BlackRapid R-Strap RS-4 user review
The BlackRapid R-Strap RS-4 camera strap was only product I came across at PMA that I decided to buy and try for myself because I thought it was such a clever solution for an age-old problem. BlackRapid has obviously gotten a lot of press for this product because I am seeing a high percentage of Google hits on my site from my single mention of it last week. So, I decided to forgo the usual studio photography routine and go ahead and publish my user review to help all of those of you obviously trying to figure out if this thing is worth all the hype.
Pros:
- Quick access to camera as advertised.
- New design camera mount is fairly easy to use and solid.
- Decent construction quality of shoulder pad.
Cons:
- Camera incessantly gravitates to an in-the-way position.
- Difficult adjustment mechanism.
- Camera dangles and spins at your side.
- Chintzy connection clip.*
- S.W.A.T. team riot gear styling.
- Shoulder pad does not stay put.
- Connection clip may contact LCD screen potentially causing damage.
- Camera can not be set flat without removing mount.
- Sharp edges on camera mount can damage surfaces, other objects, etc.
- $50 price tag.
Conclusion:
I’m guessing by this point you can tell that I’m not a huge fan of the R-Strap. The most disappointing thing is that I had such high hopes for this product. In fact, I made a special trip back to BlackRapid’s booth and forked over $40 (PMA show special- $8 off their MSRP) just so I could start using it right away even though they promised to mail me a review unit after the show. Eager to get rid of my 12 year old Nikon branded neoprene shoulder strap, I stepped around the corner and quickly tore into the package. Immediately, I encountered difficulty with the connector clip. Then, I struggled to get the length of the strap adjusted to suit my preference. After spending a good 6-8 minutes squatting behind a trash can I was finally ready to put the R-Strap to use.
Within the first 5 minutes I was already starting to think I had made a mistake. My camera just wouldn’t stay put. It kept gravitating to the bottom of the strap which put it on my right hip with the lens sticking straight out into my arm and oncoming traffic. I tried turning and shifting my camera sideways and around to the small of my back like the BlackRapid people had shown me to do standing in their booth. But as soon as I started walking it would quickly slide back around front where I’d smack my lens against my arm or some poor soul walking by. I knocked the lens hood off my little kit lens 3 times in the first 10 minutes of use. I can’t imagine how bad it would have been had I been sporting a longer lens.
Thinking that maybe I hadn’t gotten used to this new-and-improved way of carrying my camera, I was determined to give it the ol’ college try and muddled through the rest of the day and half through the following day. Yes, the R-Strap did make it quite quick and efficient for me to get my camera to my eye and snap a picture. And, I love the fact that the strap doesn’t get all tangled up across the eyepiece like a traditional strap always seems to do. However, I just couldn’t get used to my camera dangling, twirling and knocking into everything while I was walking the show and the streets and casinos of Las Vegas.
BlackRapid seems to market their product to people on the go. From my experience the R-Strap is really only suitable for photographers in a static position that need quick access to their camera (like sports photographers standing on a sideline with three cameras around their neck). I can see how it might work better attached to the tripod collar on a larger telephoto lens- though the laws of gravity seem to suggest that it’s always going to seek the lowest point and not stay behind your back as BlackRapid suggests. As it is- combined with the geeky styling, camera dings and high price tag- I can not recommend the R-Strap. And I’m really bummed about that. Be that as it may, lot’s of people seem to swear by it so make your own choice.
Now for the details and photos:
Review:
The key to the strap’s design is the sliding camera hook (top). Note how the adjustment buckle is positioned at the left with the tag (loose) end of the strap feeding back through the pad assembly. This makes loosening the strap a piece of cake (pull down on the buckle while tugging on the bottom of the strap). However, if like me you get it too loose, you have to remove the strap and feed it backwards through the pad in 1/2″ increments until you get the fit right. I never did figure out the purpose of the extra buckle on the right. I tried feeding the tag end of the strap through it but it was too tight of a fit. Instead, it just dug into my back most of the time.
Adjustment mechanism detail. It’s basically like a backpack strap turned upside down. Why it is turned upside down I’m not sure.
Connector clip and FastenR camera mount. The connector clip on this version is basically a suitcase strap spring clip with a DIY aquarium tubing “lock” mechanism. The importance of this seems obvious but the implementation made it nearly impossible to open the clip wide enough to get the ring on the mount through. *To be fair, BlackRapid showed me a new carabiner style clip with a screw down lock mechanism that seems much more appropriate to this application. They said it would be shipping on the new RS-4 straps “soon.”
The camera mount screws into the tripod mount on the bottom of your camera. There is a rubber washer that provides tension as you tighten the mount to the camera body. This is a very clever way to lock the mount securely to the camera and is a significant improvement over the previous version. An extra rubber washer was included in the package- suggesting that this one will eventually get lost or fail.
Once installed the camera hangs neatly from the mount via the clip. Orientation of the mount is not important since the clip spins freely.
One potential alarming thing I noticed was that the clip would contact my LCD screen on my camera when I was using the R-Strap without my battery grip. The potential for scratching not withstanding, hit it the wrong way once and you could break the LCD screen. BlackRapid does make a point of including a disclaimer card saying they are not responsible for damage to your camera caused though the use of their product. You know what that means….
Another drawback to this design is that once you screw the mount into your camera you can no longer set your camera level on a flat surface. I made the mistake of doing this on my dining table and the sharp corners of the mount left a nasty gouge in the finish. I guess that’s part of the risk I assumed in using this product. :-/
The strap worn in its intended manner. I say “intended” because a number of times I put it on backwards. I’m not sure what I would put in the pocket. Designers always think we need more pockets on our stuff. More pockets just equals more places to loose things. In this case it also means more material and labor cost. Since the camera is not attached to the two fixed ends of the strap like on a traditional shoulder strap, every time you pick the camera up to shoot, the shoulder pad has a tendency to shift one way or the other due to the effect of gravity. Mine kept working its way over my shoulder and down my back where it was impossible to reach to pull it back up. This lead to me having to remove the strap regularly and replacing it backwards by mistake. The “cool mesh” backing material on the pad is likely to blame here and a non-skid material would make more sense.
Here you can see how the camera starts off in the middle of my back then after a few steps has worked its way to the back of my hip and then a few steps later around to its preferred location at the front of my hip. No matter how I positioned the camera this is what would happen within a dozen steps- banging into my arm on the way around.
Now, with the camera hanging as it is in the third frame above, it is in the ideal position for easily grabbing the grip…
…and quickly raising the camera to your eye for a shot. Notice how the clip has slid along the strap rather than the strap sliding around your body. Also notice how the strap is coming off the bottom of the camera where it is out of the way rather than off the top. This is what held so much promise for me.
However, after walking a few more steps the camera would flip itself around so that the flat back was against my body and the lens was pointing out. This made it somewhat awkward to grab hold of…
…and really creates a problem when your arm swings by. Also, having your camera hanging off your hip (lens out) is the worst position for walking in any kind of crowd. Clink, bump, clank, “excuse me, is this your lens hood sir?”
So, is the R-Strap any better than a standard shoulder strap? That depends. If the shoulder strap is worn like this, it seems like an even bet either way (though at $48+ shipping not a bet I’d be willing to take). Here the camera is always slipping off the shoulder, is dangling with the lens pointing out in the way of your arm and is quite difficult to reposition after a shot.
However (given a long enough strap- unlike my stock Pentax one), worn across the chest like the R-Strap a standard shoulder strap starts to make a lot more sense.
You can easily tuck the camera to the back of your hip where it will stay within easy reach but out of the way while you walk.
When the going gets tough, you can just swing the camera around the the small of your back where it is completely out of the way. Simply tug the strap to slide it back around to the front for a shot. I have litteraly logged hundreds (possibly thousands!) of miles in all kinds of sitautions with this set-up. My only gripe about this whole system is the grippyness required for the strap to stay where you put it also means it will constantly be pulling your clothing around with it. Maybe BlackRapid will continue to improve ther product and make a version that lives up to its promise and potential. I’ll be keeping an eye out for that.
Update:
Apparently the clip I couldn’t figure out on the right in the first picture of the review section is a stop block that you can set to prevent the camera from sliding further backwards than you wish for it to. (For the record, the instructions that came with the strap make no mention of this clip or its function.) I tried it and it basically only prevented me from sliding the camera around to my back where I wanted it. Had I placed it in a way that would keep my camera out of the way it would have prevented me from sliding it around front to take a picture. I also tried positioning it so that it kept the camera hanging in front of my body but the weight of my camera just pulled the whole rig back around to my side again.
Please let me know if there is anything else I’m missing here.
March 10th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
One thing you don’t seem to be doing in the photos is setting the black plastic clamp. You place that clamp at the point beyond which you don’t want the camera to slide. That’s a critical part of wearing the camera/strap combination. Maybe you did this, but I just didn’t see it in the pictures.
March 10th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Lawson-
Thanks for your note. I’m assuming the black plastic clamp is the buckle on the right in the first photo. It makes sense that I could place it at a point on the strap that would prevent the camera from moving backwards. However, this wouldn’t solve my problem as all it would do is ensure that the camera would stay in front of me where it’s in the way.
I have read a lot of reviews for this product and it seems to work well for most of the reviewers. I can easily see how it might work well for many readers of this review. I just wanted to share my experience so that potential users would be fully informed before they decide to take the plunge.
March 11th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Thanks for this review!
I have been wanting to see what the new Connector looks like and how they have fixed the problem. I like what I see though. seems a big improvement on the old one.
I have done a lot of research and tried to find a trip quick release plate that will sit flat on a table without any protrusions, still have a D loop for the R-Strap and be able to lock into a clamp.
Like Lawson said, I think you need to use the bump to bring the strap back into place once you have take the photo and are placing the camera in your desired position again. The bump is supposed to bring the shoulder padding of the strap back onto your shoulder when the camera is placed back into position. I hope you aren’t having any more issues and I hope you arent damaging your camera. I am *still* waiting on my RS-4 Strap and it’s been about 5 weeks now! I am from Sydney Australia though so that may be why it’s taking so long. In the time since I’ve ordered mine, yours has been the best and most fair review I’ve read. I’ve read a lot of negative feeback but a lot of people have reviewed older straps with the older connector with the spinning wheel. I like to make my own mind up on a lot of products, and I have high hopes for this strap, and I am hoping it doesn’t let me down.
Great review and pictures
Regards
Loz
March 11th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Thanks for this thorough review. Certainly doesn’t seem to be a great solution. I wonder if you’ve found anything better?
March 11th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
@Loz: Glad you appreciated my review. Please let me know how the R-Strap agrees with you when it arrives.
@robin: I’m sticking with my old neoprene neck strap for the time being.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Thank you for your thorough review.
I was curious about how this product works and now I’ve got a better picture of it.
I think I’ll stay with my Pentax original strap :)
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I have one of the Black Rapid straps, and my feelings are somewhat mixed. The main advantage I have found with the strap is when carrying around my K10 with the Bigma attached to it. In that configuration, the camera-lens combo rests comfortably on my hip in a fore-and-aft position rather than with the lens sticking out laterally, and with the weight distributed as it is, it seems much less of a load than when using a conventional shoulder strap. With shorter lenses attached there is obviously less of a load-bearing benefit and more of tendency for the camera to shift around. This can be dealt with, however, by simply keeping my right hand resting on the camera which is no different than what I do with a regular shoulder strap, and which is easier than carrying the camera in my hand. There is the annoying tendency for the strap to shift around, particularly if you’re seated and the camera is not pulling down on the strap. I have the discontinued model which has a pocket for an extra battery which I carry in it, and unlike the reviewer’s model, mine has a tendency to shift down in the front rather than the back. It’s not a big deal, but a bit aggravating, nevertheless. I did not use the provided screw-on clip to attach to my camera as I have a Bogen-Manfrotto quick attach plate, and attach to its D-ring instead. I think the ideal solution would be to convert my conventional Op/Tech shoulder strap to a quick-attach model for use with shorter lenses, and reserve the Black Rapid for the Bigma and my Tamron 70-200 f/2.8.
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Hi i’ve purchased a BR4 strap but i came accross a good solution, and it’s Metolius strap used to hold clibing gear http://www.metoliusclimbing.com/adjustable_gear_sling.html you’ll have to add a Carabiners and you are all set for a good alternative…
works great
March 22nd, 2009 at 3:00 pm
I have the R2 version and use it with my K20D/DA(star)300 combo. I’ve not experienced the issues you identify and find it to be convenient and comfortable even when I hike long distances.
Here’s my work flow:
First, I use a monopod (Manfrotto 679B) to steady things. I attach the R2 strap hook directly to the monopod’s head plate loop (Manfrotto 3229) which, in turn, is attached to the lens tripod support. The plate loop’s base is large enough to keep the hook from contacting the lens or its base base. I also have a Domke Gripper neck strap attached to the camera. I unhook the neck strap part, weave the strap ends through the R2 and re-attach its clips to form a loose safety loop. The weight of the setup is carried by the lens, not the camera body.
Second, I position the setup to hang on my left side with the lens pointed to the rear. The R2’s loop length is set to allow all of this to hang naturally at my palm. My hand rides on the back of the camera protecting its LCD and providing stabilization. All of this allows my right hand to remain free to do right hand things like use the monopod as a walking stick, and/or operate my dog’s electronic collar/leash, push brush out-of-the-way, etc.
Third, when a subject presents itself, I bring the camera up by the lens with my left hand. Leaving the R2 around my neck and Domke safety loop in place, I unsnap the R2 from the mount plate with my right hand, snap/lock the monopod plate into the monopod head and I’m good to go. This takes less than 10 seconds to shift from rest to action.
I don’t need the R2 for my lighter weight lens/camera combos. With those, my Domke Gripper strap serves quite well.
That’s it…
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Seems pretty clear that the R-Strap works best with big lenses that have tripod mount collars. I can totally appreciate that. Unfortunately it doesn’t help me one bit. I prefer smaller prime lenses that are easier to carry…
August 30th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
I agree the strap does not live up to it’s reputation. Mine is sitting on the shelf. I don’t like how it attaches to the camera base because it does cause camera damage.
Back to using my old strap
:(
September 17th, 2009 at 2:56 am
It seems like this rig could be improved by having a portion that clips to the belt loop at your 5 o’clock position. This would be keep the “low point” of the strap back there behind you, and the Camera wouldn’t be inclined to sneak around to the 3 o’clock position. It it clamped to the strap like the “stop” clamp, it would also prevent you from dislodging the strap from your shoulder. I just ordered one of these and may attempt that modification if I experience the annoyance you did.
May 31st, 2010 at 11:01 pm
I was on a photo shoot on Catalina Island on Sunday May 31st, 2010, carrying my Canon 5D Mark 2 w/70-200 lens. I was using the RS-4 Strap. I was stepping down from a small ledge with the camera dangling at my hip when suddenly it fell to the cement. The “chintzy connection clip” didn’t work! I was lucky I wasn’t near water. The camera must have loosed free while spinning on the clip. Don’t trust it! They need a better, more secure connection before I use it again.
Back to the old strap.
June 25th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
If you are using a standard strap to carry the camera over your shoulder, put it on backward with the lens facing to your body. It snugs right up in the small of your back and stays out of the way pretty good. Of course, any leaning forward and the camera has a tendency to slip around and swing out in front. But if you are going to use a normal strap as you showed in p1020392, point the lens the other way. :) This is still not the answer, or I wouldn’t have found my way to your review. I guess we’ll keep looking.