Bamboo Loc: South Carolina

I am looking at buying either the Sun Sniper or the Black Rapid strap. my question is, does anyone use this type of strap to clip on to a tripod shoe. I have a Manfrotto whoes shoe appears to have a very solid ring. The idea is to be able to quickly disconnect to put camera on tripod. Is anyone do this?

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I, for one, refuse to use a strap that causes my camera to hang from the tripod mount as that is NOT what the manufacturers design them for. My strap of choice is the OpTech products, they are reasonably priced, last forever (over 30 years for mine so far) and made right here in the USA, NOT China! They make the Pro standard as well as the Pro Sling models:
http://optechusa.com/pro-strap.html
http://optechusa.com/utility-strap-sling.html

Buzz Lightyear

I'm not sure how the strap the OP is referring to works -- but how does hanging from the tripod mount differ from hanging from one's neck?

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

The mentioned straps attach to the camera via the tripod thread on the bottom of the body. This means that when you are walking, climbing, running or bouncing around, the entire weight of your camera and lens is being carried by that tripod thread. This means severe stress and undue pulling at that tripod thread and possible ripping it clear out of your camera body.
The OpTech straps I mentioned mount to the tripod lugs of the body, exactly where the manufacturers design all the strength into that body just for that purpose. The tripod mount is designed to hold the camera in a horizontal position, or vertical when rotated 90 degrees on a tripod head.

Bamboo Loc: South Carolina

Thank you Shooter, very good points.
Having had a bad experience with those plasitc conectors, I believe I will fabricate an attachment to the original camera strap mounts rather than use the tripod mount system.

krispix Loc: London - UK

Hi,
You need the Black Rapid FastenR-T1 for use with the Manfrotto RC2. I agree that the fixing on the Manfrotto plate looks OK, but it's not designed for this sort of work, so ...
Get the T1 and replace the one on the RC plate. Use the Black Rapid clip to give it that last twist to make sure it's really tight.
The T1 is very expensive for what it is, but what's the value of the gear you're hanging on it?

Peekayoh Loc: UK

I've used a Black Rapid for a long time without issue, so have many other Togs. I've yet to hear of an instance where the tripod mount got ripped out of the camera when using one of these straps.

The BR strap is an excellent piece of kit and does exactly what it says on the tin.

IzzyKap Loc: Rockville, MD

I have been using Black Rapid strap and was very please with it. The only thing that I didn't like was having to disconnect the strap from camera to free up The tripod mount. More recently I came across another tripod mount strap that also has a tripod mount on its outside. This allows leaving the strap mounting hardware to remain while the camera is on the tripod. At the moment I don't recall the brand and am not at home to look it up.

krispix Loc: London - UK

I think what the OP was saying was that he has the Manfrotto RC2 quick release plate which has a 'D' coupling which "looks" adequate for clipping the Black Rapid to, and it probably is. But, to be safe I spent the extra £17 to get the Black Rapid fixing made for the job.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

I have been using the Rapid Strap Cargo for over a year now and have no problems.
http://www.blackrapid.com/product/camera-strap/rs-5/

Most recently I added this plate which allows me to use the strap and the tripod mount witihout having to remove the strap. So far, I really like this feature. You can find out more information about it here:
http://www.customslr.com/products/m-plate-pro
I purchased this at Outdoor Photo Gear, more info on this site here:
http://www.outdoorphotogear.com/

calstanley Loc: Maine

I've used a "Y-strap" for years - the best camera strap I've ever used - comfortable, inexpensive, and . . . no longer available. Basically, it's the same idea as the R-strap or sun sniper. A homemade version is described here -
http://www.lighting-academy.com/index.php?id=sniper_camera_strap&L=1

The Y-strap uses a 3/4" or 1" wide nylon strap with an adjustment for overall length. You wear it diagonally across your chest. A split ring slides along the strap and is hooked to one of the existing eyelets in the body.

I contacted Nikon and was told that there was no problem supporting the camera and whatever lens I chose to use from just one lug on the D200 body. I now shoot with a D300 and often have the 70-200 VR lens attached.

You could make something like this for very little. Look at the DIY link and use a nylon strap in place of the cord that's shown. The ring on the campera body is the same. Personally, I would NOT use the quick detach hook. According to the manufacturer, the original Y-strap was made with a nylon webbing that can be found in shops catering to rock climbers. I don't know about availability of this type of materia.

Hope this helps.
Cal
Windham, ME

Peekayoh Loc: UK

Yes he was but I was responding to MT Shooters comment. I should have made that clear I suppose.

I have used the clip on the Manfrotto plate but the purpose made BR solution is the way to go.

PhotoGator Loc: Florida

I followed your link and came across this DIY flash diffuser. I would like for someone to help me identify the flash gun shown in it.

http://www.lighting-academy.com/index.php?id=no_budget_blitz_diffusor&L=1

IzzyKap Loc: Rockville, MD

This is the sling strap that I've mentioned and have been using

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/843568-REG/Carry_Speed_CS_PRO_CS_PRO_Camera_Sling_System.html

PhotoGator Loc: Florida

Camera Straps review by Mark Wallace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wkqDu-NTYQ&feature=related

The only system that I know that allows to add a tripod plate is the CarrySpeed CS-Pro system. Watch the second video demonstration.

http://www.carryspeed.com/