't post his own message. Maybe he deserved that response.
 
lol, true! Good to hear they replaced the plate and looking forward to hearing your views on it.
 
gman said:
Anyone see this? A little worrying if true.
Click to expand...

Mine does that too.
When the plate is screwed firmly onto the camera the allen is stiff going into its snug hole in the plate.
I reckon if it needs a good push to go in, then it is most unlikely to ever fall out; so I don't bother trying to get the allen key the last couple of mm all the way into the hole.
So far the allen key has never shifted and for me it's not a showstopper.
 
I think the main point the poster was concerned about in the other article was the front of the bracket fouling on the camera. In the photo he published he didn't have the bracket mounted as far forward as it would go. I think he tried to make it look bad.
 
gman said:
If the screw fails (unscrews) I was thinking that perhaps a thin but strong cable/wire as a last resort, just something to give you enough time to grab the camera?
Click to expand...

I totally agree in regards to unscrewing. That is a valid concern as I well know to the tune of a $300 repair. But that is different from the original concern, which is nothing to worry about in my opinion.

However, even the unscrewing thing is not a big concern if you are mindful of the possibility and tighten the screw regularly as I now do.
 
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