I had long been suspicious that shoulder strap systems were a gimmick and couldn't bring myself to spend on one. But I was getting tired of fussing with neck strap, hand strap, or just going strapless. After I splurged on an order, I realized I wouldn't have it in time for a trip with lots of walking and moving. So, I cobbled together a quick DIY thing with an eyebolt in the tripod mount, a quick-link ring, a split-ring, and a regular camera neck strap.
That showed me the shoulder strap idea works very well. DSLR camera with flash on top was much more stable upside down with weight off my neck and arms. When I walked briskly to hurry, I noticed no bounce or swing in the camera. It was great.
But all that is with the DIY strap. I find the C-SLR strap waiting for me on my return, and I pop it on. Just from testing it in the house, it's much more comfortable and much more easy to use. The shoulder padded strap is VERY comfortable and spreads the weight across the shoulder much better than a basic strap. The camera slides up and down the strap very easily without kinking and hitching. With the C-Loop attached to a B2-FABN mini-clamp, it is instant-on and instant-off when I need to.
I've seen other reviews that claim the apparatus seems flimsy. It is true that the strap seems thin, and the links are plastic, but they are not fragile. They easily hold the weight and they are light and easy to fold and pack in the camera bag. The plastic links aren't much different than the detachable plastic buckles that are on all sorts of neck straps, camera bags, and so on.
By using a DIY strap first and then the C-SLR system, I more easily see the real benefits of a designed product that provides:
Padded shoulder strap that distributes the weight
Swivel attachment on the camera for more flexibility
Gliding movement up and down the strap
Clips that limit the movement of the camera along the strap
Less tendancy to twist
Separated shoulder strap and glide strap for easy packing in camera bag
In hindsight, the DIY strap taught me to appreciate this more. I'm glad it bought it and I'm looking forward to the next trip to use it on.
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