WTB: Black rapid sports camera strap

[Balaji Loganathan]

Hi All,

Looking for a black rapid sports camera strap for my 600mm

Let me know if you have any sturdy strap for super tele lens

TIA

Warm Regards,
Balaji

[Bharat Varma]

If this is a 600mm F4, it will probably have two support lugs for a strap on the sides.
The Peak Design slide works quite well for this. At a pinch, any decent camera strap will also do.

Just attach both ends of the strap to a lug each, sling the strap across your shoulder (not over the shoulder on the lens side) and adjust it so that most of the weight is taken by the strap while your hand on the tripod foot is only needed for some stability (or to be able to lift the lens quickly to shoot).


Don't use a black rapid with a single bolt connector for a lens this big and heavy. Many lenses have attachment points to the foot that are not designed for hanging the lens upside down. Also, the BR connector is slightly dicey for very heavy lenses, imo.

[Krish Chandran]

If this is a 600mm F4, it will probably have two support lugs for a strap on the sides.
The Peak Design slide works quite well for this. At a pinch, any decent camera strap will also do.

Just attach both ends of the strap to a lug each, sling the strap across your shoulder (not over the shoulder on the lens side) and adjust it so that most of the weight is taken by the strap while your hand on the tripod foot is only needed for some stability (or to be able to lift the lens quickly to shoot).


Don't use a black rapid with a single bolt connector for a lens this big and heavy. Many lenses have attachment points to the foot that are not designed for hanging the lens upside down. Also, the BR connector is slightly dicey for very heavy lenses, imo.

I second that. Adding to what Bharat says - I used a Black Rapid Sport strap with a Nikon 600mm FL ED & Nikon 500mm F4 for a few years. The strap had only one point of attachment on the QR plate of the  lens foot, making it swing about unbalanced. The other (bigger) problem I faced was that when I had the BR strap anchored to the lens foot I could not switch from handholding a lens to a Tripod/monopod quickly. I had to first unscrew the anchor to free up the QR plate - by which time the bird/ animal had moved on. In short, precarious, always swinging on its pivot, prone to knocks especially when walking in confined spaces, and lacks flexibility

The Peak design slide * on the other hand, attaches at two places, with the lens pointing downwards fitting snugly next to your body. Since it does not use the QR plate one can easily and quickly switch from a handheld mode to a tripod/ monopod in seconds even while the strap is attached. More secure, does not swing about so you can move freely in thick bushes or narrow spaces, without knocking the lens and definitely better rated for weight.

* The Peak design slide is easily available in various colours, in many stores. Just be sure to select SLIDE not slide lite  or leash. Those are narrower and lighter duty straps not meant for the heavy lens you intend to use it on.

[Balaji Loganathan]

Thank you so much Bharat & Krish for your advice! Much appreciated..

This is why I love JJMF

Warm Regards,
Balaji