Thoughts on Peak Design Slide, Slide Lite, Leash and Cuff with Q2

[Alexia]

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So I have been a fan of Peak Design for a while.  I had a bit of a journey having started with a Slide for my Nikon D750, the purchased the Slide Lite for my new Q2, and then finally the Leash which arrived last week.  I have been using the Leash for two major events the past week.  I thought some folks here might benefit from my humble observations on all of these.

Key takeaways:

1. Peak is one amazing firm.  Incredible design.  Perhaps the most impressive is the new carbon fiber Travel Tripod which I may comment on later but it just arrived and I just don't have enough experience to have an informed opinion.  But the design quality from this company is simply stellar in my opinion.
2. The Slide is huge.  It works really well for massive pro SLRs and big lenses but really is overkill for a Q2 as many here would probably guess.  Great product.  Just too bulky.
3. Slide Lite is really terrific.   A fine choice for the Q2 and very comfortable.  One issue I had is the material is very thick and bulky and takes a bit away from the compactness of the Q2.  It is particularly noticeable when the camera is held up to the face with both sides hanging down.
4. Peak Design Leash.  In my humble opinion, this is the product to get.  Very compact, very strong and very comfortable (although not as comfortable as the Slide Lite in my experience).  This feels like a perfect partner for the Q2. Full strap adjustment and the cool red anchor based system common across all the Peak Design gear.  Now you need to have some oval rings to attack the anchors to as the new V4 version of the anchors are too thick to go through the Leica eyelets.  Hopefully the Q3 will have wider eyelets.
5. Peak Design Cuff.  This hand grip is just another perfect product for the Q2 and the anchor system allows a fast changeover from the other straps.  The security of the cuff and compact storage possible is, again, a well-thought out design.

Hopefully the members here will find these thoughts valuable.  I should also not the that black version with red contrast stitching is quite a handsome match for the Q2.

All in all, a great company.  Very much curious learn about the new products coming in this week's announcement...

Edited February 7, 2022 by Alexia

[liggy]

I love the PD ecosystem.  So far I’ve used the Q2 with a Leash,  Cuff and Slide Lite.  Leash is the sweet spot for PD stuff but lately I’ve been going with PD Anchors to use other straps with more style or luxury that seat belt material.  

Hard to beat the quick adjustability of PD but I always remove the strap before it goes into a bag because of the metal adjusters. 

[kirkmc]

I use the Leash with a Fujifilm X-E4. With my Q2M, I use a rope strap; I like something more substantial. I also have a Cuff - an older version than the one sold today - and like it a lot, but I think the Q2 is a bit heavy to use with that, though the main point of the Cuff is to prevent it from falling.

[LocalHero1953]

Those metal buckles on the straps would make me nervous in the same bag as my camera.

I had the Cuff for a while but didn't get on with a loop that can tighten around your wrist - it makes it difficult to get off in a hurry. I prefer a fixed-size loop.

Just other things to think about.

[hoolyproductions]

I've been using the leash with my SL2S since late Autumn, with 24-90, 90-280 and some primes. I really like it although imagine a bit more padding (slide lite) would be a good idea in the summer when I don't have so many layers on to give me extra padding

I have two cameras and just swap the strap out depending on which one I am using. 

[Dave in Wales]

Quick-release = that which can come undone, will come undone....eventually.

Just visualise your beloved Q? or M? heading towards a concrete pathway.

IMVHO they are a bit of a dogs breakfast anyway.

[kirkmc]

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1 minute ago, Dave in Wales said:

Quick-release = that which can come undone, will come undone....eventually.

Just visualise your beloved Q? or M? heading towards a concrete pathway.

IMVHO they are a bit of a dogs breakfast anyway.

No, they don't come undone like that. Have you ever used them? 

[Dave in Wales]

Yes, a Leash.......sold it, sharpish.

And put a fixed strap back on the camera.

[Alexia]

3 hours ago, hoolyproductions said:

I've been using the leash with my SL2S since late Autumn, with 24-90, 90-280 and some primes. I really like it although imagine a bit more padding (slide lite) would be a good idea in the summer when I don't have so many layers on to give me extra padding

I have two cameras and just swap the strap out depending on which one I am using. 

I think if they added some padding and the silicon non-slips to the Leash, it would be perfect.

[Alexia]

1 hour ago, Dave in Wales said:

Quick-release = that which can come undone, will come undone....eventually.

Just visualise your beloved Q? or M? heading towards a concrete pathway.

IMVHO they are a bit of a dogs breakfast anyway.

They are way more secure than you imagine.  The anchors don't slip out of the holder and the anchor can hold 200 pounds of weight.  They are over-engineered on purpose.

[WeiterWinkel]

vor 30 Minuten schrieb Alexia:

They are way more secure than you imagine.  The anchors don't slip out of the holder and the anchor can hold 200 pounds of weight.  They are over-engineered on purpose.

You are completely right. A slide for my SL2 and one leash+cuff for the Q2 and Q2M. It's only a quick clip-change from on Q to the other. I've got those for a long time and never experienced any failure.

Edited February 7, 2022 by WeiterWinkel
forgot the cuff

[LocalHero1953]

The quick release connectors were never one of my concerns about PD straps.

[acg69]

I agree with the original post 100%. After trying several different brands and designs I ended up using a Leash and a Cuff form the Q2. I use the older anchors with the thinner cord without a problem. As was said, they can stand a multiple of the Q2's weight/ Design is great in my opinion, but, as they say, different strokes for different folks. However, from a usability standpoint, if you need to change between a wriststrap and a neck strap in a jiffy, there is nothing else out there that comes close. I also use their Slings (5L and 10L) for the Q2 with all its  stuff (5L) and the drone/Q2/ipad combo (10L). 

[kirkmc]

40 minutes ago, acg69 said:

I agree with the original post 100%. After trying several different brands and designs I ended up using a Leash and a Cuff form the Q2. I use the older anchors with the thinner cord without a problem. As was said, they can stand a multiple of the Q2's weight/ Design is great in my opinion, but, as they say, different strokes for different folks. However, from a usability standpoint, if you need to change between a wriststrap and a neck strap in a jiffy, there is nothing else out there that comes close. I also use their Slings (5L and 10L) for the Q2 with all its  stuff (5L) and the drone/Q2/ipad combo (10L). 

I have two slings as well; it's 6l and 10l. Brilliant bags. I had one of their older messenger bags, but it was too heavy empty. Put a couple of cameras in it and it was a real drag. 

[marchyman]

A cuff for my Q, a leash for my M, and a slide for my dslr.  All are early vintage Peak Design... I understand the designs have changed a bit since I got mine.

[codocee]

Careful using oval rings with the anchors. The nylon cord on the anchors can slide under the rings while using a shoulder strap and eventually become detached from the ring.  Last week on vacation my X100F did just that. I felt and saw it coming and deflected the camera with my foot about a foot from the street. I had a half case attached and experienced zero damage...it must have hit the case.

Fortunately, my M9M was back at the house and not attached to the strap. When I got home, I applied tape over the oval ring openings on both cameras and am ordering new, tighter rings to prevent a repeat. I also gaffered the metal PD anchors to prevent scratches to my bodies.

I’m also researching a fail safe approach to strapping my brand new Q2. The nylon cord of the PD design makes me a bit nervous. I’ll post my solution once I’ve decided which way to go. The beauty of swapping straps is the plus of the system.

Just a heads up!

Edited February 8, 2022 by codocee
Edit

[hdmesa]

I could never make friends with the PD straps, though I tried. Felt like I was wearing a seat belt. I hated their wrist strap for auto-tightening on my wrist and for taking two hands to undo. I also had to take their wrist strap off every time I stowed the camera so the metal cuff didn't scratch anything. A strap in leather and/or Paracord is my preference for Leica gear, and I think that better matches the aesthetic of the Leica cameras. 

[Alexia]

11 hours ago, kirkmc said:

I have two slings as well; it's 6l and 10l. Brilliant bags. I had one of their older messenger bags, but it was too heavy empty. Put a couple of cameras in it and it was a real drag. 

This is brilliant as I think the 6L Sling will fit in my Tumi backpack.  That's really all I need.  I may get one to try out.

[Alexia]

4 minutes ago, hdmesa said:

I could never make friends with the PD straps, though I tried. Felt like I was wearing a seat belt. I hated their wrist strap for auto-tightening on my wrist and for taking two hands to undo. I also had to take their wrist strap off every time I stowed the camera so the metal cuff didn't scratch anything. A strap in leather and/or Paracord is my preference for Leica gear, and I think that better matches the aesthetic of the Leica cameras. 

Did you try the Leash?  I think the Slide varieties do have a seatbelt feel but the Leash seems more purpose built for Leica bodies.

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[hdmesa]

1 minute ago, Alexia said:

Did you try the Leash?  I think the Slide varieties do have a seatbelt feel but the Leash seems more purpose built for Leica bodies.

I have not, but I also don't like having any buckles/hardware on my straps if at all possible. I prefer to use ~125cm straps cross-body and have never felt like I needed it to be shorter and wished for something adjustable. The Leash does look more like it matches the Q/Q2 than their other straps, though.