[mannesty]

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I'm looking at replacing my kit strap with something a bit longer.

I know many here like the Optech Pro strap and I'll consider it, but I've been looking at the Black Rapid range, specifically the RS-7 strap.

Has anybody here used the combination as per the topic title?

I have Manfrotto 200PL-14 RC2 QR plates fitted to all my cameras and lenses that have a tripod foot. The standard Black Rapid FastenR-3 that the strap is supplied with means that you can't have the QR plate and the strap fitted to the camera at the same time.

As I understand it, the FastenR-T1 replaces the bolt and D-Ring used to mount the QR plate to the camera/lens.

I'd like to hear from anybody who has used this system and any positive/negative comments you might have.

If anybody knows, and/or has experience, of other strap systems that allow the use of the strap and a Manfrotto RC2 QR plate on the camera together, I'd like to hear from you.

[blackcloudbrew]

I have two BR straps - RS-4's I believe. I love these straps and use them a great deal of the time. I also have Manfrotto tripods and while I don't use them as much. I have at times clipped my BR strap to the d-ring on the Manfrotto foot. Recently I noticed that my K-5 + grip + flash + DA* 16-50 lens was causing one of the standard Manfrotto D-rings to deform a bit. So...I get why BR has come out with their R-T1 solution for the tripod foot. Generally it's so fast to take the foot off and screw in the strap that it's not really a problem for me. But my recent experience says that I may need to get a R-T1 connector from BR going forward.

My advice is get one of the BR-7 straps and see how you like it. For me, when I'm out on a shoot or hiking with my camera, there is no better system. I've even backpacked with my K20d hung on a BR strap under my back pack straps. It's just a brilliant system.

[GibbyTheMole]

I have two of these, one for each camera body:

Quick Camera Sling Strap for 60D 600D 5D D700 D7000 D90 A77 A55 Rapid | eBay

A fraction of the price of the Black Rapid, and just as good. Better, actually.. because you can have the tripod quick release plate mounted at the same time as the strap lug.

Cheers,
Bobbo :-)

[mannesty]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Bobbo, do you think that the offset fixing bracket might cause sideways strain on the tripod mount of the body/battery grip, or the fixing screw itself ?

I haven't weighed the combo but typically I'd use a K20D or K5 + grip + DA*50-135mm + AF540FGZ including all the batteries must weigh a fair bit.

[Arpe]

I have exactly that - the RS-7 with the QR plate, and the BR thingy in it instead of the standard Manfrotto one. No problems. The only slight slight glitch is when attaching the strap, the little "handle" on the FastenR-T1 doesn't stay upright so two hands are sometimes required to attach the strap. Other than that it's business as usual.

The BR FastenR-T1 was a breeze to put into the Qr plate too.

[mannesty]

Just to conclude this thread, I went for a Black Rapid RS-5 Strap and FastenR-T1 for the QR plate.

I couldn't decide whether to buy a RS-4 or a RS-5. In the end, my dealer had 5's in stock, and no 4's. My decision was therefore made for me.

I also couldn't convince myself that hanging around £2K's worth of camera gear from a much cheaper Chinese strap was a good idea.

Thanks for all the replies.