A guest post by Valerie Jardin.
There’s never been a better time to be a female photographer! More and more camera gear is designed for women, colors are finally competing with the traditional black camera bags and even camera straps are now designed for us! The Black Rapid RS-W1 strap came out early summer 2010. I must admit that I was a bit leery at first at the thought of having my precious gear hanging from a single point of attachment.
All Black Rapid straps attach to the tripod mount or the lens. Once connected, the camera hangs upside down for quick and easy access. The adjustable bumper system will keep the camera in place while you are walking and allow you to quickly draw it to your eye to shoot.
I have used the strap attached to my camera body with heavy lenses such as the 24-70 mm f2.8 and the 70-200 mm f2.8. The camera stays in place and the weight is evenly distributed on your shoulder to prevent neck pain often caused by traditional camera straps. Since I was a bit concerned about the single point of attachment, I made sure to check often that the connector piece, made of solid stainless steel and screwed to the tripod mount, was secure. It never loosened up on its own, probably due to the rubber compression washer that prevents any movement.
What makes the RS-W1 strap different and designed specifically for women?
Its curved front pad with mesh underside is made to fit the woman’s body shape. Why didn’t anyone think of this before? It is made of Ripstop Nylon and webbing with a girlie touch as it features a cool frilly pattern on the shoulder and front of the strap. It retails for just under $60… Not cheap but it is definitely built to last and, in my opinion, it is worth every penny of it just for the relief it has given my neck! Now, if only it could come in a variety of colors…
Get a price on the Black Rapid RS-W1 at Amazon.
Black Rapid manufactures a variety of other designs, including a double strap as well as a newly released FastenR-T1 tripod mount that I will be writing about shortly.
Connect with Valerie on Facebook or visit her website.
Post from: Digital Photography School
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