I follow quite a few photographers and photography websites, so I can’t remember exactly how I came across Peak Design’s Capture Camera Clip v2 Kickstarter campaign. All I know is that one day in early July I checked out their video and company website and promptly backed their campaign to the extent that the GeoK family would end up with four CapturePRO clips – one for each of us.
As July transitioned to August, we watched the number of backers steadily rise. And every time we went out hiking, at least one of us would comment on how great it would be to have our CapturePRO Camera Clips.
If you’ve ever been hiking with a camera larger than pocket-sized, you’ll know that you’re stuck with one of the following scenarios:
- You carry your camera on a strap around your neck and it thumps you gently in the diaphragm every time you take a step;
- As per 1, but whenever you’re not taking photographs you sling one arm through the strap to keep the camera from thumping you and then have to awkwardly extract your arm if you need to take off your pack or when you’re ready to take another photograph;
- You leave your camera in your pack unless you see something you really want to photograph, at which point you remove your pack, take out your camera, take the photograph, stow the camera and finally slip your pack back on;
- As a variation of 3, you don’t actually take your pack off but rather slip one arm out of a strap, swivel the pack around on the hip belt and remove your camera while awkwardly balancing your pack on one hip; or
- Get so fed up with options 1 through 4 that you eventually stop carrying your full-sized camera when hiking.
Our family was using a combination of options two through four. And the situation was worse when we were out mountain biking; everyone but me would leave all their camera gear at home and I would just bring along a little point-and-shoot in a small camera bag that would hang off the chest strap of my Camelbak.
It late August we received an email from Peak Design letting us know we had to select which type(s) of plates we wanted to have shipped with our CapturePRO Camera Clips. After a bit of discussion, we opted for two MICROplates and two ARCAplates (seemed the best solution given we all carry MFT format cameras and given the various tripods we currently own). Peak Design took a few weeks to get their shipping organized for non-U.S. customers (they learned some valuable lessons with their v1 clip and wanted to take a little extra time to minimize customs hassles and import duties), so our shipment finally arrived around the third week of October.
I wish I’d taken a photo of the packaging. It was quite sleek and attractive and reminded me a bit of Apple’s packaging. Each package contained an instruction sheet, a CapturePRO Camera Clip, the applicable plate, a drawstring carrying bag and an Allen key. I’ve not been able to firm fasten the plate to my camera without using the Allen key (although in one instance I was desperate and used the pliers on my multi-tool to do the job).
Mr. GeoK and I used our CapturePRO Camera Clips for the first time when we hiked Arethusa Cirque in late October. They did exactly what we hoped they’d do – kept our cameras readily accessible while eliminating that irritating chest thump and/or need to sling your arm through the camera strap. For me, the very best thing is that I came home from hiking without a headache! In hindsight, I think the weight of the camera strap around my neck while hiking was just enough of an irritant that I’d always come home from hiking with a headache.
I have since used my CapturePRO on three different packs. It’s quite easy to attach and detach as needed, although buckles and hydration clips have limited my placement options on one of my packs.
Some users have reported difficulty removing their camera from the clip, but I haven’t had troubles. It’s possible to make the clip quite stiff or relatively easy to release and I’ve found that keeping it fairly easy to release works really well.
I continue to leave my camera strap hanging loosely around my neck, so that my camera is secure once it’s released from the clip. Mr. GeoK finds his dangling strap a little irritating, so he’s looking into Peak Design’s Leash system as an alternative. If you have used this product, we’d love to know what you think, so please leave a comment.
SUMMARY: We’re really happy with this product. It seems very well made and is perfectly suited for carrying our MFT format cameras while hiking and biking. I’m particularly happy that it solves two problems for me: 1) no more camera bumping against my diaphragm as I hike; and 2) apparently no more post-hiking headaches from carrying a camera around my neck all day!
We haven’t the CapturePRO Camera Clips much in conjunction with our tripods yet. At this point, we’ve concluded that they aren’t very Joby Gorillapod friendly, as we either have to remove the plates from our cameras to mount the cameras directly to the Gorillapods OR remove the clips from our packs to mount those to the Gorillapods and then snap in the cameras. This second option is a little easier (especially if you forget to bring your Allen key along) but it makes the Gorillapods fairly top heavy. I expect this won’t be an issue with our full-sized tripods, as the MICROplates or DUALplates should fit directly onto various tripods, but will provide an update or comment once we know for sure.
And mountain biking season was over for us by the time our CapturePRO clips arrived, so it’ll be 2014 before we’re able to see how this product works when we’re out on two wheels. I’ll do my best to remember to post an update at that time.
Have you tried any of Peak Design’s solutions? Or something similar? If you care to share your experiences and recommendations, please leave a comment and/or a link to your write-up.
For updated comments and feedback based on our first six months using CapturePRO Clips in Canada and New Zealand, read this post.
DISCOUNT CODE – Due to changes to Peak Design’s affiliate program made on September 26, 2018, we are no longer able to offer our readers a discount on orders made through the Peak Design online store. However, clicking through to make a purchase from this post is still beneficial, since we earn a 10% commission on orders placed through our link. Since we joined Peak Design’s affiliate program in 2014, reader purchases have generated roughly $250 in commissions, which goes directly towards the cost of hosting this blog. We truly appreciate this indirect financial support of Out and About with the GeoKs.
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I loved capture clip so much, I bought 2. Then I got leash, cuff and now, I also got Capture Pro v2 clip along with extra leash and couple of ProPad. I didn’t quite like clipping capture straight onto the backpack strap, which is why I got ProPad so I could have other way to attaching the clip.
But most of the time, I’m happy with leash only. it’s so lightweight, and whenever I don’t feel like having a strap, I can just take it off and fold it up, put it in my pocket. It is quite long strap though, long enough to be a sling strap. So it does get in the way. Good thing is that you can remove it or attach it so quickly, you don’t get annoyed all the time like normal straps.
I love peak design’s stuff and their idea.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with the whole range of peak design’s products. I especially appreciate your comments about the leash and cuff, since we’d like to replace our conventional straps. The quick release/attach feature seems really appealing.
I am waiting with anticipation for my Capture Pro v2. I have a Capture and leash and these have transformed the pleasure of carrying a camera. Being old and having had two neck operations I found a camera strap round my neck with a heavy Nikon attached impossibly painful. I now have the weight of my lighter Panasonic GH3 on my hip/waist comfortable all day. Peak make great products and I am sure will continue to innovate.
For me, that’s the biggest plus of the CapturePRO v2…no more post-hiking headaches! I can’t imagine trying to carry a big Nikon around your neck after two operations. Good for you for continuing to be “out and about”.
If you like to see or try out the straps, London Drugs sell them.
I like mine as they are not wide and bulky like my regular straps. I fasten 4 Anchor attachments to my camera so I have different combinations to connect the Leash to it. It is so easy to unclip and change the Leash position.
I am fine with carrying my full frame DSLR with the 70-200 zoom on the Leash. But if I am going to carry it for long periods, my camera would be attached to my Capture v2 on my ThinkTank belt. I am waiting for my ProPad to come in, so that it would fit better on my belt.
Thanks for the info about London Drugs. There’s one really close to our house, so at least we can go check them out.
Our OMDs are light enough that I don’t think we need the ProPad, but I’m interested to see what full-sized DSLR users think of them.
From Thursday evening, Nov.28, until Monday evening (Pacific Time), PeakDesign is going to put a special limited-time bundle on their website. The bundle will be CapturePRO, PROpad and Leash for $120. That’s $25 (or 17.241%) off. That is the same price as their KickStarter offer.
Thanks for the “heads up” on re: limited-time value pricing on the bundle.
Thanks for the fantastic review! Regarding Gorillapod compatibility, Peak Design quick-release plates are ARCA-compatible, so they’ll only fit a Gorillapod that has the Joby Ballhead X on top of it. But, if you do have a Ballhead X, they’ll fit perfectly! More on tripod compatibility at peakdesignltd.com/tripod. Cheers!
Hi Adam and thanks for the details re: Gorillapod compatibility. We’re going to try our quick-release plate with our travel tripod this weekend, since we don’t have any Ballhead X fittings (at least not yet!).
Any chance your travel tripod has a removable head you can use on the GorillaPod?
Excellent suggestion…it does, but I’ll need to find a 3/8″ to 1/4″ adapter in order to use it. Thanks for the idea!
I got this one a couple of times (http://bit.ly/1cajQNn).
When there is a will, there is a way ;).
Thanks for the link…looks like I might be doing a bit of Black Friday / Cyber Monday shopping after all.
Thanks for sharing! I’m really glad to read your review. It confirms that I’m gonna get one ASAP. I’m using a Carry Speed Pro MKII and as I stated in my review, it’s nice and everything but not adapted at all to hiking photography. (so angry at myself to have missed the kickstarter :p)
Have you tried it with a sling pack?
As for the GorillaPod, I reckon you don’t have any ball head? It should get better if you got a head on the tripod so you don’t have to remove the Capture’s plate from the camera as it’s either a RC2 (Manfrotto) or Arca Swiss (and Joby’s using Arca).
Cheers!
Hi Karl – Thanks for your comment, question and suggestion. We didn’t really check out any other options before opting for the CapturePRO Camera Clip because we came across their kickstarter campaign at just the right time. I haven’t tried it with a sling pack, per se, but have used it with a messenger-style bag which has one strap that I sling across my body. The Olympus OMD is fairly light, so it worked just fine.
I’ll take another look at the GorillaPod situation, as it’s nice to be able to carry just a small tripod on a shorter outing.
And if you’re wanting to purchase a CapturePRO from Peak Design, they’ve invited us to apply to their affiliate program (result of this post), so we’re hoping to be able to offer up a discount code in a few days…stay tuned!
Yes the OMD is way lighter than my 6D so I’m not sure the thin strap of my messenger bag would fit but my sling pack has a much thicker and larger strap so maybe it will be just fine. I’ll give it a try as soon as I get one :). And yeah! I keep an eye for your update :).
Hi Karl – Great news! Use coupon code geoks at the peak design website to save 10% on any order of at least $19.95. Note that this code only works at the peak design website, not other sites like their Kickstarter page. This discount code is available to all.
We’re planning to try out the CapturePRO Camera Clip with our travel tripod over the weekend and will post a mini-review or update ASAP.