Sometimes in life you come across amazing products. And other times, you discover products that dramatically fall short of the hype that’s been built around them. Beware, this is a tale of disappointment.
Sometimes in life you come across amazing products. And other times, you discover products that dramatically fall short of the hype that’s been built around them. Beware, this is a tale of disappointment.
FWIW, a few of my takeaways on it…
1) The base plate is standard ARCA-Swiss size. I’d been consolidating my tripod heads onto this standard before I got my capture clip, and so that’s been a nice bonus.
2) I don’t usually sit my camera on the clip for long periods. If I’m going out shooting, I usually keep the camera in my hand (with a wrist strap), and being able to pop it onto the clip so that I can easily change lenses is nice. Combined with my fanny pack (which holds a second lens and some batteries when I’m oot and aboot), it’s a pretty convenient setup
3) Everything works MUCH better without the battery grip. I tend to only put my battery grip on my camera if I’m shooting sports or timelapse, as it makes it as big/heavy as a full DSLR, and ain’t nobody want that. Without the grip the lens is flush with the bottom, which prevents the clip from turning/digging in Much more comfortable.
4) I’m not sure what you mean about extra pieces– you’ve got everything taken apart in your photo, but when it’s put together, the base plate is screwed into your camera and the clip is attached to your bag, and there are no extra pieces except for the Allen key. You don’t have to use the allen key, as there’s a coin slot in the head of the attachment screw, but I like being able to get the extra leverage which you can’t get with the small flip head screws that most bases have, and, since it’s a standard size base, I rarely take mine off (only when I’m putting on my battery grip, and the base that I leave on my battery grip has never come off)
@sam
All valid points, for sure. Of course, as your comment points out, the ease of use and quality of the product is reliant on the workflow a photographer might have.
I’ll address each one for clarification.
1) “The base plate is standard ARCA-Swiss size”
That’s all well and good, but the fact remains that an upgrade is in order to fit the standard sized plate that’s used for hobbyists and amateur shooters in the USA. Whether it be the adapter for this model, or an upgrade to the peak design capture PRO model, it means that this model falls short. The price that this sells for is pretty steep for many non-professionals, and I’d assume that most professional photographers are going for the higher peak design models anyway, so basically what I’m saying is that they’re letting the USA demographic for this particular model down. It’s not a good all-in-one solutions. It’s going the way of Apple and their dongles.
2) “I don’t usually sit my camera on the clip for long periods.”
It’s funny, because that’s exactly WHY I bought this, to do that. As you’ve seen the way I shoot in person, if I can avoid bringing a bag with me, I don’t bring it. When I take long day trips, I’m able to carry my rig in my spider holster with no problems at all, for a full day without issue. Also why I tend to leave my battery grip on all the time…
3) “Without the grip the lens is flush with the bottom, which prevents the clip from turning/digging in Much more comfortable.”
Oh absolutely, but a few points to retort that…
a) As mentioned above, I purchased this so I’m able to carry my camera on my hip for long periods of time so I can explore or take day trips that are low-key and without a cumbersome bag—of any size.
b) I haven’t mentioned it yet, but this entire review is all due to the success I’ve had with my spider holster for the past 4+ years. My points about the orientation in which the camera rests is the focal point of this one. With the SH, the camera hangs low, so the camera body lays flush with your leg and the lens sticks outward. Due to this, the weight and size of my rig (within reason of course) is irrelevant. It remains comfortable for long periods of time. I’m certain I could hang my cat from my spider holster and life would be good… unless he were to scratch the hell out of me, of course.
4) “I’m not sure what you mean about extra pieces– you’ve got everything taken apart in your photo”
Sam! I never said “Extra” pieces, just said there are a lot of pieces in general. A lot of unnecessary moving components. You know me, I’m a designer. I’m a homing missile for imperfection. I see why they have all these threaded screws for adjustment, but in my brain I’ve already redesigned this to be way more efficient with way less room for error. The last thing I need is to be switching this device from my belt to my backpack and have the adjustment thread fall down a central heating vent in the floor.
“…You don’t have to use the allen key, as there’s a coin slot in the head of the attachment screw…”
If you want absolute security so that the base doesn’t fall of, you do. The coin slot you mention, which I think is for a screwdriver as well is a little too shallow to really work as effectively as the allen key though. The “flip head” screw that I have in my manfrotto base place has never let me down, and I’ve had it for 10 years. It always secures the base plate firmly to the camera or battery grip. What I was saying here is that I think Peak Design could have spent a little more time designing a way in which a lame 3rd party tool wasn’t needed to carry around for piece of mind.
Thanks for the feedback sam!
Got one of these and my Fuji X100F always ready to capture a moment. Definitely worth the money!
I think I’ll have to give it another go. It may be much better suited for putting on a backpack strap rather than a belt!
I use it on a backpack and a belt. But I wouldn’t go bigger in size than a X100. Even the X-T1 is a little bit too heavy. Especially with the bigger lenses.
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