OK, I admit I am seldom satisfied with the status quo, particularly when it comes to how I carry things around with me (have a closetful of black computer bags that are a testament to this fixation....)

This affliction also applies to my camera gear, with how I position the camera on my body a particular peeve. You see, I just don’t like the standard practice of just hanging it around your neck. First and foremost, it’s just a bit geeky (IMHO), and I can’t tell you how many lewd remarks I get at the Renaissance Faire when the camera is outfitted with a rather enlarged telephoto lens... (You know what they say: “Big lens.....big picture!”)

In addition, when gliding around on my Segway, I prefer to sling the camera & strap across my body (bandoleer-style), so that I can have the camera on my hip and out of the way. Problem is that it’s highly cumbersone & virtually impossible to swing the camera up to my eye for a quick aim & shoot shot in this mode.

Enter the R-Strap from BlackRapid - a simple, elegant solution implemented in a high-quality fashion. As mentioned above, it’s worn diagonally across the torso, but its innovation is that the camera is attached to the strap in a manner that allows it to quickly move up the strap on a runner, and into a quite natural & comfortable shooting position. When done, it is slid right back to an out-of-the way position on your hip. You don’t get a full sense of this by just looking at a picture of the strap, so be sure to look at the instructional videos here.

Obviously, am quite impressed with it (so far) and will be putting the strap through its paces over the coming days in a number of shooting venues.

Good news - got the 14-24mm Wide angle and my 70-300mm telephoto in, so can start shooting. Heading down to the beach on Saturday morning to shoot the sunrise (weather permitting)....

...but no lenses as of yet - may be able to pick up my 14-24mm one at the store this afternoon. If so, am hopeful of a non-rainy Saturday to go out and shoot. Have A LOT to learn about this baby.....