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Author
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VikingPhotography
Forum Regular
Registered: July 2006
Location: Just south of Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 801
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Review Date: Sun May 20, 2007
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: £18.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Wide, comfortable and does not slip!
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Cons:
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None so far
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I finally managed to get a hold of one of these straps today to replace one of my older Lowepro Neoprene (1st generation) camera straps.
The store I purchased it from had both the S and C versions of the Voyager strap - the blurb on the packaging recommended the C version for anyone that uses heavier equipment and, since one of my main combinations is a D2X + 70-200VR + SB-800, I chose that version.
Gone are the "non-slip dots" of the old neoprene strap - this is a real blessing since they only worked well with some fabrics and not others... nylon jackets were a big no-no with the old strap.
The new anti-slip webbing that is stitched into the underside of the strap really does the job. The jacket I was wearing today had no end of slippage problems with the first generation strap but, after securing the Voyager C to my D2X, the camera stayed rooted to my shoulder during several twists and turns in the store.
The detachable memory card wallet that is included with the strap is far sturdier than the product photographs of the Voyager C would lead you to believe. The front and back of the wallet is fastened on to the strap with velcro, as is the bottom of the card access flap.
The two memory card slots in the wallet are elasticised at their upper edges to help prevent your media from accidentally slipping out. The only potential downside for some users is that the wallet has been designed for use with Compact Flash media... users whose cameras need SD media (or smaller) might find that their cards aren't so easy to get to when stored in the over-sized (relative to media) card slots.
Rounding off the strap is a quick release buckle on both sides. It's of the double sided plastic pinch and pull variety and only time will tell how robust this solution is. Certainly it makes removing the strap from your camera a very simple task - something that helps when stowing your body in certain camera bags.
Finally - and this is an often overlooked bonus feature of such straps - the lack of visible branding on the strap and its muted all-black finish makes the strap a very stealthy item when compared to OEM straps that have the manufacturer's name stitched into them in bold and bright colours... thus highlighting your gear to potential thieves.
In closing: I highly recommend the Lowepro Voyager C strap to anyone, but particularly people that use pro-grade heavy camera / lens combinations. I'm definitely purchasing another one early next week to attach to my other D2X 
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JMitchell
Feet under the table
Registered: January 2007
Location: London, England
Posts: 3709
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Review Date: Mon May 5, 2008
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: £17.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Wide, comfy, clip locks
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Cons:
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None atm
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I've had this strap for about a month, but I put off writing a review owing to the fact that I hadn't done a proper shoot in which it could really be tested out. The recent concert I shot was a perfect opportunity.
It is lovely and wide, a whole inch and bit wider than the standard Nikon strap, and make of very nice soft material that doesn't cut into your shoulder after about 10 minutes of use. The interesting criss-cross webbing that stops it from slipping - as Martin says - works on lots of different kinds of fabric, and doesn't slip unless you want it to and purposefully move it.
The weight reduction that it seems to offer is quite amazing. Using the D300, grip with AAs in, and SB800 use to be a nightmare to carry around, but now, it feels a lot lighter, as the weight is more spread across your neck / shoulder.
This brings me to my next point: positioning. You can either have the strap around your neck in the classic tourist fashion, or you can wear it sling style over one shoulder, like a pro ( ). It is long enough for both, and this offers great flexibility depending on what shooting situation you are in.
Additionally, it can be slung across your chest with the camera on your hip. This doesn't offer much in terms of shooting options, but if you are walking somewhere, or need to do something etc, it stays nice and snug to your body, with the camera hardly moving at all.
Another nifty feature that Martin touched on is the clip locking system. As he says, not sure how long it will hold up, so we'll have to see, but seems sturdy enough. The worry some people might have is to do with "grab'n'snatch". Can't a thief just run up, pull the clips and have the camera come straight off in their hands? No, is the short answer. The clips do not unlock unless there is no weight (from the camera being pulled down by gravity) on them. This means it can only be detached from the strap when it is being held up by your own hand, or when on a table etc. That should reassure some worryers 
Of course being able to take the strap off is a plus, and you can leave the main bit hanging round your neck if you like, it doesn't come off really easily, although you might want to stuff it in a pocket or something for safer keeping. I found myself taking it off quite a lot when doing macro, and even when shooting vertically at the concert, as it can get in the way of your left hand, even with a battery grip for the sutter release helping your right.
All in all, it seems a very pro-worthy strap (not that I'd know ), and I would recommend this to anyone, as it has really made carrying and using heavy equipment much easier. Plus you have the upside of not having that flaming great NIKON D300 logo in massive letters, which gives you peace of mind, and probably more security.
Great product 
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