...or better put...R-Strap Revised.
I made mention in the earlier Thread on the R-Strap that I wanted to devise a method by which I could use the Black Rapid R-Strap RS-2 with an Arca Swiss system. Why? All of my camera bodies wear a bidirectional Markins PG-50 Arca Swiss plate, and all the longer lenses where one brand or another Arca Swiss lens plate.
The mounting system for the R-Strap consists of a a spring loaded snap clasp, attached to a swivel D-Ring, that slides on the web shoulder strap. The clasp hooks onto a right angle fixture through a hole on one leg of the angle, and the other leg has a 1/4 20 threaded stud that screws into a tripod socket. A thumb wheel is included on the threaded stud to lock it down.
Enter Problem number one.. Four of the six Arca Swiss plates on my lenses don't have a threaded tripod socket into which one might install the R-Strap clasp system.. I would have to remove the plate in order to install the R-
strap directly to the tripod food...
The Markins PG-50 body plates have threaded tripod sockets, but threading the stud in and out of the bodies and lenses would prove frustrating for sure.
Next concern was that after reading of a few instances of the clasp opening and lens/body combination's crashing to the ground, I wasn't feeling overly comfortable with the whole thing.
Now you could just thread the clasp system into an arca swill QR clamp, but if you look closely, you can count at least three potential failure points and since I intend to carry a 300/2.8 on either a D300+Grip or a D2X, I need to be sure things are secure.
I purchased a Kirk QRC-1 quick release clamp for this project. You could use any arca swill clamp, and for the tests I did prior to modifying the setup I was using a Markins clamp. The benefit I see in the Kirk clamp are that it is smaller and lighter. You don't need a bubble level in this and many larger clamps have them. The primary reason I chose it is because the lock knob is extremely low provile and doesn't catch on my sleeve or my jacket which was a problem with the longer, more extended standard size clamp knobs. (RRS makes a nice small clamp as well, but it costs more than the Kirk, and has a tabbed locking system on the bottom that would need to be contended with)
I disassembled the clasp from the strap and using a dremel tool with a cut-off wheel, I cut the swivel spring loaded clasp off the sliding D-ring. With the D-ring off the strap, I threaded a new 1/4 20 X 1/2" stainless bolt through the hole in the sliding D-ring where the clasp was mounted, and screwed the bolt into the Kirk clamp after a dab of Loctite Blue was applied.
View attachment 276788
I tightened it down with a wrench making sure the D-ring was perpendicular to the clamping arms on the clamp so the body/lens would hang properly oriented. At this point I pondered the possibility of leaving a bit of play in the screw so it would swivel on the D-Ring, but a secure connection was most important and a test shoot with this setup indicated the swivel definitely wasn't needed.
I also made sure that the QR locking knob was hanging on the strap so that it is on the outside when it is hanging on my side for two reasons..as noted above, I didn't want to have it poking me in the side and when I drop my hand to my side the QR knob falls right in my fingers making it easy and second nature to give the knob an occasional twist to make cetain it is tight.
Once I mounted it on the QR plate on my 70-200 I realized another benefit of using a QR clamp..I could position the clamp fore or aft to balance how the body/lens hung. With out this, you are subject to the balance rendered by the fixed location of the threaded tripod socket, if there is one.
The bidirectional nature of the body plates I use make it easy to position the clamp on the body. If you use an L-bracket, where the dovetail rails run only in the other direction, this setup might not work as well for you. Or, you might try leaving the bolt a bit loss so you have the swivel action on the D-ring.
I readjusted the length of the R-strap because with more than 2" of spring loaded clasp removed the body was sitting too high. I still can't figure out why Black Rapid includes a plastic quick release under the velcro strap assembly..It makes no sense to me.
So here is how the system looks and hangs when worn.. Thanks to my wife for interrupting a show she was watching to model for me...She refused to change out of her pajama's.. The tethers hanging from the D2X strap mounts are from the Optech Straps I use on everything. Once I have used this setup for a while, I'll see if these are needed.
My wife is about ten inches shorter than me, so it sits a bit higher on me..
View attachment 276789
Operation is perfect! I have access to a powder coating oven and may PC the head of the stainless bolt. A keen eye may notice that the images above include a D2X and in the last image a D3!! All were shot with a D300...sorry I am not a product photog.. I managed to borrow a D3 for the weekend to try to decide whether to get another D300 or a D700.. No decisions made yet.
I made mention in the earlier Thread on the R-Strap that I wanted to devise a method by which I could use the Black Rapid R-Strap RS-2 with an Arca Swiss system. Why? All of my camera bodies wear a bidirectional Markins PG-50 Arca Swiss plate, and all the longer lenses where one brand or another Arca Swiss lens plate.
The mounting system for the R-Strap consists of a a spring loaded snap clasp, attached to a swivel D-Ring, that slides on the web shoulder strap. The clasp hooks onto a right angle fixture through a hole on one leg of the angle, and the other leg has a 1/4 20 threaded stud that screws into a tripod socket. A thumb wheel is included on the threaded stud to lock it down.
Enter Problem number one.. Four of the six Arca Swiss plates on my lenses don't have a threaded tripod socket into which one might install the R-Strap clasp system.. I would have to remove the plate in order to install the R-
strap directly to the tripod food...
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
The Markins PG-50 body plates have threaded tripod sockets, but threading the stud in and out of the bodies and lenses would prove frustrating for sure.
Next concern was that after reading of a few instances of the clasp opening and lens/body combination's crashing to the ground, I wasn't feeling overly comfortable with the whole thing.
Now you could just thread the clasp system into an arca swill QR clamp, but if you look closely, you can count at least three potential failure points and since I intend to carry a 300/2.8 on either a D300+Grip or a D2X, I need to be sure things are secure.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
I purchased a Kirk QRC-1 quick release clamp for this project. You could use any arca swill clamp, and for the tests I did prior to modifying the setup I was using a Markins clamp. The benefit I see in the Kirk clamp are that it is smaller and lighter. You don't need a bubble level in this and many larger clamps have them. The primary reason I chose it is because the lock knob is extremely low provile and doesn't catch on my sleeve or my jacket which was a problem with the longer, more extended standard size clamp knobs. (RRS makes a nice small clamp as well, but it costs more than the Kirk, and has a tabbed locking system on the bottom that would need to be contended with)
I disassembled the clasp from the strap and using a dremel tool with a cut-off wheel, I cut the swivel spring loaded clasp off the sliding D-ring. With the D-ring off the strap, I threaded a new 1/4 20 X 1/2" stainless bolt through the hole in the sliding D-ring where the clasp was mounted, and screwed the bolt into the Kirk clamp after a dab of Loctite Blue was applied.
View attachment 276788
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
I tightened it down with a wrench making sure the D-ring was perpendicular to the clamping arms on the clamp so the body/lens would hang properly oriented. At this point I pondered the possibility of leaving a bit of play in the screw so it would swivel on the D-Ring, but a secure connection was most important and a test shoot with this setup indicated the swivel definitely wasn't needed.
I also made sure that the QR locking knob was hanging on the strap so that it is on the outside when it is hanging on my side for two reasons..as noted above, I didn't want to have it poking me in the side and when I drop my hand to my side the QR knob falls right in my fingers making it easy and second nature to give the knob an occasional twist to make cetain it is tight.
Once I mounted it on the QR plate on my 70-200 I realized another benefit of using a QR clamp..I could position the clamp fore or aft to balance how the body/lens hung. With out this, you are subject to the balance rendered by the fixed location of the threaded tripod socket, if there is one.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
The bidirectional nature of the body plates I use make it easy to position the clamp on the body. If you use an L-bracket, where the dovetail rails run only in the other direction, this setup might not work as well for you. Or, you might try leaving the bolt a bit loss so you have the swivel action on the D-ring.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
I readjusted the length of the R-strap because with more than 2" of spring loaded clasp removed the body was sitting too high. I still can't figure out why Black Rapid includes a plastic quick release under the velcro strap assembly..It makes no sense to me.
So here is how the system looks and hangs when worn.. Thanks to my wife for interrupting a show she was watching to model for me...She refused to change out of her pajama's..
The tethers hanging from the D2X strap mounts are from the Optech Straps I use on everything. Once I have used this setup for a while, I'll see if these are needed.My wife is about ten inches shorter than me, so it sits a bit higher on me..
View attachment 276789
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Operation is perfect! I have access to a powder coating oven and may PC the head of the stainless bolt. A keen eye may notice that the images above include a D2X and in the last image a D3!! All were shot with a D300...sorry I am not a product photog.. I managed to borrow a D3 for the weekend to try to decide whether to get another D300 or a D700.. No decisions made yet.
