I’ve been shooting with a BlackRapid camera strap for the last 16 years.  I first purchased (and reviewed) the original RS-4 back in June of 2010. I was exploring New York City with a friend not long after getting serious about photography – I was still using the included neck strap Canon (still to this day) packages with its camera bodies – I’m guessing at the time I was shooting with a Canon 5D Mark II or Mark III DSLR.  Carrying a professional camera body and lens around your neck is a special kind of torture I wouldn’t wish on anyone.  BlackRapid straps generally position the camera cross-body and distribute the weight quite nicely.  At the time, the RS-4 was a pretty revolutionary product for the camera industry.  Keep in mind that BlackRapid was a pretty young company back in 2010 – I believe they started selling their camera straps in 2008.

Fast forward 16 years – I still have the RS-4.  It looks brand new—that’s how well made and durable these straps are.  My only complaint about the now classic RS-4 design is that the shoulder pad part of the strap can slide forward or backward off your shoulder where it’s needed for maximum comfort.

Photo of the RS-4 from BlackRapid.com – the shoulder pad can migrate with movement.

Predictably, BlackRapid has improved the design of the original RS-4 in a newer model called the BlackLine I.  The BlackLine I comes in two different versions for left-hand or right-hand carry.  I got the right hand version so the shoulder pad sits on my left shoulder, with the strap again going cross-body and hanging from my right-hand side.  The key difference between the RS-4 and the BlackLine I is the shoulder-conforming pad, which uses a separate nylon strap to keep the BlackLine I fixed in place on your shoulder.

The BlackLine I has a small strap goes under your arm and prevents the shoulder pad from moving

The shoulder strap on the RS-4 however is not fixed and can, as I’ve experienced, slide backward or forward on the strap line.  In my first outing using it, I found the BlackLine I to be much more comfortable and more secure feeling than the RS-4.  The trade-off is the speed with which the strap can be put on or removed.  With the RS-4, you just throw it over your shoulder and go – no fuss, no muss.  With the BlackLine I you have to put it on in the correct orientation, then fasten the nylon strap that sort of hooks under your arm to the shoulder strap to keep it from sliding around.  I’ll admit the first time I put it on took a couple of times to figure things out.  I’m getting faster with practice – if you’re smarter than the average camera gear reviewer, you may find the process completely intuitive.  Hint:  The “R” logo should face forward.  But the new design does exactly what I wanted and keeps the shoulder pad in place, making it much more comfortable and secure.

Should Existing RS-4 Owners Upgrade?

If you already own the RS-4, think carefully about whether you need to upgrade to the BlackLine I – I’m sure I’ll cotinue to occasionally use my RS-4.  The primary advantages of a BlackRapid strap are all there – cross-body carry for better weight distribution, quick access when the camera is needed while keeping both hands free, and an incredibly well made, long-lasting product.  It also has the advantage of being able to be worn on either side of your body.  Additionally, it has a handy zipper pocket built into the shoulder pad which can hold a couple memory cards if needed.  If quick deployment is your top priority, the older RS-4 still has appeal—and it’s less expensive.  But if you move around a lot while shooting and want a strap that stays planted where it belongs, I’d spend the extra money and get the BlackLine I.

After 16 years, my RS-4 earned its retirement.  The BlackLine I feels like a thoughtful evolution of a product that was already ahead of its time.

I can put my camera slink over right side and it doesn’t interfere with the BlackLine I – even with 2nd camera body clipped to the sling strap