GAS: JOBY UltraFit Sling Strap (review)

October 09, 2013  •  Leave a Comment


I finally got around to replacing my old JCC sling camera strap which I have been really pleased with for the past two years or so but, when I read about the newest addition to JOBY's lineup, the UltraFit Sling Strap, I knew that it was time to try something new.

Since I got the JCC camera strap I totally stopped looking at all the other brands of straps on the market because they all fill the same shoes, all being detachable sling straps with adjustable length. The downside to the regular sling strap is that you have to chose between having a long strap that makes it comfortable to shoot the camera or, having a short strap that makes it comfortable to carry the camera because it keeps it tight to your body minimizing the amount it can move around as you walk. I would recommend the JCC strap to anyone just starting out in photography because it is a cheap alternative to the expensive Sun-Sniper or Black Rapid straps, offering the exact same functions.


First impression
The JOBY UltraFit Sling Strap is definitely the most thought-out camera strap on the market right now, removing almost all the downsides from the standard sling strap, making it possible to carry your camera tight to the body with the strap extending when you grab it and bring it up to shoot. When your done shooting you just have to tighten the strap again, which is much easier than it sounds.

Having used this strap for a few weeks now I have to say that the strap lives fully up to my expectations. I feel more comfortable carrying my camera everywhere now and the fact that it sits tightly at my side or back, not bumping around, makes the weight of the camera seem less apparent. Carrying a camera and a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens around, pushing 2.7 kg, for a couple of hours isn't an issue with the UltraFit Sling Strap. The higher carrying position, between waist and armpit, also removes any chance of accidentally bumping the camera and lens into things as you make your way through a crowded room. 
 

One downside
There is however one downside to the strap and that is the way it attaches to the camera. The integrated thumbscrew and hinge makes the strap a bit troublesome to detach, making it less than optimal for landscape photographers or other areas of work where a tripod is needed. This one downside can however be solved with a JOBY UltraPlate allowing for the tripod shoe and strap to be mounted at the same time. I have yet to test this in practice, because I haven't been able to find the UltraPlate in a Danish store yet.

 

Score: 4/5

Combined with the JOBY UltraPlate it would be a solid 5/5.


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