Photography News | Issue 42 | absolutephoto.com
80 First tests
BlackRapidstraps From£75 Buy a new camera and it’ll come with a carrying strap, usually decent enough quality and probably boldly branded. Once fitted, many camera users will not give their strap another thought, but perhaps they should. Of course, there are many camera users who will appreciate and recognise the practical benefits of a different strap, and that can be from the perspective of comfort, appearance (who wants a logoed-up strap?) or usability. Or a combination of the above. the tripod bush doesn’t seem natural, and it does take a little getting used to. I knew the LockStar would prevent the camera becoming separated from the carabiner so the only weak point is the fastener into the tripod bush. To start with I found myself regularly checking that the bush was firmly attached as I was walking around but at no point did I detect even the slightest bit of loosening. Confidence grew with familiarity and I weaned myself off this and just checked tightness after a full day’s use and again there was no slackening.
Specs
Price Sport Breathe £82; Curve Breathe £75; Double Breathe £150; Tripod Plate 50 Arca Swiss compatible £45; Tripod Plate 70 Arca Swiss compatible £55 In the box CR-3 connector (two with the Double), cam buckles, LockStar (two with the Double), polyester dust bag Padmaterial Nylon mono mesh, TPE foam, polyester and air mesh Pad thickness 0.65cm Strap length with pad Sport 167cm; Curve 167cm; Double 160cm Webbing 100% nylon, 2.5cm width Weight Curve 155g; Sport 185g; Double 350g Contact johnsons-photopia.co.uk
The classic BlackRapid straps – the Curve and the Sport – run across the body from the left shoulder to your right with the camera attached to it via a connector screwed into the camera’s tripod bush. The camera hangs upside down so no strap attachments getting in the way while you’re shooting, and it glides up and down the strap so it can be brought up to the eye ready to shoot in one swift, fluidmovement. Adjustable clip locks or ‘bumpers’ let you instantly limit the range of movement on the strap. Core to the BlackRapid system is the connector system. An FR-5 fastener screws into the tripod bush and a rubber grommet allows very firm tightening so it stays put once properly secured. This fastener is then slipped onto the Swivel SR3 clip that glides up and down the strap and is secured in positionwith a carabiner lock. The locking ring has a firm action and a good length of travel so it’s unlikely to unscrew itself through use. However, BlackRapid has taken a belts-and-braces approach here and each strap comes with a clip-on LockStar that physically prevents the locking screw from undoing itself. Optional fasteners are available, handy if you are likely to want to go from the strap to a tripod. For example, the Tripod Plate 50 lets you go from strap to an Arca Swiss tripod head without having to swap plates. For most, the likely concern is going to be with security. Having an expensive camera hanging upside down by a connector screwed into
Whether the fastener or rubber grommet will loosen or perish after extensive and prolonged use only time will tell, but a regular occasional check will reveal signs of wear and tear and a replacement bought if there is any problem. Several models sit in the BlackRapid range to suit different needs. All feature high-quality breathable materials and the same width webbing for the strap itself. I tried the Curve, the Sport and the Double and really enjoyed all three, and for different reasons. The Curve and the Sport are great for general use with the former having a slightly slimmer profile at the shoulder and at the rear. If you are using a DSLR the Sport will do a better job with weight distribution. I tried both with a Nikon D800 and a 70-200mm lens and yes, the Sport was more comfortable with this weighty combination. The Double is like two Sports clipped together – the right strap is a Sport and the left is a mirror image so the design is slightly different. It means that that the Double is a good buy because it has the option of two different uses. In the case of the Double, both straps hang straight down and are joined with two cross straps front and behind making it a harness for those occasions when you want to shoot with two cameras side by side. I did a few shoots including a wedding and a concert and the Double proved
I tried the Curve, the Sport and the Double and really enjoyed all three, and for different reasons
Above A supplied plastic clip cover, the LockStar, means the carabiner clip can’t be unscrewed. Inset Optional plates are available and mean you can unclip the camera and put it straight onto an Arca Swiss compatible tripod head without having to change plates.
Below left The classic BlackRapid pap strap goes across the body for security, comfort and fast use. Belowright For wedding and event shooters, the Double is ideal giving quick and untangled access to two cameras.
the job in hand, rather than worrying that a camera was about to slip off the shoulder or having to untangle the camera first. I really enjoyed using these BlackRapid straps. Fast in use, secure, give good weight distribution, and are comfortable andpractical too. Also the supplied fastener and the connecting carabiner are designed for quiet operation. Adding the Tripod Plate 50 meant getting the camera off the strap onto a tripod is easy. Finally, there’s the freedom of the top plate and right side being strap free. WC
invaluable–andcomfortabletooovera longperiod.With conventional straps, there is the risk of getting tangled up or one camera slipping off the shoulder.With the Double, no tangles, no off-shoulder slippage and fast use. If there is any slight negative it’s that the harness can ruckle the sharp lines of your suit, shirt or blouse. I had a Nikon D800 with a telezoom on one strap of the Double and a Fujifilm X-T2 with standard zoom on the other. Switching between cameras was so quick and perfectly instinctive that I could concentrate on
Verdict
Many photographers have a selection of bags to suit different situations, and there is no reason why the same shouldn’t apply to straps. You might have a conventional strap for general use and then for street work a Curve is a good option because it’s so fast and easy to use, while the Sport would suit heavier camera/lens combinations. The Double is brilliant when you need to use two cameras to save lens changing and becomes a single Sport strap when necessary. Free is good, so while the strap that came with the camera is very much a good thing, it is impossible to ignore the benefits of the BlackRapid straps. They are great to use and from £75, they are very good value.
Pros Speed of use, no strap fouling the top-plate controls, build quality Cons Personal thing: I’d hide the logo on the shoulder pad with black tape or cut it off
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