Taynt3d
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 p.6 #12 · BlackRapid Strap -- Warning!!! | |
I don't even know where to start on this one,  ... But here goes...
For starters, the general idea of a sling-based camera strap is great. It really comes into its own in a two-camera setup, especially for me because I have a build that doesn't really let me hang cameras off my shoulders (they slip off, so I am always a across the chest or bandoleer style guy). I find that as long as I have one camera sling based, and the other cam with a more traditional strap, I can effortlessly deal with two cams simultaneously -- either both over the same shoulder or one over each shoulder (bandoleer style). I just put the sling on the bottom, with the other on the top. That way, I can easily bring either camera up to my eye. Not to say two slings wouldn't be awesome. Just saying that I feel that a semi-DIY sling on one camera gives me 90+% of the value in a two cam scenario.
Second point is I find their whole patent thing kind of bogus. As I see other climbers have been in this thread, I can say as a climber myself in a former life (climbed for 10 years, now retired, but best achievement was probably solo-aiding The Leaning Tower, although I spent most of my time doing multi-pitch trad in Yosemite), I personally used to sling disposable cameras to my rack while climbing more than ten years ago, and I wasn't the only one. There's plenty of prior use in my opinion, and the idea is obvious too, but whatever. That said, I hope they perfect it, everyone deserves to try this type of strap out.
Third, I kind of find their whole "we aren't responsible for your camera" disclaimer somewhat obnoxious, if not comical. Wait, let me get this straight, you're selling me a camera strap, a "camera" strap, and you're showing me demo videos of how to specifically use your strap with a camera, but if I put my camera with a nice lens on it and it craters and breaks on the ground because of a defective part/design, you're telling me I'm responsible? IANAL, but I doubt that would hold up in court, you can't disclaim away something like that. Anyway, I don't really blame them for trying, but if $6K worth of my gear broke because the piece unscrewed, I'd be pretty pissed. Also, something tells me if they were on the hook for that, we wouldn't have cameras hitting the ground. In all fairness though, they do seem to be doing the right thing with what essentially is a mini recall. I kind of feel sorry for them considering they are on the cusp of nailing the design, the last thing they needed was an unforeseen problem like this right as they launch the improved parts.
Lastly, I thought I'd share some of my current thinking/rigging with respect to building the ultimate sling strap. I recently bought the new FastenR-2 and ConnectR-2 parts (without the strap), and I must say, besides the unscrewing problem, they seem like a great combo. But a combo I don't fully trust for obvious reasons. To complicate matters, I ordered mine during the window of the recall (call it what it is), but it came with no "tape on it" (referenced in the recall email), so I have no idea if this is a bad one, or the good one, or if maybe even a new one is still coming in the mail. Also, I've had no luck in getting any customer service either. So, I tried to unscrew my ConnectR-2, but it won't give, seems solid. So here I am actually probably loosening up the loctite, , because I don't know if I have a good one or not.
Nonetheless, I've finally settled on what is my normal rigging for this thing. I took the idea about backing up the system with 3mm cord (from the other climbers) a step further. I figure, why only back up the ConnectR when you can back up the whole system? So, I basically created what I'll call a safety "leash" out of 3mm cord that goes from the D-Ring part of the ConnectR straight up to one of the strap loops on the camera itself. That way if either part fails, or if the FastenR somehow unscrews itself from the tripod socket, I'm fully protected. I used a "split ring" to tie the cord off to the camera so it was a little more removable without untying the knot, but the 3mm can be tied off directly to the cam if you want to do it that way (just burn the end and flatten it before threading). I left just enough slack for the cam to be able to rotate a couple of 360s before getting tangled, and for the most part I just leave the leash permanently attached. The other thing this does is I can swap in my Manfrotto quick release plate for the FastenR, and then connect the ConnectR to the plate, which yes is a little sketchy, but with my full backup, it's no worries. I use this setup when I want to be able to switch between hand held and a tripod or monopod at will. Just unclip the ConnectR from the plate, and drop the plate into the quick release, and your in. In a tripod scenario, I just remove the strap from my shoulder and let it hang off the leash. In a monopod scenario, I leave the strap on myself and the leash still protects me from dropping the pod/cam even though the ConnectR isn't even attached.
One last comment is you'll notice I'm just using a piece of 1" tubular black webbing as a strap (tied with an overhand, but I might switch that with a Tri Glide instead at some point). For shorter periods of time, the tubular webbing is pretty comfortable on its own and is not bulky at all (head's up that the tubular stuff is "softer/smoother" than just a straight piece of 1" wide nylon). For longer periods of time, I just slip a shoulder pad from one of my messenger bags over the webbing. So, if you're willing to go this route, you can pretty much make a decent sling strap for the cost of a ConnectR (with a Manfrotto plate) or the cost of a ConnectR+FastenR. All good!
(Please excuse the photo quality here, I was lazy and used my iPhone for these.)
http://www.baytaper.com/temp/br1.jpg
http://www.baytaper.com/temp/br2.jpg
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