PixelatedImage Blog

The Blackrapid R-straps continue to turn the camera world upside down. Since the give-away I’ve had a ton of traffic through here searching for the R-Strap, looking for reviews, or coming back to tell me they’d bought one and loved it. I gotta tell you it’s a little wierd how much people love them; the loyalty they are engendering is a bit odd given that, well, it’s just a camera strap.

But I still love mine. The more I use them the more I like them. I’m proud to be sponsored by Blackrapid and I can tell you there’s more cool stuff coming down the pipe and they’ve been listening to all the feedback in the hopes that their products will continue to hit the sweet spot. Here’s an example – the buckle/clasp with which you clip the camera to the strap. It’s a good one as it is. I’ve had zero problems with it. But it could have been better and they went back to the drawing board and created a new one that locks. Cool. Companies rarely listen so proactively. But it gets better – Blackrapid will allow you to upgrade your buckle for a penny, plus shipping and handling.

Tewfic, The Travel Photographer, got the one I sent him, and loves it. Jordan Nielsen is convinced too. (there’s another R-Strap review HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.) It’s not rocket science but it is about time.

The one complaint I hear time and time again is about the price, but I think that’s less a legitimate beef and more a reflection of the WalMart mentality. We all want the cheapest goods possible, but then complain when those goods break or our jobs are sold down the river. There’s a real cost to these things, and when we spend thousands of dollars on gear it’s not unreasonable to spend a reasonable amount on a well-built strap to hold and access our gear. I feel the same about bags and anything that protects my gear or that I use every single time I create my images. That they are, or aren’t, too costly, is more likely a reflection on our budget, not the goods.

No real reason for this post, just a shout out to Blackrapid that Tewfic and Jordan reminded me I’ve been wanting to make again. It’s refreshing to meet a company that so genuinely wants to make a difference and do it right.

(And the button with Che on it, that’s mine, so if you’re offended for any reason, mine’s the blame. Not sure why I feel the need to say that but I know the U.S.A. has a strained relationship with Cuba, so, just sayin’.)