Time for new strap

boliston

boliston

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Adrian
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I've now had the D700 (and 50mm lens) with standard Nikon strap for 3 months and I'm starting to get a bit annoyed with the strap.

I find I use the strap in 3 ways:

1) Have it wrapped round my hand
2) Round my neck
3) Across my body (like a satchel)

I find that

1) Is easy to take pictures but can get a bit tiring and sometimes feels like someone could grab it in crowded areas.

2) Easy to take pictures but I look like a dumb tourist and the thing thumps against my stomach each step I take.

3) Very comfortable, but when I take pictures the strap gets in the way of the viewfinder and is generally pretty awkward so I end off taking the camera off and using 1)

What's the general consensus on upgrading from the "starter" strap that comes with the camera?

(I have seen things about the "black rapid" strap that look quite good, and people say the main disadvantage is that you can't use a tripod, but I don't have a tripod so no worry.)
 
I use an Optek pro classic. I've carried my 5d2 and 100-400L round most of a day with little or no discomfort.

I wrap the strap round my wrist, neck and as you do over my shoulder.

It has a boingy bit in the middle that stops it shocking if the camera bounces.

About £19
 
Hi Adrian, I got a blackrapid 7 from the 710 for xmas, think that it is great, never felt comfortable with standard style strap, camera just hanging on chest, with the blackrapid it can hang by my side or behind me. I know that they are a bit pricey but quality is second to none. Reference the tripod issue, it only takes a couple or seconds to take the fitting off of the camera, so I do not find it a problem.
 
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I had a black rapid on my D700 but sold it within two days, because I do use a tripod an it annoyed the hell out of me. I now have an Optech classic pro, and its much better.
You can also buy a sling kit adapter to make the Optech into a black Rapid style, but it attaches to the original strap connectors rather than the tripod socket.
 
I recently bought the BlackRapid RS-7 and the BRAD thing.

Personally, I don't like it. It's annoying to walk with the camera/lens slapping against your leg, although with the 35mm prime it isn't as bad. The best feature is I can quickly get it off the strap to carry it around in my hand for comfort... :lol:
 
I have to vote for an R strap....

I find it very comfortable with all of my lenses, including a 100-400
 
Optech classic pro loop here as well. I was initially worried about it having so many failure points but it seems they use good plastic materials... so no one ever complained about their strap failing. You can easily convert the strap to sling style but its different in the sense that your camera hangs with the lens protruding outwards rather than pointing below as with the blackrapid.

Blackrapid on the other hand I see reports all over about cameras free falling because the fastener loosened, or the metal carabiner hook broke. However, I think they've addressed the issues now with their recent revision of the strap.
 
I was happy with the optech pro until I got the 100-400. On a gripped 50D it's just to much weight and was crippling my neck. I swapped to the R Strap and it's great. No great hassle to unscrew when I want to use a tripod. When I'm using the camera where I can put it down between shots I've also got an Optech wrist strap attached.
 
I have blackrapid Rs sport got it from hawksphotovideo for under 60 great price for the Rs sport everywhere else is 80 and I asked them for the new r3 fastener the guy gave me 1 free of charge cmgreat delivery too can't thank them enough :D ohh and amazing strap.
 
boliston said:
(I have seen things about the "black rapid" strap that look quite good, and people say the main disadvantage is that you can't use a tripod, but I don't have a tripod so no worry.)
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If one attaches a tripod QR plate to the bottom of the camera (one of the ones with the loop to tighten the screw), then the strap can be clipped to this and then can be unclipped in order to pop the camera onto the tripod.
 
When using the R strap and heavy lenses like the 100 - 400L, Id be interested to know if you connect the strap to the camera or the tripod ring on th lens. I have a R strap clone and connect it to my 100 - 400L rather than the camera. Its not ideal as I have to use the tripod ring but I didnt fancy having the weight of the lens hanging off the camera.
 
Flyfisher said:
When using the R strap and heavy lenses like the 100 - 400L, Id be interested to know if you connect the strap to the camera or the tripod ring on th lens. I have a R strap clone and connect it to my 100 - 400L rather than the camera. Its not ideal as I have to use the tripod ring but I didnt fancy having the weight of the lens hanging off the camera.
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I hang mine of the lens... However, my QR plate has a hook that works just as well actually..

However, given it takes 30 seconds to switch over, its no real effort...
 
i was thinking of buying a sun sniper strap, whats peoples thoughts/experiences on it?
 
Are these the right Optech ones, seem cheap
 
Optech do a huge range - check out their website to decide exactly which model you want. IIRC the Comfort is one of their more basic models.
 
OpTech Pro straps are great. Very comfortable and if you sling it over your shoulder like me it has little rubbery bumps which grip to your shirt/jacket to stop it sliding off.

Makes a 1D feel like a 450d compared to the OEM strap. £16 is about right on price too.
 
martyp said:
OpTech Pro straps are great. Very comfortable and if you sling it over your shoulder like me it has little rubbery bumps which grip to your shirt/jacket to stop it sliding off.

Makes a 1D feel like a 450d compared to the OEM strap. £16 is about right on price too.
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So were do you guys buy them, I have seen those few on ebay but that's about it.
 
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I've noticed that the BlackRapid have 3 main straps - the RS-4, RS-6 & RS-7 - the question is which one? :thinking:

As I just want a baisc "no frills" strap then I'm thinking the RS-4, as the RS-6 seems aimed at storing things on the strap (no interest to me) and the RS-7 seems to have a quick release buckle on the back - If I have over £2k of camera/lens on the strap I don't want any risk of it "quick releasing" while I'm wearing it, and it could potentially make it easy for someone to steal your camera if they release it from the back and grab the camera!

Does the strap come with the metal thing which connects the strap to the camera's tripod socket or do you have to buy that separately?
 
boliston said:
I've noticed that the BlackRapid have 3 main straps - the RS-4, RS-6 & RS-7 - the question is which one? :thinking:

As I just want a baisc "no frills" strap then I'm thinking the RS-4, as the RS-6 seems aimed at storing things on the strap (no interest to me) and the RS-7 seems to have a quick release buckle on the back - If I have over £2k of camera/lens on the strap I don't want any risk of it "quick releasing" while I'm wearing it, and it could potentially make it easy for someone to steal your camera if they release it from the back and grab the camera!

Does the strap come with the metal thing which connects the strap to the camera's tripod socket or do you have to buy that separately?
Click to expand...

I had the same reservations as you about storage and the "quick release" buckle but eventually bought the RS7 the buckle is quite sturdy and I am sure safe in terms of load bearing capacity, I am sure I would feel someone trying to undo it. It comes complete with a screw that goes into either the camera tripod screw fitting or the lens collar tripod screw fitting both are secure and which one is a matter of personal preferance and balance. There is a button that replaces the screw in a Manfrotto quick release plate that allows you to keep the plate on the camera and also use the BR7. It's a great improvement on the standard Nikon strap particularly with a heavy lens.
 
As I said in another thread elsewhere I'm using a Smugmug strap I got and reckon it's very comfy, on the 1D there are alternate mounting points on the bottom/side of the body and it hangs comfy for me. That said I'm going to look at the blackbird strap and also sun sniper style.
 
petehb said:
I had the same reservations as you about storage and the "quick release" buckle but eventually bought the RS7 the buckle is quite sturdy and I am sure safe in terms of load bearing capacity, I am sure I would feel someone trying to undo it. It comes complete with a screw that goes into either the camera tripod screw fitting or the lens collar tripod screw fitting both are secure and which one is a matter of personal preferance and balance. There is a button that replaces the screw in a Manfrotto quick release plate that allows you to keep the plate on the camera and also use the BR7. It's a great improvement on the standard Nikon strap particularly with a heavy lens.
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Thanks, so if the quick release buckle is not really a worry does this mean that the RS7 is "better" than the RS4?
 
boliston said:
Thanks, so if the quick release buckle is not really a worry does this mean that the RS7 is "better" than the RS4?
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Don't think there is much difference, the RS-4 has a small pocket for a couple of SD cards!:cuckoo: which I couldn't imagine using. So I went for the staight forward strap, got it direct from Amazon cheapest I could find at the time.
 
I am a fan of the Lowepro straps, I have a Speedster and a Transporter, the Speedster is a basic strap but has rubber woven in and is really comfy on the neck, the transporter is more of an upgrade with a movable padded support and is superb to use.. my main love of them though is I just unclip them when I dont need them around my neck and just have 2 'dongles' left on the camera that dont get in the way when using tripod etc...
 
If you're worried about dodgy suppliers why not try www.optech-europe.com ? I think they're the official distributors so they have the full range and you can be sure it isn't a dodgy eBay fake.
 
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