Review: Peak Design Capture Clip
Review: Peak Design Capture Clip
When I first got into photography, I wanted to capture scenes and moments from my adventures, whether it be hiking, biking, travelling, or anything else out and about. The first problem that I had with this was trying to find a way to carry my camera with me while still having easy access to it, but without having it swinging around my neck or shoulder all day. Even though I have a tiny Sony mirrorless camera, it doesn’t quite fit in a jacket or pants pocket, and digging it out of a backpack every time I want to use it gets old very fast. After a lot of research and coming across lots of clunky looking products with straps and velcro everywhere, I finally found the Capture Clip that is made by a company called Peak Design. The Capture Clip lets me attach my camera to the shoulder strap of any backpack which keeps it secure, easy to access, and always ready for when I need it.
Alright, so there’s a lot of things that I buy and use that I definitely don’t need to. This goes for most hobbies that I do, and is especially true for photography. One thing, however, that I would have a hard time going without is my Peak Design Capture Clip.
If you were to ask me, “If you were on a desert island and could only have one piece of photography gear”, I would probably have to pick the Capture Clip. I would then realize that I had answered too quickly because without a camera itself, the clip isn’t very good so I should have thought that one through a bit further. But once I learned to live with my decision, I would realize that you could actually fashion the Capture Clip into some kind of a knife, or throwing star, or bottle opener, so it would end up being pretty handy anyways. Now I’ve gotten myself very side tracked, but my point is that the Peak Design Capture Clip is one piece of gear that solves so many problems for me that I would have a hard time being without one.
How it works:
The best thing about the Capture Clip is how simple it is to use. There is a front and a back plate which are connected with two screws. To put it on a backpack strap you simply loosen the screws, swing the clip open to put it around a strap, then tighten the screws down by hand.
The second half of the equation is the plate that mounts on the bottom of the camera body. My camera is a Sony a6000 and has a very thin body so I use the Micro Plate. This just threads into the tripod hole on the bottom of all cameras.
To connect the camera to the clip on the backpack, you then just slide it on until it clicks. This holds it in place securely while you do your walking, hiking, biking or whatever you’re up to. When you need the camera, you simply press down the red button on the side and slide the camera out of the clip.
The best part about the set-up, however, is that the plate on the bottom of the camera doubles as a tripod plate (you just have to get either the Arca-Type or Manfrotto style plate depending on your type of tripod). This means that you can move your camera from a tripod to the Capture Clip without having to switch plate.
Check out the video below to see the Capture Clip in action:
Durability:
Because the Capture Clip has such a simple design and is made out of Aluminum, it seems to be indestructible. There is no velcro, webbing, or straps that will wear out over time. I’ve had mine for at least 3 or 4 years and the only sign of wear is a bit of scratching and chipping. I also don’t get precious about my Capture Clip and it’s always on one of my bags and stays there whether I’m chucking it in luggage compartments on planes or dragging it through muddy and wet caves.
Cost:
For the value that the Capture Clip provides, I think that the cost is well worth it. You can get the regular Capture Clip for $69.95.
Things to consider when buying one:
You can’t go wrong with either the Capture or Capture Pro and they are such a simple product that there isn’t much to think about. If you want the full aluminum plates and the ability to use the clip as a tripod head then go with the Capture Pro. Otherwise, go with the Capture. Simple as that.
One thing that I would definitely suggest though, is to get a set of extra long screws. For any straps of significant thickness, it can be a bit of struggle to get the clip on with regular screws. With the longer set, however, I’ve gotten it on every pack that I own (even my F-Stop Tilopa which seems to have extra thick padded straps).
You should also consider which mounting plate you want to go with. First thing is the type of tripod head that you plan to use (if you use one at all). That’s a quick decision and you can go with either Manfrotto or Arca-Type (or the new Pro Plate which will handle both). Then you can get either the standard size or the Micro Plate. I use the Micro Plate because my camera is a thinner mirrorless camera and it fits the profile of the camera better. If you have a full DSLR or anything bigger than a mirrorless camera you should probably get the standard size. Because Micro Plate is rectangular, it can only go into the clip forwards and backwards, whereas the larger square plates can go into the clip in 4 directions. This doesn’t matter much to me, however, because I always put my camera into the clip the same way every time anyways.
Conclusion:
Well, if you’re not convinced now that you need a Capture Clip, then there isn’t much else that I can tell you. I have absolutely no complaints about the product and it’s one of the few things that I’ve ever used that I think is a completely flawless product. It’s so simple, intuitive, and easy to use that you can’t go wrong with it.
Even though it’s so simple there are so many ways that you can use it. If you find yourself wishing you had a better way to carry your camera when you’re riding your bike to work, hiking in the mountains, travelling, or whatever else you like to do, then the Peak Design Capture Clip might be the answer. Don’t even bother looking at the competition unless you’re into wrapping yourself up in harnesses, velcro and straps.
The Peak Design Capture Clip is an absolute must if you want to be able to carry your camera with you and have easy access to it without having to constantly hold it or have it swinging from your neck.
While you’re at it, you should grab yourself one of the awesome straps that Peak Design makes. I like to use the Peak Design Leash!
What is this site about?
This site is my place to share everything that I know about photography and travel. I'm not an expert, I'm just a guy who loves this stuff and I want to share everything that I learn, as I learn it, with complete honesty and transparency. So, whether you're looking to improve your photography or you want to learn more about travelling to a new place, I want to help you on your journey. Check out my about page to find out more and get in contact with me. I'd love to hear from you!
