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Photokina Hands On: BlackRapid Curve Camera Strap

Jim Fisher
 & Jim Fisher Principal Writer, Cameras

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COLOGNE—My first words of advice to new D-SLR owners is to ditch the strap that came in the box and get something better. There are a few reasons for this—the neck strap that came with your new Nikon or Canon is undoubtedly an advertisement for the brand, and an uncomfortable one at that. There's usually no padding, so if you hang the camera around your neck with a heavier lens attached, you can end up with some serious irritation of the skin.

Depending on the frame of your body, wearing the camera around your shoulder using the default strap can work, but it's easy for the camera to slip off and fall to the ground. Wearing it across your body is a safer option, but if you're a big guy like me, or a lady who's a bit curvy on top, this can be too tight to be comfortable.

If I'm shooting with a smaller SLR, rangefinder, or mirrorless camera with a light, prime lens, I often opt for a wrist strap like the excellent Camera Leash from HoldFast. A wrist strap isn't really an option for events, or times when I'm mobile and can't periodically set my camera down.

Shooting an event like Photokina really requires an across-body strap, and a good one at that. I can't keep my camera in a bag, as I often need to grab it to get a quick shot at moment's notice, and I've also got to carry a messenger bag with a laptop, mobile hotspot, and anything else that is going to come in handy for covering the show.

BlackRapid let me try out its Curve strap to cover the show today, and I walked away impressed. I had no trouble fitting it across my body. Rather than connecting through the strap lugs on the sides of a camera, it simply screws into the tripod mount and attaches via a carabiner. 

It's padded and comfortable, and not once did I worry that my D600 would fall to the ground. There are clips on the strap to lock your camera in place when not in use if desired, but I didn't find them necessary. Bringing the camera up to shoot was a thing of beauty, it slides along the strap, which remains in a fixed position, and slides right back down to hang at your side via gravity after you've taken your shot.

BlackRapid makes a number of straps—including models that are specifically curved to better fit a woman and others that can accommodate two cameras—helpful for wedding and event photographers that often have to carry multiple bodies. If you're fed up with your neck strap, it's worth exploring your options for a replacement, and BlackRapid is a good place to start.


About Our Expert

Jim Fisher

Jim Fisher

Principal Writer, Cameras

My Experience

Images, and the devices that capture them, are my focus. I've covered cameras at PCMag for the past 14 years, which has given me a front row seat for the changeover from DSLRs to mirrorless cameras, the smartphone camera revolution, and the emergence of drones for aerial imaging. I have extensive experience with every major mirrorless and SLR system, and am also comfortable using point-and-shoot and action cameras. As a Part 107 Certified drone pilot, I’m licensed to fly unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for commercial and editorial purposes, and am knowledgeable about federal rules and regulations regarding drones.

The Technology I Use

I use all of the major camera systems on a regular basis, swapping between Canon, Fujifilm, L-Mount, Micro Four Thirds, Nikon, and Sony systems. I still find time to use Leica M rangefinders and Pentax SLRs on occasion, too. I keep an iPhone 13 in my pocket for the rare occasions I'm not carrying a camera.

I'm not a brand-specific photographer. For product review photos, I swap between a Canon EOS R5 and a Sony a7R IV. I use Flashpoint and Godox TTL lights and Peak Design tripods, and I most often reach for a Think Tank or Peak Design backpack to carry equipment.

When it comes to computers, I'm an unapologetic Mac person and have been for the past 20 years. I write in Pages and use Numbers for spreadsheets. I currently swap between an Intel i9 MacBook Pro and an Apple Silicon Mac Studio for writing and use a calibrated BenQ 32.5-inch with the Studio for photo and video editing. I rely on a LaCie 6big RAID for media storage. I also keep a PC around for gaming, but please don't tell my Macs about it; they'll get jealous.

I split time between several different software apps depending on the type of editing I'm doing. For Raw image processing, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic is my standard. I pair it with a LoupeDeck CT console to supplement my keyboard and trackpad, and I lean on RNI All Films 5 presets when I want to give an image a film look. I use Apple Final Cut Pro for video editing.

My first digital camera was the Canon PowerShot Elph S200, and my first DSLR was the Pentax *ist DL. I have a soft spot for antique film gear. I still use a 1950 vintage Rolleiflex Automat TLR and love trying mid-century Leica lenses on film and digital alike. I mainly use whatever's in front of me for review for digital snaps, but I pick up either my Leica M Typ 240 or Pentax K-3 III Monochrome when I want to step away from review work. In my downtime, I enjoy bird watching, reading, video games, and both good and bad movies, especially in the sci-fi and horror genres.

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