Customizing your Digital SLR Camera:

So you like to take pictures and either already own a Digital SLR camera or are getting ready to purchase one. It goes without saying that you intend to use your DSLR to take pictures and probably often. You should be thinking usability and comfort. After-all most DSLR’s are noticably larger and heavier than their point and shoot brethren. With all that extra quality comes larger lenses and more bulk. You still want those great pictures but like me are searching for an easier more comfortable way to carry and use your DSLR.

CustomSLR is a little known company based out of California with a line of products geared towards the DSLR enthusiast. With low prices, excellent engineering, and widespread compatibility CustomSLR, has a winning combination. Today we are going to take a look at the C-Loop HD and Split Strap Camera Strap. These two products are designed to bring ease of use and maximum comfort to your DSLR.

On the left you see the C-Loop HD, a mounting system for your camera strap which relocates your existing strap to the bottom of the camera. On the right you see the Split Strap camera strap which is a replacement camera strap system for your camera(s).

All of CustomSLR’s products could be used with film cameras as well due to their engineering and common features found on most cameras. Let’s move on and take a look at each of these products and how they work to make your camera easier for you to use.

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The C-Loop HD Camera Strap Mount

The C-Loop HD is next generation thinking for camera strap mounting and really forced me to reconsider why camera manufacturers were not already using such a system. Current camera’s use one of two types of camera straps. Either:

Side mount wrist strap. As is the case with most point and shoot cameras.
Dual top/side mounts for the neck strap.

There are innate problems with both of these types of camera strap methods. In the case of the wrist strap the camera is now bound to your wrist and will get in the way of normal use of your hands. In the case of the dual/top mounts for the neck strap your hands are free but the camera hangs at your front or side with the lens facing out where it can get hit or bumped into causing damage to the camera. Additionally the top/side mounts cause inevitable strap tangling and interfere with natural uninhibited use of your camera. The camera strap always seems to be in the way of picking up your camera and taking those quick shots or even casual use.

The C-Loop HD eliminates all of these problems by using the built in tripod mount for your camera to both relocate the straps and bring them in closer together. This makes for easy pickup of your camera and protects the lens by reorienting the camera in a downward position. CustomSLR engineered the C-Loop HD with a 360 degree swivel so as to greatly reduce strap tangling.

Real Life Use:

In real world use I found the relocation and use of the straps via the C-Loop HD to make an amazing difference which I noticed in the following ways:

Much more confortable to wear the camera.
Peace of mind with the lens, I worried less about hitting people and things with the camera.
Much, much quicker pickup and use of the camera due to the camera straps being out of the way.

As you can see the difference is dramatic. the C-Loop HD allows for an unobstructed view of the top of your camera and access to all of your controls. When using the strap you would not normally have a need for the tripod mount so it works well. Installing the C-Loop HD was easy and took less than 5 minutes. It comes with a Hex tool for easy installation and for those who want an even easier solution CustomSLR makes a version of the C-Loop with an integrated screw and tab system.

CustomSLR recogized the need that some power users would have for an integrated bottom mounted strap that still allows them the ability to mount on a tripod quickly so they offer the M-Plate Pro as another solution.

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CustomSLR Split Strap Camera Strap System

Continuing to build on their focus of comfort and usability CustomSLR offers the Split Strap Camera Strap System which offers two unique qualities.

A much more comfortable strap than your Nikon, Canon, Sony, etc.
A quick exchange system allowing you to use one strap with multiple cameras.

The Split Strap Camera Strap system is meant to be used with the C-Loop HD but designed to work with the standard built in camera strap mounts. This obviously allows you to use either mount you are most comfortable with.

The Split Strap Camera Strap is a system made up of 2 pair of adjustable length camera straps. The short attachment is 42”-52”, while the long attachment is 50”- 67”. This allows you the ease of mounting these straps to two different camera and using the quick disconnects to pick up and mount a different camera using the same comfortable neck piece. The main component of the Split Strap is the neck piece which as the name implies is split in the center for comfort and breath-ability. It is also made of reinforced neoprene with a silicone print on the underneath to reduce slippage while wearing. No longer will my camera swing away from me by accident because the neck strap slipped.

Overall, the Split Strap Camera Strap was an excellent addition to my camera. It is cheap, highly usable, and reduces neck stress while improving function. Easily recommended to any DSLR or camera enthusiast looking for a better way to mount and wear their camera.

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Analysis and Conclusion

It is not often that a manufacturer comes up with a well engineered and though out product that is reasonably priced and works as advertised. The C-Loop HD and Split Strap Camera Strap do exactly that. At the time of this writing the C-Loop sells for $34.95 and the Split Strap is $28.95. At this price the two are excellent and super affordable upgrades for your camera that can be used with anything you buy in the future. They bring comfort to your shooting experience and thus will allow you to take more pictures and enjoy your camera more.

We found absolutely no flaws with either design or use of these products and the price is again very low considering the quality you are getting. As such both products qualify for our Awesome Hardware Award. Pick up these products for your camera at CustomSLR you won’t regret the purchase.