where there’s smoke there’s forum fire
I have been tryng to do some research on the California Sunbounce Sun-Sniper Steel versus and the Black Rapid RS-5.
Has anyone out there had any experience with these types of straps?
What are the positives and negatives of each.
I will be using it with A D300, Battery Pack and an assortment of medium weight lens, 10-24mm, 18-200mm and 70-300mm.
Do you actually carry it around your neck?
I usually just wrap the original Nikon strap around my wrist when shooting and when not in use I just sling it on my shoulder.
Sorry that I wasn't of any help. But I did hear that the RS5 is pretty good.
I have not used the Sun-Sniper, but love my BR straps.
Outside the fact I feel BR rushed their initial product line to market (gen 1 hardware is vastly inferior to gen 2) I've been nothing but impressed with their lineup.
As for the gear you describe using with it, if anything you're pushing the light end of what it is capable of. I also feel that it works better the more weight you hang from it. The heavier the camera/lens the less shoulder pad slippage one encounters.
I can't imagine using any other style of strap.
@Henry Nikon Fan
I have the same setup as you do plus using a 70-200mm VR, macros etc.
I use a BR gen 1 strap and love it since I would rather have the camera across my body.
I do not know about the pouch thing, it may be more in the way or a pain if you are wearing a backpack or bag. But that is just my take - I like simplicity. I find that it slides allot and will probably buy the "BRAD" which i did not know it had been released.
Other than that it is great! I have not used the Sun-Sniper but as Drab said, BR has great hardware options.
I've been using my BR for 2 years now...pretty nice on work days, but annoying when I travel since I don't want to keep the body out for display and thieves when I travel...they are constantly updating their hardware which is slightly annoying because they don't offer a trade up program, but good innovation with solid gear....
I recently bought a Black Rapid RS DR1 double strap for wedding work, it's been excellent. Even with 2 heavy camera combinations hanging on the ends, it feels secure. I am not familiar with Sun Sniper products so am unable to offer a comparison, but as with the other replies you have had, can certainly endorse the quality of BR. The concept of hanging your camera upsidedown by it's tripod socket, seems strange to begin with, but in practice works really well.
Thanks very much Henry Nikon Fan, you've just cost me £50! In trying to help you, I made the mistake of going to the Sun Sniper website and ended up buying one of their "steel" straps. :-). I am always a bit paranoid when out with my camera in a crowed, that someone might come up behind me and attempt to cut my strap. I always try to hold my equipment in my hand for this reason, but a strap that might go some way to prevent a thief from getting away with this seems like a very good idea. Should get it through the post in the next few days, and I'll let you know what I think of it if you are still interested, and haven't bought your own yet.
this is a great thread. i was just think about this.
but from the two videos i saw, one for the optech dual harness
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and rs dr-1
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i thought the optech looked better.
you will also notice that quite a few of the people who dropped their camera in the other thread, it was due to loose black rapid mount. camera strap mount looks safer to me, also less likely to twist.
any thoughts?
I will be using a d300s with 300 2.8 vr and a gripped d700 with 70-200 vrII.
need a good double for this setup for sports.
Both that Black Rapid RS-5 and the SunSniper Steel sling strap look pretty neat. Does the body flop around too much if you're on the move? Unfortunately, all of my bodies have Stroboframe quick-release plates mounted onto their tripod receivers so retainer systems that use up a tripod socket won't really work for me since it would be in the way of being able to set the plate into its receiver. I do like the sling-style strap idea however, and I may just get one anyway.
That Op-Tech strap also looks interesting, but I think those bodies would flap around too much with that. I bought a "Cablela's Pro Binocular Harness" ($19.99) which I'm very happy with. Although, it's probably only good for lighter bodies and shorter lenses, but it's darned convenient--and the camera doesn't flop around at all, yet it's ready to shoot instantly. I loop the Nikon strap over my neck as well for extra security.
Between the Cablela's harness and a couple of ThinkTank lens bags on my belt, I'm good to go, although I may give that RS-5 sling strap a try. When I get a second body, I was planning to pop for one of those $600 leather gun-style holsters. Very pricey, but I think it's worth it for the ultimate in quick access and secure stowage. I've also looked at those other "hook and retainer" belt systems, but they just leave the gear too prone to bashing into things.
Gareth said:...
you will also notice that quite a few of the people who dropped their camera in the other thread, it was due to loose black rapid mount. camera strap mount looks safer to me, also less likely to twist.
I have used my BR for 2 years and have the older connection style with a locking nut on it and it does not loosen up at all. The attachment hooks are free rotating and I am baffled (not really) how a lens could fall if you are aware of your equipment. I have looked at some of the newer attachments and they look good but maybe they don't lock as tight.
I run around with a 70-200mm VR and I adjust it to just the small of my back and it just works very well. There is a strap bumper/lock that stops the lens wherever you want it to. I sometimes connect a longer Velcro strap to the bottom of the strap to my belt and it controls it if I am really moving around or if there is allot to bang into. They also have tripod quick release plate for bogan as well.
BR has tons of videos about all of the items - check them out and they do a great job running them through the course.
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