Looks like I am going to be getting the 100-400L II a lot sooner than I expected.

[DanoPhoto]

Hi Pat, how long have you used the duo-clamp on the BR? I have a 1" Kirk screw-type clamp on mine (Neuro set-up) but this interest me. is the safety feature the additional piece on the lever?

[conropl]

I think I have had it since spring. Never looked back.

"Safety feature" - Yes... there is a small slider on the end of the lever that you have to slide and hold to move the lever open, and it is tight enough and hard enough it will not actuate accidently. Opposite the lever is an adjustment nob that I adjust tight enough so when the lever is actuated the nob is to tight to be able move. The point is it can not loosen up in use. I am not the least bit worried about it accidently coming loose.

The only other thing to worry about is the BR strap carabiner threaded lock coming loose (it has happened)... so I tighten it down and wrap it with electrical tape so it does not loosen. After all, the carabiner never has to open again.

[DavidWare]

Got any pictures of your setup?

[jamsus]

Handheld at 1/15 a second

[conropl]

Got any pictures of your setup?

I'll put some together today.

[conropl]

If all you're doing is shooting, and you're not sharing a camera, then I imagine the BlackRapid strap is wonderful. While I liked the initial feel of getting the weight off my neck, but, after a week or two it was taken off... either the strap was in the way, or it put the camera/lens dangling in the way, far, far too often.

We often share a camera, and we found that the strap made that extra annoying. Shooting without the strap in use is extra annoying too, as it's not as easily held up and out of the way as the neck strap. It's also annoying if you're doing anything non-photo related. The camera hangs lower, and swings around, when not in use, which means we need to be extra careful when bending or squatting down. ie: to tie a shoe, going to pet one of our dogs, giving them a treat, or picking up after them. We need to take the camera off and find somewhere for it to sit temporarily when helping to move anything.

If you use a back pack a lot, I thought this post (reply #15) had a nice DYI solution to get the weight off your neck and still use the neck strap when you want:

http://community.the-digital-picture...ight=carabiner

Pat

[conropl]

Got any pictures of your setup?

BR Strap attached to Kirk L-Bracket:


BR attached to Lens mount (see the electrical tape around the carabiner to keep the threaded lock from working its way loose and opening).


Quick Release clamp and BR removed


Neck strap attached


Neck strap removed (these plastic clips worry me, but I have been using them for years now and have never had an issue).

[conropl]

And this is the two straps attached:

[peety3]

If all you're doing is shooting, and you're not sharing a camera, then I imagine the BlackRapid strap is wonderful. While I liked the initial feel of getting the weight off my neck, but, after a week or two it was taken off... either the strap was in the way, or it put the camera/lens dangling in the way, far, far too often.

We often share a camera, and we found that the strap made that extra annoying. Shooting without the strap in use is extra annoying too, as it's not as easily held up and out of the way as the neck strap. It's also annoying if you're doing anything non-photo related. The camera hangs lower, and swings around, when not in use, which means we need to be extra careful when bending or squatting down. ie: to tie a shoe, going to pet one of our dogs, giving them a treat, or picking up after them. We need to take the camera off and find somewhere for it to sit temporarily when helping to move anything.

We took an approach similar to Pat 'conropl'. We went with the Really Right Stuff B2-FABN clamps, and simply loc-tited the BR fittings into our B2-FABN clamps (four so far, two more that I need to do). My wife and I each have a single BR strap and a 'Double', so being able to leave a clamp on the end of each strap means we never forget. BR also sells a black plastic "locker" that fits over the BR carabiner and keeps the screw gate closed. It's not as cheap as electrical tape, but also not as cheap looking. The screw clamp of the B2-FABN isn't as quick as the lever-lock that Pat suggests, but it's a cleaner finished product by only having one knob. For the most part, we can leave the clamp just loose enough to slide onto the camera, and only have to open it wider if it's going on a lens plate with safety screws.