RocketScientist Loc: Littleton, Colorado

If the caribiner should detach from the tripod mount, then it might also detach from the secondary strap.

If the tripod mount pulls out of the camera, maybe it won't drop as far, but you still have a busted camera.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I'll need to get you some photos, but it doesn't work that way. The tether, around 5" long, is attached at one end to the left strap lug and at the other end to the solid rectangular shaped metal loop through which the strap slides to raise and lower the camera. The carabiner is attached to this piece of metal via a swivel so it rotates. At the other end of the carabiner there is the device that locks into the tripod mount. If the piece unscrews from the tripod mount, or the carabiner should somehow break or the swivel somehow becomes detached, in any of these case the camera is still safely attached to the solid (meaning no gaps) slide and can fall only a few inches before the tether kicks in. I saw someone's camera fall to the ground recently using what may have been an OpTech strap. The main strap was attached by a quick release buckle to a shorter piece attached to a strap lug. I'm not sure what happened, but the quick release was somehow engaged and down went the camera. Probably a user error rather than a fault with the strap. I've banged, or almost dropped my cameras on multiple occasions using a standard neck strap. When using a strap there is a degree of risk regardless of which one is used.

cliveshingleton Loc: Auckland, New Zealand

That must be a recent thing because I bought from them about 2 months ago.

cliveshingleton Loc: Auckland, New Zealand

Try sending an email to Jared at customerrelations@blackrapid.com. Thats who I dealt with last time and they were very helpful. Good Luck

RocketScientist Loc: Littleton, Colorado

Do show me please. I have pictures of how mine hangs on the next page of the post you looked at.

My idea is based off this: http://www.bosstrap.com/bostail.aspx

I was just hooking up to the tripod mount, but using the ring on the square Manfrotto QR plate. I was thinking the larger surface area of the plate might make it less susceptible to pulling the mount out of the camera.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I really don't think its all that susceptible to pulling the mount out of the camera. I read of the D50 incident and am doing more research on that camera. I've been researching this issue for years and the D50 is the first time I've read of a mount failure. Given the various videos showing the strength of the mount, the experiences of hundreds of users over all the internet and my own extensive experience the built in mounts are very strong and I don't think use of the Manfrotto QR plate is warranted and may even be less secure than without it. For me the real issue is having a second point of support in the event the carabiner unscrews or the very unlikely event the swivel should fail and separate.

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

I still contend the photo's that MTShooter showed of the Nikon D50 did happen the way he said but that the Nikon camera was of defective plastic material by Nikon or it was damaged in some other way before it broke apart on the camera, there may never be proof of this was the case? But the demonstration on the video made it look very strong indeed IMO.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Maybe, and this is really just a guess, the tripod mount on the D50 was simply not as strong as on more modern dSLRs. The D50 was introduced in 2005 at Nikon's first entry level dSLR. I don't know too much about it. Perhaps the tripod mount was compromised by some other incident and the Black Rapid was the last straw. While I'm willing to accept that it failed while being used on that strap, I'm not satisfied that the general use of a Black Rapid type strap in any way compromises the tripod mount.

wlgoode Loc: Globe, AZ

In the film days when the slings were not around I made a DIY velcro chest strap to keep my camera from flopping around. Thank God for Velcro, the photographer's best DIY friend.

Aaron Braganza Loc: Sydney, Australia

Mate, I live in Sydney.
Recently purhcased an Op/Tech strap for around AUD $40 from a Camera shop called "Michaels" in Melbourne. They should ship it out to you for around $5. Pls google them

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

I'm with you on this line of thinking. I truly believe that there has been much improvement on today’s modern cameras! I also like the idea that you have added a extra strap for the safety factor of your camera nice touch if I may say so.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

While I came up with the extra strap idea myself I was far from the first to do so. After I put mine in place I researched it and found that many other people had a similar idea. Its been implemented in a dozen different ways, some better than others IMHO.

cliveshingleton Loc: Auckland, New Zealand

Hi. I was in Auckland CBD this weekend and spotted that the Photo Warehouse on Queen street have a stock of the Blackrapid range.
Sorry but could not find their phone number but they are on Queen street at 164 I think.