Shoulder slings

PetethePrimate

PetethePrimate

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I've got one of these and it's been fine but the inside of the shoulder pad bit is frayed/tearing and I need to replace it. I like the design and it works well for me and the screw-in base plate has never been an issue. There doesn't seem to be that much variety out there. I could buy the same again but wondered if there's anything that might last more than a couple of years. Any recommendations folks?
Thanks
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Digibuys-Capa-Quick-Shoulder-Cameras/dp/B0067ICWIW
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I have just purchased a Peak Design " Slide" and pleased with it. you can connect it 3 ways with the plate for the bottom thread, Why I went for this one is because it can easily be taken off via the push button arrangement and put on another camera. So only need the one strap for my 3 cameras.
The retaining buttons have been upgraded to version 4 but the one I bought still came with version 3 . Peak design will send out V4 (got mine this afternoon) free of charge.
With camera straps you get what you pay for. With several thousand of £s hanging from it the risk of a cheap strap????? erm not for me

Sos this make is worth thinking about

d0wQN0R.jpg


not even opened the packet yet. the tie rope seen is tested up to 150 lb so should not break and colour changes if gets worn down

i got fed up with advertising the camera make and model with the thin strap that Nikon send with their cameras
 
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black rapid is a 1st class strap that will last the pace
 
holty said:
black rapid is a 1st class strap that will last the pace
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I did consider that make BR. as well.Why I didn't go for it is not so easy to remove from camera. My problem is when using a tripod camera straps tend to get wrapped around it , that is how I damaged my other camera.
I also use a powered turntable made by Hague and a strap just gets in the way

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its a simple screw that goes into bottom camera plate
 
PetethePrimate said:
II could buy the same again but wondered if there's anything that might last more than a couple of years. Any recommendations folks?
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I have been using various Optech straps on cameras, binoculars and tripods for many years. my oldest is over 30 years old, been professionally used in all sorts of conditions (on binoculars) and still in use.

The attachment clips are standard sizes that are used in outdoor kit and you can mix and match the strap components to suit different purposes. This actually makes them a bit confusing to buy, but I think they are excellent quality and good value.

This also means that because I started using them so long ago, I can't give any comparisons with the other popular makes (e.g. Peak and BR, though I do have a BR camera case, which is very good and uses the same fittings as Optech)

https://optechusa.com/
 
I was lucky enough to win a Black Rapid strap in a raffle.Opened the box, put it back in, then promptly sold it! There was no way I was putting my gear on that piece of tat!

I made up my own from a spare Think Tank backpack strap, and eye bolt and an Arca QR clamp. Great for small lenses yet it is quite comfy with my 800 F5.6 L IS. I have a couple of LowePro straps that will do the same job but the shoulder pad is not quite as nice - but for loads up to 5 kilos they would be fine.

To "phil-b" - I was afraid to use my BR before I even put a camera on it!
 

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I am on and off a tripod/monopod a lot and while the fixings that go on the base of a camera look comfortable, would be a pain t=in the arse for me!!

Won a comp on FB and got one of these http://www.bgrip.com/bh-camera-holster/

Very comfortable and suit me and what I do. Can go straight from the hip to the tripod/monopod. Great for changing lenses as well.

T
 
I have a pair of BlackRapid straps, and I connect then via the Manfrotto QR plate on my 100-400 & X-T2 set up. I also have a tether just in case but it's been fine. I connected the 7D2 & 150-600 the same way. It means it's easy to drop the strap off and mount on a tripod if required.
 
I've been using optech for around 3years primarily a largish lens andcamera for wildlife,just recently bought the utility QA strap,the QA side is a bit slippy for the size of gear carried bar that it's faultless. I connect to lens so tripod foot free for 'erm tripod. Have a look at the recent BR thread I find the ware concerning. Jannyfox also put up a review of the optech utility strap,which shouldn't be too hard to find.

I've simply found the optech products to work ,the price is fair too,the gear I've been using for 3 years still looks pretty much new,no ware to speak of,can't recommend then highly enough really.

stu
 
Stuart Philpott said:
Jannyfox also put up a review of the optech utility strap,which shouldn't be too hard to find.
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Here https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/adding-reviews.2771/page-2#post-8246810
I should update it now I've used the Optech strap in anger to say that of the Optech and BR I now prefer the Optech. It carries the big and heavy (for me) combo very comfortably, is very slick to use and never moved from the right place on my shoulder even when I was sitting in a hide with the lens poking out of the window. The BR always used to get in the way a bit. I've used an Optech tripod strap for several years and as Stu says, their products just work.
 
Jannyfox said:
Here https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/adding-reviews.2771/page-2#post-8246810
I should update it now I've used the Optech strap in anger to say that of the Optech and BR I now prefer the Optech. It carries the big and heavy (for me) combo very comfortably, is very slick to use and never moved from the right place on my shoulder even when I was sitting in a hide with the lens poking out of the window. The BR always used to get in the way a bit. I've used an Optech tripod strap for several years and as Stu says, their products just work.
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Thanks for the add on Jan,much appreciated, :)

stu
 
Stuart Philpott said:
I
I've simply found the optech products to work ,the price is fair too,the gear I've been using for 3 years still looks pretty much new,no ware to speak of,can't recommend then highly enough really.
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As I said in my earlier post, my oldest optech strap is now over 30 years old, so hopefully you have many years to go with yours :-)
 
Im a Peak Design fan, I just like the simplicity of the system and the fact that the body is anchored by more than one point.

Use a slide and a Clutch, slide when put and bout with a 70-200 2.8/D500 and Clutch at home....

I use a cheapy Arca baseplate that stays on the body so takes seonds to swap over.

I also like the way the setup sits on my hip when in busy zoo's etc, so I can guard against damage with my arm if required.
 
myotis said:
As I said in my earlier post, my oldest optech strap is now over 30 years old, so hopefully you have many years to go with yours :)
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My oldest is about 15 yrs old, Ive used the simple neckstrap, the sling and the double strap, I also have a wrist strap.

No complaints with any of them, they just ‘work’, no ‘special features’, patented magic designs or other bull, just a simple product that works and keeps on working.
 
myotis said:
As I said in my earlier post, my oldest optech strap is now over 30 years old, so hopefully you have many years to go with yours :)
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So funn,y I nearly quoted your post Graham,;) : I can only give a limited view qualified by limited experience so my paltry 3 years means the OP should really be listening to you or Phil below with his 15.years of expertise with optech. mind I push pretty hard so three years with me is a fair start to pass on to another

I'm a simple man,I only need things that do their job these products do, !!

I'll be glad if i'm still functioning in 30 years bro:),that is actually more of a worry than my optech gear. It's actually quite lovely for you and Phil to have posted here I'm sort of waiting now for another marque of strap user to pop up and say I've been using x for 15 or 30 years,somehow I don't think that will happen. but if I'm proved wrong I'm all ears:D.


holty said:
why not renew the clip !!
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It's metal.....for starters,what use is chink chink chink to a wildlife tog,,buddy can you image me getting close to a hare with metal on a strap,it would never happen. So first up the design is flawed it wares out,so replace with another that's going to ware and always be waiting for the day when the replacement is replaced. I couldn't personally live with 10K of gear on something I know full well is destined to fail at some point

The bit I didn't think of until talking to Jan was the metal aspect and sound .I was thinking of upgrading to BR I'm an out an out stalker,what I do is probably a bit left field of how most most wildlife image makers here grab a frame,so for sure this doesn't apply to all wildlife shooters. I need gear that is no noisier than me or I'll never get to where I usually do. ok the shutter noise is another biggy but we'll leave that for another day huh:D

stu
 
Stuart Philpott said:
I'm a simple man,I only need things that do their job these products do, !!
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Other makes seem to be much more popular than Optech, and I confess to looking at them every so often, but then really wonder how much better they can be than the Optech straps, especially considering the prices.

My oldest strap is on a pair of "heavy" Zeiss 8 x50 binoculars, that I used for professional bird survey work over many years in all sorts of weathers and conditions. My second oldest was also used for survey work and used to carry a tripod and telescope. The only down side of the Optech system is that the clips are a little bit bulkier than the toggles on the Peak straps, but overall I have found them very good.
 
myotis said:
Other makes seem to be much more popular than Optech, and I confess to looking at them every so often, but then really wonder how much better they can be than the Optech straps, especially considering the prices.

My oldest strap is on a pair of "heavy" Zeiss 8 x50 binoculars, that I used for professional bird survey work over many years in all sorts of weathers and conditions. My second oldest was also used for survey work and used to carry a tripod and telescope. The only down side of the Optech system is that the clips are a little bit bulkier than the toggles on the Peak straps, but overall I have found them very good.
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I'd add in that I suspect some might struggle with the clips Graham,my lady suffers with arthritis I know others here do to, and that miight be a fiddle for those good folks

but bar that
yup they work. !!

I try not get caught up in all that " popular or hype type of thing",just try to keep it simple and find the right tool for the job for me I was looking at everything really I knew I had a problem to solve . I think that#s all we can really do,focus on what each of us individualy needs and then get a bit of help honing it all down from some lovely folks whom know more.Huge thanks to me mate Jan in all this she really helped me on this one I couldn't see the wood for the trees !!! It is lovely having that backed by this many years from you and Phil
cheers all
 
Stuart Philpott said:
I'd add in that I suspect some might struggle with the clips Graham,my lady suffers with arthritis I know others here do to, and that miight be a fiddle for those good folks
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Good point, I'm starting to have some problems with arthritis myself: so far not a problem, but I fear it can only get worse.
 
myotis said:
Good point, I'm starting to have some problems with arthritis myself: so far not a problem, but I fear it can only get worse.
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That was a concern for me too and when I first had the Optech I really struggled with the clips, however they do ease a little and there is a knack to them. I use the PD connectors for the neck strap and wrist strap.
 
Jannyfox said:
That was a concern for me too and when I first had the Optech I really struggled with the clips, however they do ease a little and there is a knack to them. I use the PD connectors for the neck strap and wrist strap.
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I may have had an advantage over you here, as these are the type of clips I have used for years and years on rucksacks and other camping/climbing kit. I'm not sure what the PD connectors are?
 
myotis said:
I may have had an advantage over you here, as these are the type of clips I have used for years and years on rucksacks and other camping/climbing kit. I'm not sure what the PD connectors are?
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Same here but the ones on my rucksacks and the like are a lot less stiff than the Optech ones. PD has a quick release system where you fit 'buttons' to the camera (or whatever) which clip in/out of the connector you fit to the strap. Very quick and easy if you use a variety of straps on the camera, or the same strap on several cameras, and you can fit them to non PD straps.
 
Jannyfox said:
Same here but the ones on my rucksacks and the like are a lot less stiff than the Optech ones. PD has a quick release system where you fit 'buttons' to the camera (or whatever) which clip in/out of the connector you fit to the strap. Very quick and easy if you use a variety of straps on the camera, or the same strap on several cameras, and you can fit them to non PD straps.
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I think its suddenly dawned on me PD = Peak Design, so I assume you mean these . While searching the Optech site for "PD connectors" i came across these , which I wasn't aware of, and look like a very neat connector solution, but the PD anchor links also look like a useful way of expanding my existing Optech based strap system.
 
myotis said:
I think its suddenly dawned on me PD = Peak Design, so I assume you mean these . While searching the Optech site for "PD connectors" i came across these , which I wasn't aware of, and look like a very neat connector solution, but the PD anchor links also look like a useful way of expanding my existing Optech based strap system.
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That's the one (y)
 
I use a Sun Sniper Rotaball Pro strap....it's not cheap, but it's rated for heavy rigs.
When my cheapo strap broke and my 3Kg rig hit the floor:eek:, I swore I'd never skimp on straps again....I got away with it thankfully - no damage done, but still a heart stopping moment.

https://www.wexphotovideo.com/sun-sniper-strap-the-rotaball-pro-black-1598837/

I also needed new underpants....but I won't put a link for them....I'm sure everyone has their own personal tastes! :D
 
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