BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

Great product, and I will not be switching back! It only takes a few minutes to realize this strap is a great innovation. The action feels very natural to bring the camera up from your hip and be ready for shooting. As a previous commentor mentioned, you must be a little vigilant of not banging your camera/lens in tight spaces.

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

This is a great product for quick and easy access.

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

I looked high and low for a strap that let me do precisely what this one does; keep the cam within easy reach while I keep my hands free, secure it in place behind me when traveling between locations on foot or bike, and quick access when I'm ready to shoot. It hit the mark on all three counts.

On the down side, while the R7 has an ergonomic design, it may not be a great fit for all body types (mine included). But here's the upside... my cam now goes practically everywhere I do. I've gotten a number of great shots for a project I'm working on in the last week alone.

One last, but most important thing! I have complete confidence that the cam will stay attached. Another strap I used failed to hold and my camera fell to the cement. This one holds tight.

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

Just what I was looking for. This strap is extremely comfortable. Very durable and easy to adjust. I wore the RS-7 strap for a full day of shooting and and was able to move freely without worrying about my camera position.

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

At a glance this might seem like a very silly product. Let me assure you that only the opposite is true, especially if you have a heavier camera-lens kit. I own a Nikon D7000 and Sigma 70-200 HSM II (which is no longer available), which is my sports/portrait photography kit. Holding onto such a heavy combination throughout a football game, track meet, or photo shoot can and WILL cause even the strongest of people to have sore wrists/arms if hand-held too long. That being said, this strap is great for professional and entry level cameras alike. The ability to quick-draw your camera from your waist for that elusive 'perfect shot' is something not possible with camera bags.

However, like all things in life, there are a few down-sides to the RS-7. Cost is definitely one of them. I'm not going to lie, this was a pretty steep purchase for me considering its a camera strap (despite it being worth every penny). Also, if in close proximity to other people/walls, certain (minor) precautions must be made so that your camera won't hit a wall or another person. The BlackRapid system in general is also not very friendly to those with arthritis. Small parts, involving a fair amount of dexterity, are included and required in order to set things up (I'm pretty young, so this does not affect me yet; just be aware of it in case this applies to you).

Final Thoughts: The convenience that this strap offers cannot be adequately described with words. The only things I can say are pick one up through B&H (because their shipping was VERY fast for me), set it up with your camera, take it out for a spin, and enjoy the added convenience.

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

I can't over-emphasize the difference this strap makes. I shoot on a D700, often with a 14-24 mm or an SB-900 flash attached. My Nikon strap tended to put the camera right at the edge of my rib cage and diaphragm. I'd slouch under the weight of it after a long day of shooting. The RS-7 spreads the weight beautifully over the left shoulder, lets the camera hang off of my hip close to where my right hand would be.

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

I've used my stock strap for a couple years and have been a little frustrated with it in terms of comfort and length. My old strap is too short to put over your head and shoulder across my chest and still be able to pull it up easily to shoot. Over an outside shoulder, it slips off. Around my neck and I get tired.

So... time to try a new strap. I'd read endless good reviews and watched demo videos of this strap. I also spoke with several photographers who also use it and couldn't recommend it highly enough.

For me, it's been a good experience overall and I'd recommend the strap to pretty much anyone. However, I have found a couple things that bother me.

It's pretty big and bulky in my bag. When I put my camera in my bag, it's a bit of a chore to gather up the strap to put it in. My old strap just dropped nicely in the bag. There's enough material here that it does not take up a trivial amount of space in my bag.

The adjustment strap bunches up and comes loose easily. It's not as tidy as it could be. There's a clip that is supposed to help keep that in control, but it doesn't seem to help much. I find myself fiddling with the loose pieces of the adjustment strap to get it in shape.

I do a lot of macro work and the strap can be a bit of an issue for me. The strap attached via the tripod mount. This is intuitive since it helps the camera fall lens down by your waist. But I shoot enough on flat surfaces that I can't just set my camera down and shoot. It doesn't sit flat so I can't get those shots without removing the strap. Further, quickly snapping the body onto a tripod is not an option as the strap must be removed first.

All those bits aside, overall, I find the strap very comfortable and, indeed, fast to get those shots while being fully over the shoulder.

Recommended unless the above caveats bother you.

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

Good: Securely attaches to the camera. Comfortable to use. Well made.

Bad: the padding strap tends to hang up on clothing when rotating the camera up to shoot.

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

Always ready for that picture! Great for heavy gear like big zoom etc... It's a light strap well thought for the purpose to free your hands when you are on a move or hike . Dont need to bring my backpack anymore !

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

Excellent on location and camera draws less attention on the street using the Black Rapid RS-7. Also great in studio when not using tri-pod, as I can move freely without having to put down the camera to say, move a light. It is fast and very comfortable! I love this strap!

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

Its nice to not have the camera hanging around your neck. Great for long day hikes around the city or elsewhere.

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

I shoot sports and carrying big glass on a body with a battery grip gets old in a hurry. A fellow shooter first introduced me to the BR system of straps and I was sold. Picked up a RS-7 for a new Nikon D7000 I purchased and screwed the clip onto my 70-200 2.8. It never comes off the lens -- and the camera is easily accessable as soon as I need it. Fully adjustable so that I have not problem using it despite being 6'4". Thanks for a great product.

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

Carrying a D-3 ans a 24-70 lense around my neck can become cumbersome. With the RS-7 strap it is easy to grab and shoot. Only thing that can be a drawback is that the camera can accidently hit objects in tight areas.

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

Even though the Nikon/Canon strap that comes with the camera is good to show who you represent, it's just not versatile.

This strap changes that. It hangs on your hip freeing your hands, making it not a chore to grab your camera for a quick picture. I can actually not carry my camera and also not worry about it falling off since it's basically screwed into the camera itself.

I use it everywhere I go, it's on my camera the whole time, I recommended it to my friends and they loved it.

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

Works as advertised; love it.

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

I love this strap. It's 100% better then the stock strap that comes with your camera. It doesn't hurt your neck, and overall just makes your camera that much easier to use when out and about...

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

GREAT PRODUCT!FAST DELIVERY!

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

I've been using my RS-7 for about a month now and I have to say it's a huge improvement over the OEM strap supplied by Canon. Now I can carry my camera for hours on end without getting a sore next and back, and easily bring the camera up for quick shots and return it without any fuss.But for what is basically a nylon strap, with a clip on a swivel [$] seems a bit rich.Overall, the strap makes it significantly easier when lugging a camera around for extended periods without intruding on your ability to bring the camera up to shoot, but I can't help feeling I've been had. I would recommend this to a friend, based on its merits but many would scoff at the price.

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

It's my first non-default camera strap. It's great! The weight distribution works very good. I use it with a gripped Canon 7D + 70-200 IS II and it feels very light. You will forget that you have the camera with you.
It's very well built though my concerns go to the plastic guick release buckle on the strap. It looks sturdy but one can easily release it from behind. This is a potential security risk. IMHO it would have been better for the strap not to have it. If I can see a single point of failure, it would be the quick release.

Comments about BlackRapid RS-7 Camera Strap:

I no longer need to strain my neck carrying a DSLR!