I’ve finally picked up a replacement strap for the Optech. Many photography enthusiasts will be familiar with the BlackRapid series. Basically, rather than a strap that goes around the neck and gives you strain right about there when you’re lugging around a few kilograms of glass, metal and plastic, the BlackRapid straps are designed for you to sling your camera around your shoulder, with the camera resting at your hip.
The company manufactures a range of straps, and also isn’t the only company producing straps of this broad design. The local shop I made the order with carried also the Sun Sniper series, which produces similar straps with its own innovative design features. But reading the couple of horror stories on Amazon of its swivel coming loose and sending the owner’s camera and lens crashing onto pavement were scary. Moreover, Sun Sniper straps don’t have the BlackRapid stoppers that I felt would be real helpful for limiting the amount of strap movement around my shoulder.
The BlackRapid product arrived in a rectangular box, with the strap itself wrapped with an elastic band and accompanied by an illustrated instruction leaflet. Though the manufacturing company is based – I think – in Seattle, the product itself was made in Taiwan according to the box sticker. The strap on the overall looks quite well-made. Photos and comments follow:
I’m looking forward to your future comments and observations. I’ll be in the market for something similar within the next couple months or so.
Check this link out, bud:
http://www.reddotphoto.com.sg/forums/showthread.php/1380-*REVIEW*-Blackrapid-RS4-RS7-Sun-Sniper-quot-The-One-quot-quot-Steel-quot
It’s a pretty visual comparison between two BlackRapid and one Sun Sniper straps. Really helped in my making the decision on which to pick up the other day.=)