Peak Design or Black Rapid?

[vicfei]

[No message]

 

[slidewilson]

Assuming you're asking about straps?

 

[vicfei]

Getting a Z7 with the 24-70 4. Which shoulder strap would you recommend - Peak Design or Black Rapid, looking at comfort and ease of installation?

Thanks,

Vic

 

[j_photo]

I'm happy with my Black Rapid. The clasp is much, much stronger and more secure than it used to be years ago. That said, there is still the risk of the strap unscrewing from wherever it is screwed into. It's happened to me once in the past ten-plus years. The backup clip I also use prevented the camera from falling.

 

[Richard D Jacobs]

I have both The Peak is very convenient, easy to remove and reattach.

The Black Rapid seemed more secure.

You should order both and return the one you don’t like or keep both.

Richard

 

[Bear Dale]

Only have experience with a BR and D850 + 200-500mm and it changed my whole experience for the better.

 

[Rich Rosen]

I've both. I have the older BR Sport with a Nikon logo on it and I just purchased the PD Slide Lite for my Z 6. The BR has never caused me a problem, because I listened to several users who said that the camera fell from the attachment point or the lug holding the strap to the camera unscrewed from the tripod socket, or etc. In addition to the strap, I bought a separate accessory, the tether, which gave me additional protection if the main contact point failed. I just recently bought the Slide light, which is less bulky than the BR, and uses two contact points to hold the camera dividing the load. Still too early to pass judgement on the PD, but several observations: 1. The PD strap can be configured 3 ways, while the BR can not. I can use PD as a neck strap, shoulder strap or Cross body strap. The BR STRAP is limited to one type of carry; the cross body. 2. The PD is easier to attach and detach from the camera, than the BR. 3. The BR is longer than the PD so when you are carrying it cross body, the camera can hang very low. When you are walking it has a tendency of hitting your body. With the Slide Lite, the hang is not as low, but that also has problems; it tends to ride just above your hip, or in the small of your back... not always comfortable. However adjusting the length of the strap is another plus of the PD, as its adjustment mechanisms are easier to change.

I wasn't unhappy with my BR for several years. As they say, ignorance is bliss, because concerns about the BR strap failing didn't come into play for several years. But once it did, I suddenly became wary of using it. I want to emphasize that it never failed me, although on a couple occasions, I found the lug to be loose or carabineer to be unscrewed, but not off the lug. The Slide Lite is a simple strap, whose comfort, may not be as good as the BR. The one advantage of the BR is that it has a nice shoulder pad, that allowed me to carry my heaviest cameras all day without issue. The Slide light lacks that pad, so it remains to be seen if it will be as comfortable. The bigger Slide has such a pad, so that may be OK.

--
Rich Rosen
https://www.flickr.com/photos/richardrosenphotography

 

[hikerdoc]

Peak Design. The reasons in my experience are security and convenience. Particularly with L bracket use the PD can be configured several different ways. Also much easier to use with tripod than years ago experience with BR.

I did have BR carabiner failure years back, D700 with 24-70 fell off. (Carabiner latch rather than loosened connector). I know it has been revised several times since and security tethers are now offered as well, but one failure and dislike of the swinging pendulum effect was enough for me. Fortunately the days of a half dozen active failure threads are long past and it is now more an issue of personal preference.

 

[jthomas39]

The Peak Design Slide Lite works great for me. I use it as a sling, cross-body. One anchor on the left side triangle "d-ring", and the other on a base plate. Then the camera hangs lens side down. And the camera grip is outward, easy to grab. This smaller version of the Slide carries the lighter weight Z6 with no problem. I've never missed having a pad when using it as a sling -- the strap is just the right width to not be annoyingly wide yet still carry the camera well.

I can quickly shorten the strap if I carry it in front. That way, I can have a day pack, trekking poles, and the camera is out of the way. I couldn't use a neck strap, the camera just bounced around way too much when trail walking. The sling method keeps it much more controlled.

On shorter walks, the camera hangs around belt height on my hip. Or I can lengthen the strap some more and carry it behind me.

 

[D Lynch]

Peak Design. The reasons in my experience are security and convenience. Particularly with L bracket use the PD can be configured several different ways. Also much easier to use with tripod than years ago experience with BR.

I did have BR carabiner failure years back, D700 with 24-70 fell off. (Carabiner latch rather than loosened connector). I know it has been revised several times since and security tethers are now offered as well, but one failure and dislike of the swinging pendulum effect was enough for me. Fortunately the days of a half dozen active failure threads are long past and it is now more an issue of personal preference.

What a painful experience!

I used a BR Curve for a couple of years. My concern was the carabiner. Specifically there was a fragile needle joining the carabiner and the strap connector. It was an early curve; they are better now.

BR customer service was excellent. They replaced my Curve with a better one, that looks stronger.

 

[Big Bad D]

I have not used a Black Rapid strap so cannot offer a comparison, but a happy Peak Design Slide Lite user.

 

[vicfei]

Thanks for all the answers - much appreciated.

2 questions re: the Peak Design -

1. Can it be attached easily to the triangles on the side of the Z7?

2. Would you recommend the Slide or the Slide Lite for the Z7?

Thanks!

Vic

 

[jthomas39]

Thanks for all the answers - much appreciated.

2 questions re: the Peak Design -

1. Can it be attached easily to the triangles on the side of the Z7?

2. Would you recommend the Slide or the Slide Lite for the Z7?

Thanks!

Vic

The loop with the red connector button is easy to mount onto the triangle. Push the end through, then over the red connector end, and pull it tight. I occasionally move it to a different connection point during a session, and that's fast and easy. The loop cord itself is strong and has a black woven cover over a white core, so it's easy to see if it's getting worn. No wear at all so far.

The red button snaps into the end of the strap with a sharp click, very nice. Push the release spring and then you can slide it out. Secure.

The Slide Light supports the weight of my Z6 and 24-70 sized lenses very easily on my shoulder. It definitely is more comfortable as a sling, instead of around my neck. If I had one of the large and heavier S lenses, I'd consider the full size Slide.

I carried the Z6 & 24-70 F4 on a 4 hour hike, and it was fine.

Their Slide Lite video covers all the options.

PD Cuff wrist strap

I had this for my previous, much smaller camera. It still works with the Z6, connected on the hand grip side, looped around my wrist, and the camera hanging down.

But the Z6 + lens is a little too heavy for a longer session. I use it occasionally if I don't want to have a strap. I won't drop the camera with this!

I don't think I would buy it just for a Z camera. Perhaps with a Z50, though!

 

[jjdp]

I got a Black Rapid Sport Breathe on impulse. BH Deal Zone. Returned it and got an Optech Utility XL. Cheaper. And happier. (Yes, it attaches very easily to the camera's little triangles.)

 

[DaveA61]

I have used both and my preference is BlackRapid, mainly because I found flipping the PD strap between "locked" and slide sides more cumbersome. The recent acquisition of a PD tripod made me reconsider this choice, but I was soon back to BR.

 

[JimResnikoff]

I've been happy with the Black Rapid.. I use a fusion plate with a D ring so I never have to screw / unscrew to get the strap off. The Arca plate has a D ring that folds flat for tripod use. I heard too many issues with the PD anchor points failing when I was in the market for a strap.

Like many others I also have a backup attachment.

Fusion Plates

Fusion Plates allow the photographer to move from the tripod to a carry strap without the hassle of disconnecting and connecting hardware to their camera. Compatible with Arca-Swiss style or Manfrotto Rc2/200pl style tripods.

fpgear.com

 

[mattspace]

Peak Design slides around on your body with the camera. Blackrapid stays in place on your body, and camera slides on the strap.

Do you wear clothes while shooting that will catch / wear from the strap sliding back and forth across your shoulder?

Do you want to be able to shoot while wearing a backpack whose straps might overlap on the shoulder?

 

[nguyenhm16]

I like my Peak Design Slide Lite. I use it with the Smallrig L bracket, which has a place on the bottom to attach an anchor without interfering with a ballhead’s clamp.

Never felt like I could trust the screw in mount of something like the BR without using Loctite or the like.

Instead I would also look into something like the RRS L bracket which has a QD socket that lets you the QD version of the BR sling, or use one of the many rifle slings on the market like the Magpul MS4.