Why You Need the Peak Design Capture Clip V3
I’m not even going to wait. This product, hands down, has changed my life and the way I carry my camera. It’s made photography far more enjoyable in places I began to find a lot of difficulty in carrying. I’m talking about the Peak Design Capture Clip V3.
If you follow our journey, you know that we love nature and hiking. This means we’re normally trekking over all types of terrain with backpacks. At times we’re using both our feet and hands to climb over rocks, trees, and other natural obstacles.
WHY I GAVE UP ON CAMERA STRAPS
Initially, I tried shooting with a stock camera strap. Nope. That didn’t work. Too much weight on the neck and too many close calls involving my camera swinging into things along the trail.
Next, I moved on to the Black Rapid strap, which I love, but not with a backpack on. This strap keeps a camera a little closer to the body, but still allows the camera to swing around a bit. As for backpacks, this system just doesn’t sit well as the strap is built to hug the whole shoulder and arm pit. When placed under or over a backpack the range of motion is greatly reduced.
After trying a neck strap and the sling strap I gave a hand strap a shot. While it gave me a whole lot of confidence holding our camera, it was essentially glued to my hand. Not exactly ideal when you often need 2 free hands to hike, scramble, and explore outside.
Since testing 3 strap methods I finally came across the Peak Capture Clip V3.
I feel spoiled, because we landed on the 3rd and most advanced iteration of this beautiful, little piece of gear.
Peak Design Capture Clip V3 – What’s in the Box?
- Capture Clip V3
- 4-Way Quick Release Plate (Arca Swiss Compatible)
- Set Thumb-Drive Bolts
- Set Hex-Drive Bolts
- Hex Wrench on Key Ring
- Peak Design Cloth Pouch
How Does it Work?
Simply mount the Capture Clip onto your desired piece of gear, secure the 4-Way Quick Release Plate to the bottom of your camera, and slide the plate into the Capture Clip.
The plate locks into place using a quick release button lock system capable of holding well over 200 pounds. It’s excessive, I know. A full frame, super telephoto setup’s dream.
To release the plate you just push the quick release button at the right side of the Capture Clip and lift the camera out.
For added security (a feature I honestly never use) you can give the quick release button a twist to lock it and prevent the button from operating.
Capture Clip V3 and Our Favorite Positions
This clip can be mounted on virtually anything reasonable and your camera locks securely into place in between use.
The Capture Clip comes with 2 sets of bolts, 1 set is simply thumb driven and the other requires a hex wrench, which they include.
If you plan to use your Capture Clip in many different positions on different pieces of gear you will enjoy the speed and ease of the thumb-drive set, requiring no tools. For more permanent and secure placement you may want to use the hex-drive set using the hex wrench to really crank each bolt down tight.
We use this clip exclusively in 2 positions and use both sets of bolts.
1. STRAPPED TO UPPER BACKPACK
The first position is my preferred when hiking and that is on the upper left backpack strap right at the collar bone. I use this position so often that I’ve opted for permanent residence, locking it down to the backpack strap with the included hex bolts.
The Capture Clip V3 keeps the weight of the camera centered and close to your body. Having the camera directly on the front of my chest keeps the camera furthest away from harm when climbing up and down rocks, trees, and other obstacles you generally encounter along trails.
If I were to fall on my back the camera would remain unharmed. If I fall forward I have a much better chance to use both my hands to brace my fall, again avoiding any damage to the camera mounted close to my chest.
No more swinging straps and have BOTH my hands free when I’m not shooting.
2. STRAPPED TO BELT
The second position I like to keep the Capture Clip is on my belt, specifically at the 2 O’ Clock Position or right above my front right pant pocket.
This setup calls for the thumb drive bolts that install with just your fingers. I sometimes need to back the bolts on or off to accommodate the thickness of the belt I put on for that day.
While the Peak Design Capture Clip v3 works just fine on it’s own, my camera/lens combo sits most comfortably with the use of the Peak Design Pro Pad.
The Capture installs vertically on any belt. The use of the Pro Pad distributes the weight over a wider area of your belt, drops the camera lower on your leg, and allows the Capture Clip v3 to be positioned horizontally making it a little easier to engage and disengage.
I like both of these configurations so much that I actually purchased a second Peak Capture (Clip Only) so I can use both configurations on the trail.
There are plenty times where I set my backpack down to seek different vantage points I couldn’t otherwise achieve with a pack on.
Having a second Capture Clip already on my hip makes it easy for me to always have free hands with or without a backpack on.
4-Way Quick Release Plate – Multipurpose
Lens Swaps Without Setting Your Camera Down
You can literally clip your camera in 4 directions so no matter how or where your Capture Clip is mounted you can comfortably clip your camera. When walking or hiking with the camera clipped I always have the camera positioned so the lens is facing down.
Another benefit to having a Capture Clip on the hip are lens changes. You can mount the camera so the lens faces left, right, or up so you can conveniently actuate the lens release button and give the lens a proper twist to disconnect.
I use a Lowepro Flipside 400 AW camera backpack when hiking, the kind that allows you to swivel the backpack around your waist and enter the pack from the back.
Having my camera attached to the Capture Clip and dangling off the backpack strap doesn’t makes sense. But having the camera clipped to the side of my hip I can easily perform lens swaps without taking the backpack off or setting the camera down.
A huge deal for me as it keeps my gear secure and off the dusty, dirty ground, and out of water. The last thing I want to deal with out on the trail is dust or water getting inside the camera body or on the rear element of my lens.
Dust and water is a sure way to cancel any further photographs for the remainder of the hike and potentially damage your gear.
Tripod Compatibility – Arca Swiss Type
This little 4-Way quick release plate is compatible with a grip of Arca Swiss style tripods and the Peak Design community has lent a hand in a growing a list of compatible tripods.
This list is straight from Peak Design’s website.
- Gitzo – Some newer models such as GH1382QD. Most older models are not compatible.
- Horusbennu – most models (www.horusbennu.com – in Korean)
- Jobu Design – most gimbals and quick release heads (www.jobu-design.com)
- Joby – Gorillapod Ballhead X (www.joby.com)
- Kirk – all tripod and monopod head models (www.kirkphoto.com)
- MeFOTO – all screw-knob models, except DayTrip (www.mefoto.com)
- Markins – Q-Ball knob release heads (www.markinsamerica.com or www.markins.com)
- Oben – all screw-knob models (www.obensupports.com)
- ProMaster – only tripods with screw-knob quick release heads, like the XC525 (promaster.com)
- Really Right Stuff – all screw-knob and lever-release quick release clamps (reallyrightstuff.com)
- Sirui – all ball head models (www.siruicanada.com)
- Vanguard – BBH & TBH models (www.vanguardworld.com)
- Wimberly – most heads and QR clamps (www.tripodhead.com)
- Most screw-knob ARCA-type heads – a good rule of thumb is that if your tripod head is Arca-type and it has a screw-knob style quick-release, then it is compatible with Capture.
I personally own and use a Sirui K-30X Ball Head and it works flawlessly.
If you use an L-Bracket with a 1/4 inch hole, you can simply mount the Quick Release Plate on the L-Bracket. It’s a little awkward mounting the camera from the side, but it works.
I’ll set up the plate on an L-Bracket when I plan on shooting both portraits and landscapes and still want to keep the camera on my chest or belt while I hike. It sits a little bit awkward mounting on the side of the camera vs. underneath, but it’s still preferred over a strap.
Are There Any Cons?
1. Quick Release Plate Mounts with One Single Screw
Personally I’ve never liked the idea of mounting systems that solely rely on the tapped screw hole on the bottom of a camera body. They aren’t full proof, period. I’ve read about horror stories of cameras dropping off of these types of straps ending with broken glass and bodies.
The Peak Design Capture Clip V3 quick release plate is not immune when not properly installed.
I’ve felt my Nikon D810 with Tamron 24-70 fall off the side of my hip and hit the ground. Fortunately we were on a soft dirt trail in Colorado National Monument. Outside of a few scratches on the lens hood, neither the lens or camera body sustained any damage.
As much as I want to say this is a straight CON and it was Peak Design’s Fault…
It was actually…All. My. Fault.
Before starting this hike I didn’t tighten the plate down using the hex wrench like I should have. It’s simple physics, swinging a 5+ pound camera off your hip back and forth while hiking will inevitably begin to back the screw out.
Aside from security and comfort, this is exactly why I love the Capture Clip on the chest. The camera sits tight and doesn’t swing back and forth like it naturally does on the side of your hip.
This is straight from Peak Design’s Website:
“To maintain a 100% secure connection between your camera and the quick-release plate (and prevent the unthinkable), give the plate a good crank with that hex key.
Put that hex key on your key-chain or in your camera bag, and periodically tighten your quick-release plate as needed (though if you torque it well at first you won’t have to worry about loosening).”
Since this incident I’ve always torqued the hell out of the screw before any outing and continue to carry the hexwrench on my keys.
Most days I never have to re tighten the screw, but on occasion I’ll find the plate getting a little loose. Bust out that tool and tighten that son of a beach down!
2. No Safety Net – (There’s a Solution)
This “con” has a solution, but I’ve learned to (cautiously) live without it.
So what is the con? It’s the fact that once you disconnect your camera from the Capture Clip there is nothing to keep it from hitting the ground should you drop it.
This is the only thing I can really give to straps and that’s the added security from drops. Neck straps, sling straps, wrist straps, and hand straps all keep the camera connected to your body.
Using any of the previously mentioned straps in conjunction with the quick release plate will keep your camera safe.
While some people do this successfully, I’ve found it to be a nuisance and have since abandoned the idea. I just give the quick release plate an extra bit of torque and be extra careful with my camera.
So you might be like me and dislike the idea of a bottom mounted system. There’s no safety net should the bottom mount fail. Despite these 2 potential detractors, I’ve never been able to re commit to a camera strap of any kind.
And let me tell you, I’ve tried!
On a rare occasion I’ll use my Peak Design Slide Camera Strap when I find myself without a backpack.
It can be used effortlessly with the Peak Design Capture Clip V3 without having to remove the plate.
Although, my camera is clipped to my my chest or hip 99% of the time. It’s just that dang comfortable and secure.
You can also get the Peak Design Camera Slide Camera Strap in black if ash isn’t your color choice.
Peak Design Capture Clip is The Ultimate Camera Carry Solution
Peak Design’s Capture Clip V3 has a home on both my backpack and belt.
The 4-Way Quick Release Plate is permanently mounted to the bottom of my camera. My camera is locked in close to my body at all times and is easily accessible. I never have to worry about tripod compatibility thanks to the widely accepted Arca Swiss plate design.
Having 4 different positions on my belt helps me perform lens changes quickly and efficiently. If I want to use a strap I simply clip on the Peak Design Slide.
The Capture Clip V3 is easily my favorite piece of camera gear for it’s design and function.
I’m always outside and often hiking when shooting photography. A strap restricts bodily motions with a backpack on. They also let your camera perilously swing around while hiking and climbing over obstacles. Often times you need a hand or 2 to prevent the previous disposition. If I’m not comfortable out in the field my photography suffers.
With the Capture Clip V3 I can safely hike and easily access my camera when I’m ready to shoot.
If you’ve fallen in love with this piece of gear you’ll want to catch up on these 7 Peak Design Products: Camera Carry Redefined.
Do you own the Peak Design Capture Clip V3 or any other Peak Design Product? What are your thoughts on these products? I’d love to know in a comment below!
Like this? Pin it!
