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If you’re here, you’re looking to solve a problem, so on to the information!
A phone-cam picture of Arca bliss…
Here is a quick look at a really convenient solution to using a Black Rapid with an Arca-based tripod plate system without having to constantly un-screw the plates and the strap fastener. It think it is also a good solution as a “quick-release” for the Black Rapid system even if you don’t use tripods! I’m a huge fan of my tripod, my Arca-Swiss system ball head and my Really Right Stuff L-bracket. If you read my post “When Gadgets Collide”, I felt like my two favorite photography accessories were fighting each other – my tripod and my strap. I’ve put a video walk-through on my Vimeo Channel, but have a quick read of this article too. The video link is at the bottom of this page.
I saw a couple ideas on photography forums that I merged into this solution. The components are simple: the Black Rapid “FastenR” nub is attached to a Kirk QRC-1 1″ screw-type quick release clamp with the Op/Tech Uni-Loop (Op/Tech part number 1301062 – B&H part number OPSCUNL) as a safety tether. I also got a small tube of Loctite Blue from the hardware store.
Setup is easy. I put a little Loctite on the threads of the FastenR (which makes it very unlikely it will ever un-screw by accident), slightly moistened the rubber gasket and screwed it directly into the Kirk clamp. The Optech strap loops to the strap hole in the L-bracket on one end and the D-ring of the Black Rapid strap.
The Kirk clamp mounts to my RRS L-bracket (or foot plate on my 80-200 f/2.8) with a few quick twists, so it is quick to put on or take off. It feels very tight and very secure – I don’t see this thing backing out.
Just in case it does (or, more likely, I do something stupid), the Op/Tech strap is a safety tether. This makes it very secure, and proof against one of the more likely failure scenarios of the strap: the swiveling hook/carbiner wearing/coming loose or failing to tighen the carbiner nut enough resulting in a fall. Unlikely, but I tend to live in a world of realized implausible disasters 
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Mounting and un-mounting is easily faster than if I was screwing in the Black Rapid fastener nub (FastenR) – I’d estimate three seconds or less for the tether and the clamp, The safety tether is very inconspicuous on the L-bracket even when I’m not using my RS-7.
I also like the idea of always attaching the safety tether first. It is a good defense against me dropping the camera while attaching the strap – something I worried about a bit with the original setup. Here’s a view detached:
Now I’m excited that my two favorite photo gadgets are working together (my Arca plate and my BR strap). The setup even works fine when I’m using the massive 80-200 and connecting the strap to the foot-plate. All told it cost a little less than $50, but that seems a reasonable price for harmony while improving usability and safety!
I did a video walk-through that can be found here.
**UPDATE** I’ve wrapped a bit of gaffers tape around the carbiner since I never need to remove it from the “rig” and I’ve heard stories of the carbiner opening and dropping cameras. I have a safety tether, and I think most of those stories are the fault of the user, not the hardware, but why not take that risk out of the equation?
After spending four hard weeks traveling recently, most with this strap seeing action all day every day, I’m very pleased with all aspects of this setup. The clamp has shown absolutely no signs of loosening during use, the safety tether has never gotten in my way and the Loctite has the FastenR securely fixed. It carries well and is super-convenient – I love it!
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(You also might want to read my more recent post “Don’t Fear the FUD” regarding Black Rapid Straps and the concerns on the tripod mount. If you enjoyed this post, feel free to follow this blog, “like” Enthusiast Photographer on Facebook, or follow Enthus_Photo on Twitter – I’d be thrilled 
)
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Other Notes
As an aside, I’d note that there are certainly less expensive clamps on places like eBay, but I felt like the clamp was a poor place to economize. The Kirk clamp is very solidly built and shows no signs of backing out, etc. I’ve got a couple of Sunwayfoto clamps and they are very nice – I wouldn’t have any reservations about them either. I’d get the smallest screw-type clamp you can get from a reputable company – go a little larger if you carry bigger camera/lens combinations.
Recently I noticed RRS released a “nubless” version of their clamp, which I’m sure is awesome (though their photo of the setup has the knob pointed where your chin would be… ). RRS makes great stuff (I own several of their products, including my L-bracket in this rig) - You can save at least $20 with Kirk or Sunwayfoto clamps, though my buddy loves his version of this rig using the RRS clamp.
Readers: What do you think? Does this make you more comfortable with a Black Rapid strap?
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This a great solution. I’m switching to an arca swiss QR system from a Manfrotto RC2 system and I was wondered how I was going to attach my Black Rapid. Thanks and I like your blog!
You’re very welcome Liz! You’ll love the Arca-Swiss platform – it has really made my tripod and head system “disappear” which is exactly what I want!
Thanks for the tip, I ordered my setup today!
TJ – hope it has arrived and you’re out shooting!
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Great idea. Any new thoughts on the Kirk/OpTech/BR combo? I have a Nikon D700 with 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 – looking for carrying options. Stumbled upon the Clinch system, the Carry Speed Pro – both seem to have advantages over the BR. Curious on your thoughts. Thanks for you help.
Forgot to mention that I have a Kirk L bracket for the D700 as well as the Kirk Ballhead on tripod.
Thanks for your help.
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Now that you’ve been using this setup for 8 months or so, how necessary do you think the backup strap is? I’m going to be using the same setup (except with the RRS plate) but wondering if I should also do the strap. Obviously it’s nice peace of mind, but also more bulk. Just curious what you think. Thanks!
Greg – thanks for stopping by Enthusiast Photographer!
Reader’s Digest version: I haven’t been saved by it personally, but I’ve had people comment that it helped them. For the extra $7, that piece of mind is worth it to me, and it hasn’t affected the handling at all. I don’t even notice the strap until it is time to take the camera off or put it on.
Long version:
Probably the biggest test for the setup came in a five week span that found me in China and Japan for two weeks (for work, but with a fair bit of shooting across the two weekends and several weekday evenings), home for a week and then in Europe for a two-week vacation (shooting pretty much every day). If I was going to find general usability or carrying issues with my little setup, that would have been it. In short, it performed flawlessly and made me happier then ever to have it. I could move from my BR to my monopod or tripod so easily. It even made packing up and getting the strap put away quicker. The safety strap is pretty much invisible to the handling.
As for the safety strap itself, there have been a couple of times when I bobbled a little and might have needed the strap, but I’m pretty meticulous and over-cautious, so I can’t say it has saved me yet.
However, I did see a post recently on dpreview that credited the setup and strap as saving the owner from a dropped camera. I’ve had a couple other people say it has helped, too.
Your comment and that post make me thing a about doing an update. A good idea came out of that thread – put blue loctite on the threads of the carbiner! I did that, and wrapped a little gaffers tape on it – I never open the carbiner any more, and it is just one more little measure of safety.
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Hello,
Do you know of any brand thats cheaper than “Kirk QRC-1 1″ screw-type quick release plate ” ?
I see some on eBay under the Desmond brand for around $30, but I’ve never heard of them until just now – this seems like a really poor place to go cheap…
I also see the Sunwayfoto 26mm (just over 1″) clamp for the same price ($29 shipped). I’ve reviewed several of their products, and have a couple of their larger screw-type clamps and they excellent all around. That option wasn’t available to me then, but I’d have no worries at all choosing it now.
So Kirk (via B&H, Amazon or direct) for $40 or Sunwayfoto via eBay (at least for now) for $29. Good luck!
Looks like this combo will work perfect because I don’t have an L-Plate.
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Desmond-DAC-1-50mm-Arca-Compatible-Clamp-50mm-QR-Plate-Tripod-Ball-Head-NEW-/360445434622?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53ec38dafe#ht_500wt_1115
What do you think?
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Thanks for sharing! The ‘biner on the BR strap has worried me for the reasons you described. I stopped using the strap, even though it is so comfortable to use. This will resolve my concerns.
I was searching about sunwayfoto after reading your review on one of their products and came across the TS-1 on b&h http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/899241-REG/Sunwayfoto_ts_1_2_Pack_D_Ring_Screws.html This almost looks like a useable alternative, if it works with their arca plates and is strong enough. Thoughts?
Matt – apologies for the delayed reply! Work travel and life in general have conspired to keep me away from the blog for a bit. I haven’t used it, but I can say that everything I’ve touched from Sunwayfoto has been very high quality. It is an alternative to Black Rapid’s FR-T1. It doesn’t really overcome the inconvenience of having to hook/unhook the carbiner, not to mention the handling/senior moment risk for me.
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Hi, This is a great rig! Thanks! I will now give you the last piece of the puzzle… Get RID of the BR carabiner. Replace the whole BR carabiner/base screw with the SunSniper ball bearing base screw available as a separate part from B&H. Because it swivels on ball bearing the base screw never unscrews… no loctite really needed.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/736675-REG/California_Sunbounce_N_SSN_BCS_SUN_SNIPER_Bear_Camera_Screw.html
Rich – thanks for visiting! I’ll think about checking that out, but honestly I’m not unhappy enough with the carbiner to spend $30 on the Sunsniper swivel. It is a perfect addition though!