For a long time, I have found the traditional camera strap to be both a metaphoric and a literal pain in the neck.
Hanging from the neck, especially with a pro-sized body and a large, heavy, F2.8 chunk of a lens on the front, the camera becomes obtrusive and can cause severe neck pain.
Slung cross-ways across the body, the camera is long longer easily available, meaning shots can be missed while struggling to get the strap back over the neck.
Over one shoulder, the camera becomes a lot more easily accessible, both to yourself, but unfortunately also anyone looking to make a quick snatch and run with your valuable kit. Even without the danger of the camera being snatched, leaving it hung over just the one shoulder runs the risk of it slipping and hitting the pavement with that stomach wrenching crack we all dread.
Another problem I’ve encountered is that while shooting vertically the strap can be prone to falling across the viewfinder, again losing what could be a crucial half-second of reaction time.
So what is the solution? Until recently, its been a case of chopping and changing between the three positions mentioned above or forgoing the strap altogether.
Another solution is one based on Carbine sling as used in the past by the U.S. Cavalry. Instead of the strap attaching to the standard lugs either side of the camera, a bolt fastens into the tripod socket on the underside of the camera, which in turn is connected via a carabiner style clip to a strap that is worn diagonally across the body. The real magic is that the carabiner style clip is free to slide up and down the strap, giving fast access to the camera, but leaves the camera hanging snuggly at your side when not in use.
This effectively addresses all four problems highlighted above; no longer do you have several kilos hanging from your neck for hours at a time, the camera is secure but also easily accessible at a moments notice. Also, when the camera is held vertically the strap now hangs down past the underside of the camera.
There are a few manufacturers, quite often squabbling between them as to who’s idea it was, although as mentioned above, it is simply a solution from elsewhere that has been re-purposed to help us photographers. Foremost amongst these is Black Rapid and their various R-Straps. Also in the camera sling arena is the Sun-Sniper made by the people at California Sunbounce. While Black Rapid offer a wider selection of straps; thin, thick, with accessories pocket or without, there was one feature offered by the Sun-Sniper team that the R-Straps lacked, and for me was enough to seal the deal in Sun-Sniper’s favor.
This is not so much a review of the Sun-Sniper Steel camera strap, but much more of a review of carbine sling camera straps in general.
The Sun-Sniper steel, while looking very much the same as the regular Sun-Sniper, has the added feature of a steel cable running through the center. As somebody who travels, often to places where bag and camera strap slashing an theft is not all that uncommon, the extra security gives a little added peace of mind. It is not the be all and end all of security, it wont protect you in a mugging, so awareness and common sense are still a must while carrying expensive equipment in less than savory locations. The Sun-Sniper Steel also comes with a S500/€400 insurance policy just in case somebody does manage to cut through the cable and make off with your stuff. $500 dollars will barely scratch the surface of the cost to replace your D3 (or even my D300s) and attached glass, but at least the manufacturers are putting their money where their mouth is. Anyway, your camera gear is insured. Isn’t it?
In use, I find the strap to be very comfortable, the camera plus vertical grip with my standard 17-55 2.8 lens attached is well balanced and hangs snuggly against my hip. With the 70-200 2.8 attached to the lens tripod collar it is still well balanced. Even with the tripod collar I still prefer to keep the strap attached to the body for a few reasons. Firstly, I can change lenses without having to swap the strap between them, secondly it allows me to still use as tripod without removing the strap (see annoyances below), and thirdly I just prefer the feel of it that way. This way the longer lens hangs vertically instead of horizontally, nestled gently into my bum where there is a good amount of additional padding, while still leaving the body within easy reach. The Sun-Sniper range also incorporates a built-in shock absorber and padded shoulder strap that help absorb the weight and general jiggle of the camera while on the move.
The strap is also very fast, it feels at times like being a cowboy on the draw shooting from the hip. Even wearing two straps doubled across the chest bandoleer style with a camera on each side is fast and comfortable, although one sstrap running under the other may feel a little constrictive to some. For more comfortable duel camera use, Black Rapid also produce a Double Strap, the two slings hanging vertically rather that across the chest. They also make the CoupleR which can make wearing two single straps (R-Strap or Sun-Sniper) more comfortable.
On first learning of the carbine style straps, and for a little while after I started using one, I was very wary of how secure it was. Was it going to give out under the weight, dropping the camera as I run for a train? Well so far, so good. Obviously you can never say never, and I generally rest my hand on the camera as it hangs at my side, but then I would be doing this with a traditional strap.
Unfortunately, neither the Sun-Sniper Steel nor the Carbine Sling style straps in general are without fault.
While the thick padding on the shoulder strap makes for comfortable weight distribution, the sheer size of it can make it hard to pack into a camera bag. I often remove the strap while the camera is packed away. I would prefer to be able to leave the strap attached. The padding is removable though, so this is something I shall look into modifying to fit my own uses.
Unlike some of the R-Strap range, the Sun-Snipers do not feature any accessory pockets. Some may find this an advantage as it cuts down a little on the bulk mentioned above. Personally, I simply added a small memory card pocket co-opted from an old LowePro strap.
One problem I have myself encountered, and seems to be fairly common amongst other users of this style of strap, is the question of tripod use. As the strap is attached via the tripod mount, it has to be removed every time you wish to use a tripod. For frequent tripod users like myself, the constant removal and replacement of the strap negates both its own speed of use and that of my quick release plates. I have risked attaching my strap to the D-ring on the underside of my Manfrotto RC2 QR plates, but I am not entirely confident that this a safe way to work. Fortunately, for myself and other users of the Manfrotto RC2 plate, a solution is in the works. After announcing them nine months ago, Black Rapid is in final testing of a replacement bolt and D-ring for the RC2 plate that should have the strength to safely hold the weight of the camera without becoming an impediment when it comes time to mount the camera on a tripod.
Finally, apart from the one caveat regarding using a carbine style strap with a tripod, I think that this new breed is worlds above the traditional strap that I find it hard to imagine ever going back. Once the improved bolt and d-ring from Black Rapid (or anyone else able to get it to market) is available, I really can’t see any reason not to switch. Yes, these straps are probably a good bit more expensive than the norm, but considering the thousands we spend on camera gear, it really is a small price to pay for the combined benefits of speed and security, never mind the money saved in chiropractors bills for that aching neck.
I wouldn’t like to recommend either the R-Strap or Sun-Sniper over the other. For me, the Sun-Sniper Steel had the feature that was important for my work, others may find one of the R-Straps more suitable. Either way, they are both a rare and significant improvement in the world of camera straps.