Peak Design's Leash Saved My Camera
My strap of choice has always been the Black Rapid strap for women. Although I've mostly been a hand-held shooter, the trip to Utah and Arizona last month required a lot of camera use on a tripod. Shooting sunsets, sunrises and astrophotography simply requires it. The Black Rapid attaches to the camera's tripod mount making tripod + strap use impossible with the Black Rapid.
So I checked into Peak Design's "Leash". I use their Capture Clip anyway and I know they make a good solid product, so I went ahead and bought the Leash before my trip in November because it attaches to my Canon's strap mounts on the sides of the camera. That leaves the tripod mount on the bottom of my DSLR free.... actually, I was able to keep my tripod's quick-release plate screwed onto my camera's tripod mount for the majority of the time, except for when I was using my Peak Design Capture Clip to hang my Canon on (mine is attacked the front strap of my backpack). In those cases, I had my DSLR attached to my Capture Clip via the tripod mount along with the Leash.
Using the Leash for handheld shots
The main reason I wanted the Leash from Peak Design was for extra protection for my camera. This was to be a hardcore expedition with a lot of hiking, climbing, steep ascents, standing in rivers and leaning over mountains. If the tripod goes, so does the camera. And I was pleasantly surprised at not only how well the Leash worked, but with how comfortable and interchangeable it was. I hardly knew I was wearing it and kept glancing down until I realized, "Ok, it's still there" and stopped double checking. I could use both strap mounts on the sides of my Canon or use two Peak Design anchors in just one of my Canon's strap mounts... that really helped with unobstructed visibility to the viewfinder.
Using both of the Leash's anchors threaded through one of my Canon's side strap mounts while wearing the Leash diagonally across my chest for added security
I ended up using the Leash exclusively. There really was no need to use my "other" strap, and definitely not my annoying, nagging, uncomfortable Canon strap that leaves marks on my neck! With the Leash, I could detach the anchors from the connectors with just a snap... and viola! No strap. The variety and convenience was not only impressive, it was so helpful. And the Leash is easily adjustable from 19-60 inches. I had a lot of freedom to extend or keep my camera closer to my body depending on the circumstances.
Using the Leash in the Virgin River.... I went in much deeper than this making the security of a strap a necessity
All this is well and good, but I realized the value of my Leash when I was shooting alone at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the tail end of my trip. There was an incredible sunset I was racing to shoot. My camera was attached to the tripod in the backseat of my rental with the Leash attached. As I frantically got out of the car and yanked the camera out of the back seat, the quick release plate from my tripod actually snapped and my Canon went plummeting toward the pavement. I have no idea what actually happened except that I had the Leash wrapped around my wrist which saved my Canon from sure annihilation. The camera bounced like a yo-yo on the Leash just inches from the ground while the tripod fell to the concrete. Those little Peak Design anchors are incredibly strong!! Each Peak Design anchor is made to tolerate 100 lbs. of weight!
Needless to say, the Leash literally saved my Canon. That is exactly what I needed it for and why I bought it. That may have been most important $34.95 I've ever spent. I was able to replace my tripod's ballhead later that night at a local camera store, but I could never have replaced my Canon.
Below is a picture of the sunset in Garden of the Gods... :)
