BlackRapid RS4 R-Strap - quick draw camera strap
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BlackRapid RS4 R-Strap, professional camera strap designed with comfort and quick draw action in mind.
UK Price: £59
Pros: Quick draw, secure, slim line.
Cons: ...leaves your camera a little exposed.
Verdict: A great alternative to a conventional camera strap.
Rating:
More information: www.BlackRapid.com
Available from www.johnsons-photopia.co.uk
Product Review
Now I'm not a professional photographer but I am the very proud owner of a Canon 40D with a heavy 300mm lens, which takes fantastic pictures. I've always used the standard camera strap to carry my Canon and typically end up with my camera awkwardly slung around my neck like many other tourists eager to capture the sights. The conventional strap is pretty unfriendly - it isn't long enough to comfortably bring the camera to my eye and the heavy weight of the camera pulls on my neck when it is resting on my chest. So quite often I end up with the strap coiled around my arm like a boa constrictor, to give me the freedom to move but also some level of security that in the event that I lost grip of the camera it would be caught on my wrist.
So what's the alternative? Try the RS4. Sounding more like the mark of a rally car, the BlackRapid RS4 R-Strap is in fact a shoulder slung professional camera strap. It is secured to the body of the camera with a metal thumb screw that is compatible with the standard tripod mount. Importantly, the thumb rotates freely on the strap connector so the strap doesn't end up tied in knots.
Slung across your body from shoulder to waist, the RS4 R-Strap means that your camera rests comfortably on your hip for a quick draw. The strap is of variable length and long enough to allow you to move your camera freely from hip to eye in one clean motion without having to remove the strap from your shoulder. So, no more coiling, and the security that if dropped your camera will be safely caught.
The BlackRapid RS4 R-strap has a variable length nylon webbing strap, in black of course, with a floating, comfortable shoulder pad. The strap incorporates a slim line pouch for extra memory cards, although with 4GB and 8GB compact flash cards I've never had to carry a spare. However, I have done a few weddings so the pouch would come in handy for business cards.
The main problem for me is that the camera is very exposed sitting on your hip or in the small of your back. So I wouldn't want to carry my camera on my hip for long, especially clambering over ruins where the camera is bound to knock against protruding rocks etc. However, this is a minor point and not strictly the aim of the BlackRapid RS4 R-Strap.
The other possible issue is the price. At £59, it's not overly expensive but might deter some people. It is after all just a strap, even if it is a "quick draw" strap.
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