| Sign in: |
| Members log in here with your user name and password to access the your admin page and other special features. |
|
|
|
|
|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Camera strap debate: Standard Style? Or Black Rapid?
Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
 |
Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 9:21 PM on 11.10.12 |
->> Opinions:
Standard "Domke" or Think Tank Photo style of camera strap?
Or
The Black Rapid/Carry Speed Style?
And while we're at it ... which is better the Black Rapid brand or the Carry Speed? |
|
Jim Colburn, Photographer
 |
Omaha | NE | USA | Posted: 10:58 PM on 11.10.12 |
| ->> It depends. The Black Rapid across-the-chest style is comfortable and fast but dorky looking and not very subtle. And if you're carrying a bag, even a small one, with gear or lenses you've either got two straps across the chest (even more dorky) or all the weight on one shoulder. I have both styles ("Domke" and "Black Rapid") and keep swapping back and forth. |
|
Victor Biro, Photographer
 |
Toronto | ON | Canada | Posted: 11:08 PM on 11.10.12 |
->> Robert,
I found that if all I had was the cameras then the Black Rapid/Carry Speed Style worked well.
However, if I had a bag on, or belt with suspenders, it became cumbersome.
Also, I am in and out of my car a lot with my cameras, and simple Domke straps seem to work well for me.
I came to the conclusion simple is better. Not perfect, but better.
Victor |
|
Jon Durr, Student/Intern, Photographer
 |
Morton Grove | IL | USA | Posted: 11:22 PM on 11.10.12 |
->> Like Jim, I switch back and forth a lot. It depends what gear I have, what the event is, and how long I'll be standing with the gear. I also like switching it up so my back/neck/shoulders don't get too abused from the same thing all the time.
I own the double rapid strap which you can also use as a single.
For football, I'll have a single rapid strap for the 70-200 (hanging on my right side) and a wide angle on a normal strap around my neck. That lets me get to everything very quickly and not worry about a strap slipping off or have that awkward moment feeling stuck when you can't get a normal strap back on your shoulder so you can grab a different camera.
For general news it varies between the double strap or the same setup as I do for football. It depends on what I feel like doing. I often find that I hold one camera in my hands a lot so the uneven weight with the double strap makes things a bit uncomfortable. |
|
Nic Coury, Photographer
 |
Monterey | CA | | Posted: 3:43 AM on 11.11.12 |
->> I HATE all the weird, tech-y straps. Can't stand the.
I have 3 Domke 1.5" straps in 3 separate colors for each camera. Comfortable and reliable. |
|
G.J. McCarthy, Photographer
 |
Dallas | TX | US | Posted: 9:40 AM on 11.11.12 |
->> http://tinyurl.com/bl2pzwx
Simple, effective, low profile. Plus a while back I did a story on a local gang unit, and it really helped get the point across that I wasn't someone to f*ck with. |
|
Jeff Kowalsky, Photographer
 |
West Bloomfield | MI | United States | Posted: 9:50 AM on 11.11.12 |
->> I would avoid the Domke. Their quality is not what is used to be. My strap broke while on my shoulder and my Mark IV and 70-200 came crashing down on the sidewalk.
I am currently using the ThinkTank strap and I am very satisfied. |
|
Dave Prelosky, Photographer
 |
Lower Burrell | Pa | US | Posted: 9:50 AM on 11.11.12 |
| ->> So they took you on as a mascot? |
|
George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
 |
Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 11:33 AM on 11.11.12 |
->> I am back-and-forth type.
For football I've been using the Black Rapid for my 70-200 while the 200-400 is on the monopod. (Chose Black Rapid it over the other mainly because it was given to me for free) and like it for that. For all other stuff I like a traditional strap. Sort of a pain to do the switching, but working ok for me. |
|
Butch Miller, Photographer
 |
Lock Haven | PA | USA | Posted: 12:02 PM on 11.11.12 |
| ->> When working with one camera/lens on a monopod and carrying a second body, I much prefer the Black Rapid for the second body ... it may look dorky to some, but you never have to worry about it slipping off your shoulder ... I still have the original version, though I am using the newer ConnectR and FastenR attachment hardware ... I have no complaints ... |
|
Brent Just, Photographer
 |
Saskatoon | SK | Canada | Posted: 12:11 PM on 11.11.12 |
->> I prefer the Black Rapid. Have an RS4 and the slim double. I don't have 'broad' shoulders and I always found regular straps slipping no matter what brand I tried.
If it is just something casual like a family outing or something, I prefer no strap at all. |
|
Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
 |
Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 6:03 PM on 11.11.12 |
| ->> I still swear by my Reinholder (formerly produced by SS member Reinhold Matay) but I guess it never caught on. |
|
Rodrigo Pena, Photographer
 |
Beaumont | CA | USA | Posted: 7:00 PM on 11.11.12 |
| ->> I second what Jeff Kowalsky said about Domke straps. I had the type that had a quick disconnect and it came apart from the quick disconnect and my camera went crashing to the floor. Yes, it was ruined and had to go in for repair. No more Domke straps for me. |
|
Preston Mack, Photographer
 |
Orlando | FL | | Posted: 7:50 PM on 11.11.12 |
->> Initially hesitant, I tried the Blackrapid since I got it for free from Photoshelter when I bought more space.
I use it all the time now.
PROS: Great for long jobs when you walk around for hours on end.
-cameras cannot ever just slip off your shoulder
- better weight distribution on my shoulders
-easy to grab cameras for quick change
CONS: I look like a dork wearing the harness
- I have almost lost the screw in attachment many times
- when you sit or kneel down to shoot, gets swkward for the cameras. They dangle, hit the floor, etc. |
|
Jeff Stanton, Photographer
 |
Atlanta | Ga | USA | Posted: 10:44 PM on 11.11.12 |
| ->> Just curious, does anybody have any experience with the Op/Tech straps? |
|
Al Diaz, Photographer
 |
Miami | Fl | USA | Posted: 11:55 PM on 11.11.12 |
| ->> For football I use a Domke strap on the camera body with a 400 and the Black Rapid RS-7 for the second body with a 70-200. I love the quickness of raising the 70-200 to shoot with the Black Rapid, it really makes a difference for me. Unfortunately I am fighting sciatic nerve pain and now I want to get the cameras off my shoulders. I 'm wondering if the Spider Camera Holster would help? I'm thinking maybe the Spider for sporting events but not using it for daily assignments, it's just too much hardware for my taste. Thoughts? |
|
Alvin Jornada, Photographer
 |
Windsor | CA | USA | Posted: 12:01 AM on 11.12.12 |
->> Standard Domke or Think Tank style gets my vote. Simple, unadorned, sturdy and not bulky when carrying 2 cameras. Plus, it's easier to take the camera off the shoulder for an oddly positioned shot (low angle, Hail Mary, etc).
I'm also a big fan of Wapiti Straps made by photojournalist David Grubbs in Montana. The straps are 1" wide, similar to Domke/TT, but the grippy part is actually elk leather that doesn't shred off like rubber woven into the canvas straps. The nylon part of the Wapiti straps seem much more durable to me, too. |
|
TJ Root, Photographer, Student/Intern
 |
Towson | MD | United States | Posted: 12:22 AM on 11.12.12 |
| ->> I tend to stick to the normal style straps, especially the free ones. The NPS Domke straps are my standard, and this season I threw one of the nice big CPS straps on my football grab camera and have found the extra area to be much nicer on the neck. |
|
Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
|
Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 11:25 PM on 11.12.12 |
->> Anyone know the differences between the Black Rapid and the Carry Speed?
I think the Carry Speed uses that stretchy material?
A colleague really raves about the Black Rapid double strap thingy ... which I call the "photographers garter belt". |
|
Jonathan Castner, Photographer
 |
Denver | CO | USA | Posted: 11:12 AM on 11.13.12 |
->> I've tried a lot of straps and I keep coming back to the Domke Gripper. For me a strap is only useful when I don't have the camera in my hand like when I'm pulling something from my bag/pouch or writing down captions. The rest of the time my camera is in my hand and the strap should be invisible. However I use the strap for stabilization in low light situations by pulling the strap against my shoulder and squeezing it against my head with my elbows into my chest. This is also because I have the strap attached to the outside strap lug, relative to my body, and the KirkPhoto arca quick release plate on the bottom of each of my bodies. The strap is also very short and doesn't quite reach my belt and the quick release makes changing out the strap position very quick/easy because I reverse the position of the quick release so that it's on the bottom of the strap.
So blah-blah ... Domke. |
|
James Nix, Photographer
 |
Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 11:16 AM on 11.13.12 |
->> I purchased a couple of the Think Tank straps a while back plan to buy more in the future.
Although I know some pros use them, IMO the black rapid straps scream "guy-with-camera who shouldn't be on the sidelines." |
|
Stephen Brashear, Photographer, Assistant
 |
Seattle | WA | USA | Posted: 11:33 AM on 11.13.12 |
->> +1 for Upstrap. They have good grip on both sides, so it doesn't matter how the strap lands on your shoulder when you are in a hurry.
I will use the Black Rapid Sport Strap for football games. It makes it easy to get a shorter lens up to your eye in the middle of a play. |
|
James Durbin, Photographer
 |
Midland | Texas | USA | Posted: 3:11 PM on 11.13.12 |
| ->> I have an unbridled, deep loathing for the Black Rapid strap. I cannot take anybody seriously who wears one. Perhaps its a personal problem, but I see it as just another thing for GWCs to wear that makes them feel awesome about the camera they bought. I need a strap to hold my camera to myself- thats it. I don't want one that suspends my camera upside down where it can swing willy nilly into door frames, handrails, walls, vehicles and of course other people. I also don't want a strap that serves as an advertisement to somebody. Thus I use the Domke straps, thin, grippy on one side, smooth on the other. A nice tasteful grey-green color. It's a strap. It works. |
|
Dave Breen, Photographer
 |
Somerset | PA | USA | Posted: 4:40 PM on 11.13.12 |
->> My post is often the "kiss of death" to a thread; I think this subject has been covered pretty well, so it shouldn't matter.
I have/use/like a Black Rapid. As several posters have mentioned, it works well for a second body with a zoom when the main body is on a monopod. Of course, I sometimes wear a photo vest -- there, I've said it in public -- because it carries what I need. (No, I don't combine the BR strap and the vest, but it's not for concerns of fashion or self-esteem.)
These opinions are from a guy who wears Hawaiian shirts year-round -- talk about looking like a GWC/tourist!! |
|
Johnny Vy, Photographer, Photo Editor
 |
Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 4:54 PM on 11.13.12 |
| ->> I just recently started using the Spider holster when carrying 2 or more cameras. It eliminates the straps across your chest, and most importantly takes the weight off the shoulders. It looks a little gimmicky, but once I tried it, I had to buy it. Worth looking into - it balances the weight of multiple cameras very well, and makes switching back and forth between cameras pretty simple. |
|
|| Sponsor Special Deals
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens
|
Available from:
Samy's Camera
|
Price: $2299.00 |
Notes:
The all-new EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM increases the speed, performance and optical quality while maintaining all of the characteristics that have made it a legend for professionals and advanced amateurs alike.
|
|
-- More Info -- |
|
Return to --> Message Board Main Index
|
