Blackrapid has recently announced the launch of a new camera strap designed specifically for female photographers in collaboration with photographer Nicole Elliott. While women make up a significant proportion of the photography community, many camera straps and bags are seemingly designed solely with men's bodies in mind. This means that products that are supposed to help make shooting easier, can actually end up causing pain the longer they're used.
If you want a real-life example of this, you only have to look at the hiking community. If you walk into an outdoors store, you'll usually see the rucksacks separated by gender. This is because the rucksacks for women and men have different requirements. However, you don't see this differentiation in mainstream camera bags or camera straps.
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The Blackrapid Nicole Elliott Camera Sling was apparently inspired by a trip Nicole Elliott took to Ecuador in 2016. She "observed women carrying babies and young children on their backs with a wrap around their shoulders. This natural way of supporting and balancing weight inspired Nicole to create a new type of camera sling that combines functionality, comfort and style. Its light, ergonomic form factor takes the pressure points away from the neck and shoulders by 'hugging' the shoulder to distribute the load weight evenly."
Unfortunately, the Blackrapid press release doesn't go into any further detail about why exactly this camera strap is specifically suited for female bodies over male bodies. However, we'd love to get our hands on it and test it out properly.
The camera strap has a reversible shoulder pad with two lens cap pouches and two zippered pockets for memory cards, spare batteries, filters and other miscellaneous accessories. The 100% nylon camera strap is also reversible, which means it can be used by left- and right-handed users.
The Blackrapid Nicole Elliott Camera Sling is available from Blackrapid authorized stockists and has a suggested retail price of £82.00.
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