The BlackRapid R-Strap is great. Simple but great. After finally getting my hands on one of these I can make a full review. To be honest, I was expecting more technology for my money. Being close to $50 after taxes, you'd think you'd get a lot more than a strap with padding, a stopper, a clip, and a hook. But literally that's all you get. There are some DIY (do it yourself) versions out there that you can make with materials you can buy yourself for about $10. However, it works great and looks great!
The RS-1 is the basic strap with no pockets, or holders for anything. It can only hold your camera. Like the RS-2 it it comes with an Fasten-R to attach to your camera or lenses (if your lens has a tripod mount). You can even buy extra Fasten-Rs if you want to keep them on your other camera bodies or lenses for about $12. My only problemw ith the R-Fastener is that it adds about an extra inch to the bottom of the camera, and you can't lay your camera down properly. But, it is very simple to take off, just unscrew it from the 1/4" hole on the bottom of your camera in a few seconds and you're done.
Setting up is easy. Just screw the R-Fastener into the base of your camera or lens, and then clip that onto the R-Strap. Simple as that. I remember putting the Nikon strap onto my D80. That took at least a few minutes. This can be done in 15 seconds, and you can switch it onto any camera or lens in a few seconds. Or buy more Fasten-Rs at $12 each and put them on your cameras and lenses. You can then use the strap on anything.
The strap itself works great. The padding is comfortable. It has a stopper on the strap which you can adjust, so that your camera doesn't sway back and forth. Finding the perfect location for this is key, so that it protects your camera from moving around, and also so you can quickly grab your camera.
What I like about this camera is that it makes your camera lie perfectly, at least in my opinion. What I didn't like about the basic Nikon strap is that your camera would always point down. I don't like putting the camera around my neck, especially if the lens is too heavy. It's just not comfortable. When I put it on my shoulder, the lens faces down, and my 18-200 has zoom creep. So after walking for a few minutes, I'd find my lens fully extended. I also found the strap uncomfortable, and i'd switch from around my neck to my shoulder, or I'd wrap the strap around my hand and just hold it there. With the RS-1 I worry less. It's out of the way, and not bugging me. Sure, I keep my hand on my side to protect my camera, but I'm not worrying about creeping anymore. I guess I should worry about the glass in case someone bumps into me from the back.
If your lens is fairly heavy, your lens will still aim a bit downward. But not completely vertical. If you have a big lens with a tripod mount, you can also attach the R-Fastener to that. and your camera will be perfectly balanced and parallel to the ground.
One problem I had with the RS-1 is that the metal attaching the hook/clip to the strap has a bit of a wide gap. I'm assuming it allows you to quickly move your camera up and down the strap because there's less contact, but sometimes my strap will get twisted in there.
Pros
- Very fast - as advertised
- Very good materials used
- Comfortable
- Easy to setup and use
- Keeps your lens from "zoom-creeping" (if your lens is susceptible to creeping)
Cons
- Expensive - DIY versions can be made for about $10 (of course won't look as good)
- Strap can sometimes twist
I do recommend this product, but if you are on a tight budget, $50 for a strap is very steep. Try searching for a DIY model, and purhcase the materials yourself, or take apart some old luggage. The idea is great.
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