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Black Rapid Classic Camera Sling


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53 replies to this topic

#41
TBonz

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So, revisiting this old topic for some opinions...

 

When shooting sports, I generally have one body with 200-400 on monopod and one with either the 24-70 or 70-200 hanging on a Black Rapid strap.  With the 24-70 I screw into the tripod mount on the body and with the 70-200, I screw into the tripod mount on the lens.

 

Now that I've added plates to the tripod mounts on the 200-400 and 70-200, I don't have the option of screwing into the lens mount anymore.  I was thinking of adding a BosStrap to use between the Black Rapid carabiner and the body rather than screwing into the tripod mount on the body or the 70-200.  The 200-400 won't ever be on that strap, so I'm not worried about it.

 

My question is whether or not it will put too much strain on the lens mount or the single strap mount on the body when I have the D4 with 70-200 (or the 24-70) off of the BosStrap.  Obviously I don't want to risk damaging the gear.  I'm sure there is probably a strap out there that would even allow the plate to mount to it which might be my best bet if I can find it.

 

In any case, I'd love to hear folks opinions on a good setup.  I like the second body / lens combo on my right hip - quick to grab when the action gets close, but want to do it safely.

 

Thanks in advance!



#42
Russ

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Don't know! :rolleyes:

 

Are you sure you can't adapt the plate for the BR? My Manfrotto RC232 (or something like that) BR sold a separate screw-in bit that was strong enough to hook on to.



#43
Thumper

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So, revisiting this old topic for some opinions...

 

When shooting sports, I generally have one body with 200-400 on monopod and one with either the 24-70 or 70-200 hanging on a Black Rapid strap.  With the 24-70 I screw into the tripod mount on the body and with the 70-200, I screw into the tripod mount on the lens.

 

Now that I've added plates to the tripod mounts on the 200-400 and 70-200, I don't have the option of screwing into the lens mount anymore.  I was thinking of adding a BosStrap to use between the Black Rapid carabiner and the body rather than screwing into the tripod mount on the body or the 70-200.  The 200-400 won't ever be on that strap, so I'm not worried about it.

 

My question is whether or not it will put too much strain on the lens mount or the single strap mount on the body when I have the D4 with 70-200 (or the 24-70) off of the BosStrap.  Obviously I don't want to risk damaging the gear.  I'm sure there is probably a strap out there that would even allow the plate to mount to it which might be my best bet if I can find it.

 

In any case, I'd love to hear folks opinions on a good setup.  I like the second body / lens combo on my right hip - quick to grab when the action gets close, but want to do it safely.

 

Thanks in advance!

I will take a shot of my setup tomorrow.  I modified a BR strap by adding a couple of BossStraps and a some BR LockStars.   I have BossStrap adjustable tabs w/rings on the camera ring mounts.  I put LockStars on my Nikon neckstrap that allows me to quick connect to the rings on the camera.  I added 2 BossStraps and Lockstars to the BR main strap to compliment the thread mount strap.  I can quick connect to the rings on the camera, and I can apply the threaded connector to either the tripod mount on the camera or the lens, giving me 3 means of supporting the camera while on the BR strap.  

 

I'll get some pics of it up tomorrow.  The pictures make more sense than my explanation.  :D  


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#44
TBonz

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Don't know! :rolleyes:

 

Are you sure you can't adapt the plate for the BR? My Manfrotto RC232 (or something like that) BR sold a separate screw-in bit that was strong enough to hook on to.

 

My BR strap has the screw in piece...it is plenty strong enough, but with the plate on the lens, I can't screw into the tripod collar.  I am sure I can adapt something (as Thumper indicates above) but my concern is screwing into the tripod socket on the body and whether that will potentially damage the body's tripod mount or the weight of the 70-200 lens in that configuration might damage the lens mount between lens and body...



#45
Ron

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I just visited the Black Rapid web page and they have a special tripod plate... which I assume allows you to have both the Black Rapid strap and an ARCA camera plate on the camera at the same time. Or have I totally misunderstood your problem?

 

--Ron


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#46
Merco_61

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The FR-T1 should work with the Sirui plates to give an attachment point even if it is made for the Manfrotto RC2 and their own Arca-compatible plate.



#47
OTRTexan

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The configuration Tom talks about with the BosStrap is exactly what I use. I didn't like it being attached to the bottom of my camera. It was awkward and slow to get the camera to a shooting position. With the BosStrap mounted to the stock strap lug, and the black rapid strap adjusted correctly, the camera grip fits naturally in my fingers as I walk. My 150-600 has been on my 810 probably 75% of the time I've had it, and been carried that way with no issues. I will say that with that much lens hanging, you have to be careful where you walk and take care it doesn't swing.

To ensure there is no question on my recent accident had zero to do with this set up, I'll just say that when you store your camera in your backpack, make sure it's zipped all the way before you pick it up, especially if you have a tripod strapped to the lid...
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#48
TBonz

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Between Russ and Thumper, they got me thinking last night after I posted my reply and I went off on a search.  I'm thinking this item or something similar is what I need...it will allow me to attach the plate on the 70-200's tripod collar to the Black Rapid strap.  It would also allow me to throw plates on the bottom of the bodies as permanent mounts and hang the bodies from the Black Rapid if I'm using the 24-70.  I'm thinking of picking up the Black Rapid Yeti strap at the same time to allow me to carry both bodies when I don't want / need the monopod...

 

Peter, I see what you are suggesting and that may be an excellent option as well...time to go off and investigate!

 

I think I might also grab the extra straps that Thumper suggested to give some additional security...


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#49
Russ

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Between Russ and Thumper, they got me thinking last night

My apologies...  :blink:


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#50
Thumper

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Okay, these are terrible pics taken with my phone, but it should give you an idea of the setup.

 

First, I used a pair of BossStraps w/rings and attached them to the hard mounts on the camera.

i-w2qKP7n-M.jpg

 

 

I attached a pair of BlackRapid LockStars to the ends of my neckstrap.

i-HRTqKpL-M.jpg

 

 

This QD setup lets me switch between strap setups quickly.  This is the neckstrap attached.

i-2KdBQGD-M.jpg

 

 

I put a pair of BR LockStars on the main strap of my BlackRapid "rig", one on either side of the threaded tripod mount connector.

i-sGhnvdt-M.jpg

 

i-Sjvxv39.jpg

 

 

This allows me to attach my camera to the BR strap with 3 points of contact/support.  1 on each of the hard mounts, then I can put the threaded connector on the tripod mount on the bottom of the camera.....

i-Gkkfnc4.jpg

 

...or I can attach the threaded connector to the tripod foot on the lens.  (Assuming that you are using a lens that has a tripod foot).

i-3DB7mMb.jpg

 

 

 

It carries pretty well, just like it does using only the threaded connector, only the lens hangs straight down (or at a slight angle) instead of upside down.   It is probably not a setup that would work for everyone, but it works really well for my needs.  I like the BR strap, but I have trust issues using only the threaded connector.   This resolves my trust issues by giving the camera (and/or lens) extra support, and it allows me switch "quickly" between the neckstrap and the BR strap, should I want to switch things up or change my carry options.   


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#51
TBonz

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Nice Thumper!  Thanks for taking the time to get the images and explain it...definitely makes more sense to me now although I came pretty close!

 

Still haven't figured out exactly what I am going to do, but did pick up a few items today that will be heading south from B&H over the next few days...One of the items I picked up with the BR Yeti strap so that I could carry both bodies easily.  Might end up using my current BR strap on my Nikon 1 if everything works with the Yeti...Once I have my setup figured out (assuming it isn't identical), I'll also post pix and info...

 

I'm trying to get it all figured out in the next week or so to be sure I have everything delivered and tested before a crazy long weekend where I'll be shooting a variety of activities from football to baseball (softball, whiffle ball, not sure which) to golf to a wedding (just providing some extra pix - not the official photog)...I'm expecting to use pretty much every piece of my gear at some point that week which is why I want to have everything in place quickly!

 

Thanks again to everyone for the advice and the excellent description from Thumper!


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#52
weebee

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I have been using the BR metro for about a year now. I find it to very comfortable. But, I don't like using the tripod mount as a attachment point for the strap. So I just use one of the strap lugs. Works perfect and the strap doesn't get in the way for vertical shots. And when I am using my mono or tripod I just leave the strap around my neck in case the camera comes loose from them.

 

12194994_962339667145055_205374932475680


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#53
TBonz

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After shooting last night, liking the new setup...will post more after I shoot some rugby in the rain (hoping it holds off though) and get some processing done!  :)


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#54
TBonz

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OK...So, fun time shooting rugby this afternoon, but more on that later...

 

Here's what I ended up coming up with and why...

 

Most here know I recently picked up a tripod and ball head with an ARCA-style base.  I also purchased a mount designed for my monopod so that I could mount the tripod collars on the lenses to my monopod without always having to remove the bases.  I was going to use 50mm bases.  At that point, my plan was to use the 70mm base that came with the head to mount on my camera bodies when I wanted to mount the body instead of the lens.  Seemed like a pretty nice plan...but...I do prefer to attach my 70-200 to the strap via the tripod collar and that meant removing the plate...Thus, my questions above...Eventually I decided that I should just get another base and mount bases on both the bodies as well.  I like Thumper's (and other's) idea about having an extra tether just in case...after deciding on the Yeti strap (which can be set for one or two cameras), I felt like I had a plan...

 

I liked the part that Merco recommended but in reading some of the reviews they indicated that it didn't work in all bases.  One person even posted images of the filing he needed to do on the plate in order to get it to work with his plate...But, I found another option...I could put one of these bases on the clip at the end of each strap and that would allow me to mount either lens or body as I needed to.  Here are the extra tethers I decided to pick up...And, of course, I thought I would pick up these for extra security on the clip...The only issue in my head was that the base on the 200-400 came slightly loose once or twice last week...I felt like I was set if I figured that out...A friend and some other things I read suggested Loctite would do it...wasn't sure I wanted to go that route, but figured it might be my best bet...

 

Then, I had what one of my friends calls a "lightbulb" moment...yes, the lightbulb went on and I figured out how to fix the base...both the tripod collars have two mount locations.  I now have the extra screw they provide with the base in one of the mount locations and the standard mount in the other mount location on the bottom of the 200-400 with the 70mm base.  So, I ordered a second 70mm base and put the 50mm bases on the bodies...Of course, I forgot the extra security clips...luckily, the Yeti comes with 2 of them!

 

After last night's football game and today's rugby (2 matches), everything worked as hoped...nothing came loose and the bases on the Black Rapid worked fine.  The tether straps work well and are small enough to be out of the way when I don't need them.  I find the Yeti strap (with one camera) that I used today to be nicer than my older BR strap which I used last night...more comfortable and just as easy to use.  So, here are some pix...

 

Today was on and off rain, so lots of gear got a workout today...

 

Attached File  BRGear-1093.jpg   159.58KB   6 downloads

 

Here you can see the 50mm base on the bottom of the camera with the mount piece for the BR strap and the tether on my D4 with 24-70...As a side note, I'm still debating how best to attach the tether...Last night I attached it to the clip on the BR strap...today I attached it to a small clip around the strap itself...I'm going to try a few things to see what works best for me...

 

Attached File  BRGear-1098.jpg   210.31KB   6 downloads

 

A close up of the two (front and back) ARCA-style bases attached to the BR Yeti...

 

Attached File  BRGear-1109.jpg   180.38KB   5 downloads

 

The full Yeti strap setup...

 

Attached File  BRGear-1110.jpg   89.47KB   5 downloads

 

Lastly, a better view of the tether and you can also see the 50mm base on the camera body...

 

Attached File  BRGear-1112.jpg   66.75KB   5 downloads

 

So, I'm checking out for now to go edit the pix from football and rugby - hopefully I can finish up some time tomorrow!

 

 


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