NOTE AUG. 2011 - Two years later and I’m not sure where I’d be without these straps.  I’ve been able to try out a few of Black Rapids newer straps – they are amazing.  However, I keep coming back to the RS-7 and the RS DR-1.  Does that mean that the newer straps such as the RS-Sport 2 and the RS DR-2 Slim Double Strap are useless? No way.  They are great straps as well.  But here’s the thing, my straps have become so commonplace and so integrated into my shooting style and life that I don’t ever see myself replacing these Black Rapid straps.  They are amazing and have become like ‘family’ to me.  I’d be lost without them and I’ll probably die wearing them

In Mid 2009 I picked up a Black Rapids RS-7 strap assuming that my life would stay the same.  At the time I wasn’t really aware a camera strap could drastically effect the ease of shooting.  This year about 3 months ago I was able to pick up and try out Black Rapids RS DR-1 double strap system and was equally surprised.  All of Black Rapids straps are designed for ease of use… as they say, “Black Rapids R-strap will change the way you look at camera straps forever.  Built for speed, it’s patent pending design allows the camera to hang upside down from its tripod socket and slide up the strap to shooting position in a split second.  One try, and you’ll never go back!” I’m all about making things easier.  I was eager to run both straps through the ringer and see what came out.  So here we go.

THE GOOD

The Look – Both the RS-7 and the RS DR-1 double strap are pretty decent looking.  To be honestly, simplicity is key here since we aren’t trying to win any camera strap beauty contests.  Both straps are constructed of black ballistic nylon and they look just fine.  The point of a good camera strap is comfort and usage. It’s a good looking strap, but if you are in the designer camera strap market (who is really in that market?!), it will probably look pretty nondescript to you, which I personally think is an asset to all BlackRapid straps.  Let’s move on.

Convenience – I’ve never used a camera strap system that is more convenient that these BlackRapid straps.  You literally just reach down to your side and there are your cameras – ready to go.  That’s the idea.  A few notable things add to the convenience of the entire strap system:

• FasternR System: Basically these are little ‘screws‘ with loops on them that attach to the bottom of your cameras (click here & here).  They come with this securing rubber washer that helps, well… secure the whole unit to the camera (which is a good thing, right?).  I can honestly say that after consciously tightening these down, I’ve never thoughts twice about if they would slip or not.  When I first got the system, I would nervously check all the time to see if they were still tight only to find that they hadn’t loosened a bit*.  It’s obvious that BlackRapid has thought about the device that you want suspending your camera above the concrete – you want to be able to trust it.  I do trust it.

• ConnectR System: This is basically a strong swiveling latch that connects the FasternR’s to the actual BlackRapid straps(click here).  Now come on, it’s just a little latch thingy, right?  Well, BlackRapid put some thought into these as well.  First, the latches are on a swivel so the cameras never get tangled and you never really feel the cameras twisting on the straps.  Secondly, the ConnectR’s that came with all BlackRapid straps have a smooth locking mechanism so that when the latches are rubbing against my clothes there is less likelihood that it will come loose or unlatched.  Also, the ConnectR system allows the camera to slide up the strap rather than taking the whole thing with you.

• Adjustability: Every part of these straps is adjustable.  This means the camera will, once adjusted, sit exactly where you want it and where is natural for you.  One aspect of this that I found extremely handy was that BlackRapid installed ’stops’ (see here) on the sliding straps.  This means that your camera wont beyond certain points you set on the straps, which is nice for controlling camera location and effectively keeping the camera in a set location for quick access.

• MOD systems:  Admittedly, I don’t use many of the MODs that BlackRapid offers(see them here), but I do believe that most photographers will find this helpful.  The only MOD that I use is the BRAD which gives me more stability on the RS-7 strap.  Many people will find this useful and some will not, but we can all agree that options are generally usually a good thing.

Comfort – What do you say here?  Both the RS-7 and the RS DR-1 are incredibly comfortable.  The padding isn’t so thick that it’s clumsy, but rather they are snug to the fit.  With weight on the straps, you can really tell that they are produced to hug the body and stay put (the BRAD helps too).  One thing I personally enjoy is the curvature of the shoulder straps and the thin padding which keeps them away from my neck so they don’t rub and annoy me.  They are just comfortable straps- if they weren’t, I seriously wouldn’t use them.

One small note on comfort, you really need to spend some time adjusting the straps to how they fit you best.  When I first purchased the RS-7 strap, I wasn’t used to the idea of a camera hanging upside down on my hip.  I had to experiment with the most comfortable location for the camera to sit.  Spending the time to do these things (adjust strap height, adjusting the ’stops’, etc) will increase the comfort of your BlackRapid system.

Durability – These aren’t cheaply made straps.  I’ve been using my RS-7 for well over a year now in some very extreme climates and have yet to see a single tear or rip or even a seam start to come apart.  I’m just not really light on my gear and for a strap to show no signs of wear and tear after a year of extreme use is pretty amazing.  Furthermore, all BlackRapid straps are made with ballistic nylon so I doubt they will start showing damage in the near future.  They are tough.

THE NOT-SO-GOOD

I swear I spent a good hour trying to come up with a few things that I don’t like about BlackRapid straps.  At the risk of sounding like a completely biased and non-in-depth reviewer, I could only come up with one thing that slightly annoyed me and is completely subjective… so here it is.  After a year of heavy use with BlackRapid systems, the only thing that bugs me slightly is that I’ve filled up all my tripod mounts with fasteners.  I find myself losing my FastenR’s and being annoyed when they are in the way on my camera bodies while I’m not using the straps.  I see this as nothing more than a personal problem I have and something I might need to seek professional attention for.

CONCLUSION

The BlackRapid RS-7 and the RS DR-1 are mainstays in my camera bag.  If I’m just out on the town I usually carry the RS-7 with a waist bag.  If I’m somewhere I don’t want to take the time (or don’t have the time) to switch cameras or lenses, I’m going with the RS DR-1.  Neither strap feels cumbersome, which is quit an obstacle to overcome for most double strap systems.  All around I can’t recommend BlackRapid straps enough.  I wouldn’t recommend something that I didn’t use… period.

MONEY= WHERE MOUTH IS

Because I love these straps so much, I’m willing to, in conjunction with BlackRapid, give away a Black Rapid RS-7 w/ BRAD with the full expectation that you will love it just as much as I do.  If you are interested in joining this contest, do one of two things.  First, you can re-tweet exactly the following:

RT to win an RS-7 strap w/ BRAD mod from @BlackRapid & @bhirschyphoto!  http://bit.ly/4oLe1S   http://bit.ly/cqAfz4

You can also enter a comment below and be automatically entered into the contest which ends November 16th at midnight CST.

About three months ago I was fortunate enough to get my hands on the smallest of Think Tank’s new Retrospective line – the Retrospective 10.  The Retrospective line is Think Tank’s new shoulder bag line that aims to help photographers “…blend in with the crowd and remain inconspicuous in any situation.”  The Retrospective line further boasts that the Retrospective line “[has the] look and feel of ‘old school’ camera bags infused with ‘new-school’ features in technology…”

As a photographer who lives with the people I photograph, I was eager to review this bag from the viewpoint of “Will it help me look like less intimidating as a photographer?” So let’s get started.

Just the facts

The Retrospective 10 is the smallest of Think Tanks Retrospective bags.

The Retrospective 10’s features are listed below(straight from Think Tank’s catalog):

• Inside Specs:  12″x 9.5″ x6″
• Outside Specs: 13″ x 10.5″ x 7″
• Minimalist outer appearance conceals expensive photo equipment
• Carries a pro size DSLR with zoom lens attached
• Accommodates up to a 70-200 f2.8 lens
• Organizer pocket built into main compartment for pens, note pad, batteries, etc
• Seam sealed rain cover included for protection against the elements
• Soft, adjustable shoulder strap with cushioned non-slip pad
• Hook & Loop “Sound Silencers” on the front flap eliminate noise while opening bag
• Side pockets and side webbing loops carrying for additional accessories
• Clear busines card holder and removable carrying handle

THE GOOD

The Retrospect 10 has a lot going for it.

The Look – First things first, it’s a gorgeous bag.  Both the pinestone and the black models are excellent looking bags – so much so that I’ve found it hard to pry them out of my wife’s hands.  People are surprised to see me pull a camera out of it, and that’s kind of the point.  I’ve taken the black Retrospective 10 to business meetings and then in the same day gone out and used it as my primary camera bag. Both the Pinestone and the Black Poly are versatile enough for me to be comfortable in a business setting as well as sitting in a nomads tent drinking butter tea.  Not having to think about if my bag is appropriate or not is a pretty big relief.

Convenience – There are more than enough places for your gear to go.  Per usual, Think Tank has spent their time actually considering what it’s like to use a camera bag.  I had the bag set up with two main compartments but the added velcro sides allowed for three if you felt you could use it that way.  I’ve actually used the “Sound Silencers” more than I thought in intimate settings and it’s convenient to not be making all kinds of noise.  The huge (relatively) front pocket was perfect for my notebook and iPad and then tossing other things into it that I didn’t have time to store while out shooting.

Size & Packing – I definitely overpacked it the first time I used it.  I found myself trying to make the bag more than it was – but space is space. There’s no doubt that it’s a ’small’ bag – but it’s conveniently built enough to fit a lot of things into it, which can turn into a bit of a logistical challenge.  My first outing with the Retrospective 10 I carried the following gear:

• Nikon D90 w/ battery grip (my smallest body)
• Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8
• Sigma 18-50mm f 2.8
• Nikkor 35mm f 1.8
• Nikon SB28 flash
• Flip HD video camera
• Multitool
• Extra camera battery
• Iphone, sizable notepad, blower, lenspen, pens, pencil

Though hauling around that much gear didn’t feel awkward the bags sweet spot is definitely with less gear that this.  I usually leave the flash and 35mm lens at home and use a D700 rather than the D90.  The Retrospective 10 really shines with smaller amounts of gear.  Furthermore, and iPad fits perfectly in the front pocket! It’s a great bag from travelling light and fast.

Comfort – The Retrospective 10 is the most comfortable shoulder bag that I own – hands down. It hugs the body very very well and never really slides off the shoulder and slings around.  Moving around and being active with this bag is no problem at all.  The strap is very wide and super comfortable as well – I hate thin straps that tear into my shoulder, don’t you?  Using the Retrospective 10 has made my other satchels and shoulder bags that I never thought were uncomfortable feel awkward, which I’m not entirely happy about.

Durability – It’s tough.  I really don’t have any concern about taking this bag anywhere and being pretty rought with it, like I am with all my gear.  The canvas sides provide pretty good protection but it’s not thick enough to go bashing the thing all over the place and expect your gear to be fine (who does that, anyways?!)

Getting it stolen – It doesn’t look like a camera bag – this is a huge selling point for me.  Where I live having a camera bag that looks like a camera bag screams “Rich foreigner tourist!  Come steal my stuff.”  Because I’m not rich, I like to avoid having my stuff stolen.  Like I mentioned earlier, people are usually surprised to find out its a camera bag.

THE NOT-SO-GOOD

There are only a handful of things on the Retrospective 10 that I would consider to be slightly …not-so-good.

“Eats my gear” – First, the canvas doesn’t provide much shape/form to the Retrospective 10.  The bag tends to ’swallow’ my gear.  Even with a light load I noticed that the bag would cinch around my camera body and my 70-200, making it a bit more hassle to get out than I’m used to.  Rearranging gear seemed to alleviate the problem but not entirely.

Too Many Options - There are a serious amount of pockets and storage for this small of a bag. Why is that a not-so-good thing?  Here’s why. You look into the bag and think to yourself “That’s an excellent place for a flash!” and so you shove a flash in, which in turn reduces the space in another part of the bag – duh.  However, having that many pockets makes idiots like me want to load them full of stuff.  This is probably one of the better ‘problems’ to have with a bag.  That being said, for my personal preference I could have used less dedicated pockets and nooks and crannies – just space.  Like I mentioned earlier I found myself using the big front pocket more than anything else.  For my use, It just feels like there is a lot of extra stuff packed into the Retrospective 10 – some will find it extremely useful and others, like me, will kinda wish it wasn’t there.  This is an easy problem to solve though – buy the Retrospective 20 or 30.

DOES IT HELP?

On to the real reason for reviewing this bag;  Is it less intimidating?

Let me start by saying if you are looking for something that’s going to allow you to be completely covert, inconspicuous, and avoid your subject(s), this bag isn’t it – no bag will do that for you.  As good as the Retrospective 10 is for taking some of the edge off, it’s no crutch for those wanting to simply avoid cultural encounters and not respectfully engage people photographically.

Now that that’s out of the way – I’ve noticed that the Retrospective 10 style doestake a few bricks out of the cultural walls that can be put up where I live.  The Retrospect 10 allows me to approach people without them immediately associating me with all the bad culturally insensitive photographers they have trampled through this area in the past.  A bag that helps me approach people on a human level first without the stigma of all the photographic gear is a good thing.  However, it’s not a magic bullet and it’s no substitute for being culturally respectful and sensitive.

On a further note, I have been able to use this bag while in America and purposefully noticed some of the same benefits.  For the sake of reading, please feel free to insert any culture into the scenarios I presented above since annoying photographers exist everywhere, right?

CONCLUSION

In short, the Retrospective 10 is an excellent bag for what it is – a small bag.  If you are wanting to use more gear, the bag will be too small and you will be frustrated.  However, if you are looking for a very comfortable bag that you can carry a small amount of gear I wouldn’t hesitate to add this bag to your gear list.  The pros highly outweigh the cons for me, which is apparent since I use the bag daily.

As far as what Think Tank made it for – a bag that helps you blend into the crowd – the Retrospective 10 is a something to consider.  I’ve found it very useful for not exacerbating the stigma of annoying and rude photographers in cultural settings – or in any setting.  If you are looking for a bag that allows you to easily throw the camera in with a few extra lenses among other things, the Retrospective 10 is an excellent option.

**Think Tank was generous enough to offer us a code to get free gear w/ Think Tank product purchases.  Click here for more details or use the code AP-403 at checkout.

I’m surprised at how much I’ve done.  How often do you look back?

In the last six months:

• I have worked more as a web designer than I really want to – a trend that continues.
• I have worked on staff for an NGO doing earthquake relief, photography, and design
• I have had several very close friends die
• I have had way more conversations with my drunk dry cleaner than I wanted
• I have broken one Chinese-made bed.
• I have consistently been 4 times the size of an average Chinese dude.
• I have witnessed the most annoying sandstorms on earth – and eaten sand.
• I have frozen my butt of – more than once.  I am butt-less.
• I have eaten more noodles than…you.
• I have been married to my wife for three freak’n awesome years
• I have been to Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Thailand, and Narnia
• I have travelled by cab, boat, plane, ferry, train, motorcycle, subway, and scooter
• I have taken two extended trips into remote Tibetan areas
• I have shot three ethnic weddings in less than a month
• I have spoken 3 languages that are no my own
• I have been above 16,000 feet
• I have discovered that Russians like to be naked at beaches in Thailand
• I have broken or bruised at least one rib and bleed more than desired
• I have been amazed at how fast nomads can learn photography
• I have taken close to 15,000 frames
• I have spent significant time in temples, mosques, and monasteries – and KFC
• I have photographed 12 individual ethnic groups and distinct cultures
• I have had serious altitude sickness
• I have tried unsuccessfully to purchase, order, or recreate a white seamless setup on the plateau
• I have had to cancel two Lumen Dei tours
• I have done a lot more than I thought

Alot can happen in six months.  Check out my last 6 months in black and white after the break