I started using the Black Rapid RS DR1 a couple of weddings back so that I can carry two cameras without having to worry about straps falling off my should etc.
Everything has worked fine until yesterday. The cameras had been on the straps for a couple of hours, and I ALWAYS screw down the locks BUT.... after I'd taken this one shot I let go of the left camera (probably 3 or 4 inches from it's normal resting place) to pick up the right camera and the next thing I heard was a 5D2 + 24-70L + 580EXII flash crash on the ground and every one around gasping.
Although I can't see ANY obvious damage, or what hit the ground first, the 5D2 now has an error 30, and although the lens "looks" undamaged it doesn't rotate on to any camera properly, so they're both off to Canon. Hopefully CPS can turn them around by next weekend otherwise we're down to 3 cameras between two of us.
Anyway, the question is really about your experiences with the Black Rapid hooks. As I said, I screwed them down to prevent them opening, but some how the screw must have worked it's way loose and I am now pretty concerned about whether I can trust them or not. Having to send cameras and lenses away for repair is never 'cheap', not to mention the inconvenience and embarrassment on the day. Dropping cameras never looks very professional (in fact it's the first time in 20 years I've dropped one)!
Has any one else has this problem with Black Rapid straps, or should I consider it a "freak" occurrence?
[edit] - Just to clarify, is was the carabiner on the strap that unscrewed and some how opened, not the screw coming off the bottom of the camera.
So.. the screw mount actually unscrewed from the bottom of the camera? I'd say that sounds like user error, not a fault of the product. Perhaps you thought it was screwed in tight, but it wasn't.
I've been using Black rapid products for 3+ years now and have never had an issue.
yes...I had mine unscrew...I was VERY fortunate to be in a hayfield at the time and so the drop was somewhat cushioned and I had no damage.
But I couldnt trust the screw mount after that.
I would check them regularly...but screws CAN loosen..just think about how much those camera are banging around on your hip and flopping back and forth - its going to loosen. U could put locktite on them - but if you need to mount your camera to a tripod quickly that can get in your way.
So, I put 2 key rings into the triangle hook at the top left of the camera (where a regular strap would sit) and hooked into that. No problems since. I put 2 key rings just in case one ever decided to slip over the hook and slowly slide out - that did happen once, so I was glad to have 2 key rings.
Scary... Ive been using tripod quick release plates to hook carabeaners (sp?) to my v
Camera like the black rapid does, but I found out they use tension to hold on their tensioner that I was hooking to and under lots of weight they just pop off...
Yeah... Not the best of ideas... Almost cost me my 5D2 andsiggy 85
I keep saying this - exactly why I will never use Black Rapid straps. I need my strap to be on and stay on without checking it "every so often" or worrying about it at all. Very poor design.
If anything, they should try to design something with the existing camera strap locations.
Which BR strap was this? If this was the old style, it might make sense...
But the new(er) style with the small, low profile screw and rubber washer is practically impossible to loosen accidentally. Mine has never come loose and I never check it... My assistant also screws and unscrews the cameras on and off multiple times throughout the day since I often carry one camera and she uses the straps to carry them except during the ceremony, when I do.
So, the carribiner clip screw came loose AND it opened? Wow... that's insane. Mine is sitting here on my desk and I can't even get the screw loose. I would imagine it would take a wrench to loosen it... but then again I've also never opened it for any reason.
If that's the case, that is about as likely to happen as a regular camera strap loosening itself through the buckle and sliding out.
ckhagen wrote:
If that's the case, that is about as likely to happen as a regular camera strap loosening itself through the buckle and sliding out.
That's why I was in total disbelief when it happened and I'm trying to decide if it's a freak accident of if I should quit using it - having only bought it 3 weeks ago.
I was nervous enough after it happened that I took it off and didn't use if for the rest of the day, which meant carrying around cameras without straps, putting one down while I shot with the other.
Yeah that's absolutely nuts. I was able to loosen one of my screws (you should be able to though), but the other would require tools to loosen. I can't imagine how they could loosen on their own *plus* pop open and have the camera slide out of the carribiner, while suspended in the air. Sounds to me like your camera was trying to make a run for it. haha!
this is why you don't backclip when you're climbing ...
Yes, it can happen. But I'm amazed that it did. Here's what had to happen for the beaner to open
on you.
As the camera was falling, the strap had to hit against the gate of the beaner, opening it, and then
as it continued to rotate, the camera slid out.
It's pretty amazing that it happened, and 99% safe to say that will never happen again. But it is
a good reason to practice beaner safety. In climbing we say "always squeeze your beaner".
I have the woman's version of the Black Rapid strap and had exactly the same failure. Fortunately, I caught my camera. I now NEVER use it for event shooting. Ever.
Been using BR for almost two years. Never had the carabiner unscrew - even on the DR. It's quite hard to unscrew actually. I always check both screws constantly.
Also, the big issue with the DR is that it is much more capable of unscrewing on the left side. I'm still not sure how the carabiner would unscrew itself, but this is another reason I got rid of the DR almost immediately after purchasing it. While walking, the left side is severely prone to getting unscrewed due to the legs twisting the cam in the right direction.
I swapped to the single right side and never had another problem.
I don't think the carabiner screw can unscrew itself. Sounds like you just forgot to close it.
Dave_EP wrote:
Is this (backclip) a specific technique? Can you explain so I can avoid it?
I was just using it as an example. back-clipping in climbing doesn't really translate
to this problem. It involves clipping a rope through a carabiner in the right direction
so that if you fall, the falling rope doesn't open the gate of the carabiner.
But really, there's no way to do that with the RS. Just lock the gate when you use
it, and hope you don't have the worst luck in the world.... again.
the problem with the BR is the connector. I use a similar system but with snaphooks, fast to use and safe, (but always check if you camera is supported before letting it drop)
May I suggest you rig up a redundant connection point for your camera and strap? I use a Camerslingers strap, but I don't use the tripod socket connector. I don't have heavy cameras, and I prefer to use the camera strap lug for connection, which is designed to handle the weight of the camera. While I use only one lug, I have 2 connections, to act as a fail safe to the other connection. So if one fails, the other is still there.
Currently, I use the following connectors with the snap hook on the Cameraslingers.
I also have a set of OpTech Pro Loops on the same lug, attached to it's mate on the strap, fastened to an O ring.
If you like the tripod connector, and don't think it will come out, figure out a way to connect a set of Pro Loops or System Connectors to it and to the strap--instant redundancy.
