I'm a lifelong motor head. I salivate at a great custom exhaust on a big block V8 engine, or a custom candy paint job on a 1957 Chevy BelAir. I literally dream of pro-touring modernized 1960's muscle cars. So as a photographer, it would only make sense that I would crave to customize my cameras, especially after recently investing in a Phase One digital medium format which I cherish like I would a car. For years, I've been looking for a cool rugged camera strap system that fit my style and functional needs. Thanks to Vulture Equipment, I think I've finally found it.
For a couple of months now, I've been trying out the Vulture Equipment Works A4 strap. First of all, it looks awesome and I always get loads of questions from clients and fellow photographers about it. From initial glances, it's clear the design has been inspired by aviation. Some folks have told me it looks like a parachute harness, and they aren't far off considering the camera strap maker is an aviation photographer:
"Somewhere around 10,000 feet, another plane in tight follow formation and a fevered rip of the shutter it hit me... 'This is so cool, I need a really cool set of specialized equipment.' Standard camera straps are just not that strong and definitely not that cool plus let's face it, our lenses and bodies are thousands of dollars or more, so I've never trusted them. I had to look no further than the C130 I was ridding in to find my inspiration, aviation cargo equipment and military special ops jump rigs, so with some time and a bunch of American ingenuity the Vulture Strap was born." - Vulture Equipment Group founder William Egbert Jr.
Aside from it looking awesome, I've been experimenting with the camera strap's functional design. I spend a lot of time hanging out cars and helicopters photographing speeding vehicles. I've used the carabiners to harness my very costly camera gear to my transport so it doesn't fly out the door. They call their A2 and A4 straps "convertible designs" that are essentially customizable to your needs. Check out the video explaining it in depth below:
https://vimeo.com/59267813
I feel like I've just scratched the surface with how my Vulture A4 strap can be configured. I'm going to test out some different configurations and will even put a rig on my Red Scarlet cinema camera. I'll keep you guys posted on what I learn!
You can now pick up a strap like the A4 I use from B&H: CLICK HERE
More information on the Vulture Equipment Works website: www.vultureequipmentworks.com
Love how cool this strap looks on my camera
My Phase One and Vulture Equipment A4 strap on assignment with me in Montana
Thats one hell of a strap, nice!
Looks like a great strap. I wonder if they could consider making the two camera points swivel to avoid it twisting up?
Ill take 2!
85zero.com
and priced to sell quick at only 180 bucks each... for a camera strap...
to all who buy it, ENJOY.
when you are spending $10000 plus on a Phase one then it doesn't seem like a ton of money. but ya, looks awesome and hope the people that can afford it love it!
Hey I can see my house. Welcome to Montana!
I tried a lot of different straps in the past couple of years on my cameras.
Sorry, but this one looks much too fancy for me.
My favorite camera strap is the California Sunbounce Sun-Sniper Strap!
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/736658-REG/California_Sunbounce_N_...
I would recommend never using a non-locking carabiner on a camera strap.
https://vimeo.com/55080797
This seems a lot like design over function.
Sorry, I
ll pass, but thanks. Not because it isn't a good idea but because it is overpriced. I can purchase the carabiners for $6US,each, the plastic buckles for about $5US, each and that is about $4US of seat belt webbing. That is $26US. Considering a generous four times materials cost for a retail value, that is $104US. However, truthfully it should retail for about $65.
The attachment loop is large enough that, by simply lifting your camera and lowering it again, you could very potentially open the gate and slip the loop off of the carabiner without even noticing it - until you let go of your camera, that is. I'll pass on the huge, uncomfortable looking, non-functioning strap.
The snare drum in the song playing in the background is incredibly irritating
a quick release on a strap holding expensive gear. Purse snatchers are gonna love it
My main concern beyond the non-locking carabiners, would be the metal carabiners and big aluminum block buckles cracking into my LCD screen or inadvertently hitting an exposed front element of a lens....I liked the idea of a super strong, big strap that can sling around a heavy winter parka. But, in thinking about the carabiners, I make note of how my strap hit my camera in the run of a daylong outdoors shoot. I was frequently into my camera backpack, at times stuffing the camera into the backpack to cover it from heavy snow. I noticed that my nylon and rubber UpStrap would hit my LCD screen or even the lens barrel of whatever lens I was using. I translated that to metal carabiners and buckles being crammed into my camera bag/backpack, and figured that like putting rocks in a washing machine, it would result in some serious scratches or worse to my camera LCD screen or to the lens. Nice idea, good quality mil-spec materials (not simple car seat belt webbing), but I'll stick with my UpStrap and the all nylon/rubber/plastic construction so my camera doesn't end up looking like a pair of acid washed jeans.