PRO
Quality
Comfort
Quick release mount
CON
Gear scratching
Bulk
SPECIFICATION
Strap width 45 mm
Maximum length 125 cm
Weight 148 grams
RM 249
A$ 97
Startup companies that made it big are inspiring because who doesn’t like seeing underdogs taking it to corporate giants? Items that come by our place like small leather goods or similar things do not get reviewed because their uses are very much straightforward like this one. So long it does the job, let’s not be too petty over a camera strap.
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Individuals who use Peak Design swear upon how good they are and they never forget to include how much the company has raised through Kickstarter. From my experience, crowdfunded products usually appear excellent on paper but in practise they don’t quite live up to promises. Given how big they’ve become over the years, it is unlikely for anything they make has not been given sufficient thinking into design and engineering. Having seen videos on their recently released tripod, the urge to click purchase is strong.
Back to the strap, it is a camera strap that goes over your neck or shoulder that promises comfort over what comes with your camera and quick access for capturing the perfect moment. This was chosen over thinner models because carrying a medium format camera is serious business. It has to be said their anchor link design (four came with this strap) is brilliant as switching between cameras or hooking onto one of their bags has been made easy.
Anodised screws used is a neat touch, showing manufacturing prowess while stitching and finishing are very much in line with how much they cost. Rubber grip placed on the top side of the strap isn’t a manufacturing error because Peak Design finds it being the best application for access and grip. If any of these is too complicated, PD has a twelve and a half minute video on setting up this strap.
The good news after six months of usage, Peak Design’s Slide has yet to show any sign of wear, comfort is acceptable as the wide straps distribute weight well. On the flip side, it often gets in the way of the camera's viewfinder and screen. That too is something I don’t quite enjoy as they are a little wide limiting manoeuvrability where I believe the smaller Slide Lite will hold up to the job just as efficiently and takes less space up in the bag. That aside, some padding would certainly help when it comes to bigger, weightier cameras.
To my despair the adjuster hardware scratched my camera so I kindly sent an email to support asking if I’m using their product the wrong way given tons of consideration have been put into their products, surely they have given this a thought. And they have, sort of.
PD came back saying the reason as to why they used aluminium over anything else is because of strength but the downside to that is the risk scratching. They also said, the common sense way of reducing that possibility is to remove the strap after every use. I don’t know about them but I find that will greatly reduce usage. My solution is to place the sharp bits into the microfibre tool pouch that came with the strap and pay attention to your wristwatch when it is out of the cage.
Some heads up would have been helpful because it is safe to assume those who buy Peak Design product care for their gear. The Slide certainly provides more comfort, superior adjustability over OEM straps and those intelligent anchors deserve a second mention. Should you want one of these straps, you just have to live with taking off the strap after every use. Not difficult to do, not a convenient solution either.