3 Legged Thing Axis Camera Strap system review

The Three Legged Thing Axis camera strap system is a modular quick-release camera strap range that has just been released and once again shows what 3 Legged Thing can do when they innovate.

A while ago, we already saw the Arnie L-Bracket, which integrated the QD quick-release system, and now the Axis camera strap system. This new release complements that bracket and other accessories that feature the QD socket, enabling you to quickly click in and out of a vast variety of mounts.

While the QD system was initially associated with military and hunting gear, its crossover to photography, like so many other pieces of equipment and technology, is obvious. The QD mechanism is simply a push-button click-in/click-out quick-release. This enables you to secure your camera to a strap and then release it in less than a second.

This new Axis 44 camera strap with release system, whilst not alone on the market, is by far the fastest and least fussy, meaning that nothing other than the base plate or L-bracket needs to be connected to your camera, keeping things neat, not even toggles connected to the camera strap lugs. What I also liked about the camera strap is that it has been designed to remain worn when the camera is disconnected, as it just sits comfortably on your body, and when connected, it can work as a sling-style strap, so it’s nice and easy to use out in the field.

The Axis 44 is one of several new camera strap accessories from 3 Legged Thing, and in this review, I’ve looked at the Axis 44, which is the widest of the three camera straps available, which include the Axis 24, Axis 34, and the Axis wrist strap, the Axis Pulse. Then there’s also the Axis Sling with a larger pad and the Axis Double Sling, which is ideal for event photographers using two cameras or dual larger lenses.

One of the big features that 3 Legged Thing is keen to point out is that the Axis 44, along with the rest of the range, has been made in Great Britain, with Hypalon-reinforced stitching to give it extra durability. Sure enough, when my review sample arrived, I’d already seen a pre-production model, and while the quality of that example was exceptional, this final version refines the design and quality.

One of the designed features that I really like is the lever locks that work smoothly to secure and release the strap so that you can easily adjust the length. Once secured, there’s absolutely no slip in the strapping at all, and even if you do accidentally fail to secure it, there’s enough friction there to stop gravity dropping the camera.

On the shoulder parts of the strap, there’s decent slimline padding, which is extremely comfortable on your shoulder. Through the test, when switching between a 24–70mm or 70–200mm lenses on the A7 IV, that padding was enough to spread the load on my shoulder well without it cutting in. For heavier camera and lens combos, you might want to switch over to something like the Axis Sling, but for most people, the volume of padding on the Axis 44 spreads the weight nicely.

If you do find that you want a little bit of extra padding, optional padded linings will be available, and I’ll bring you more details when I find out more about these.

In this review, I am looking at the widest of the straps, as I’ve said, the Axis 44, but there’s an Axis 24 (compact), Axis 34 (for smaller DSLR and mirrorless cameras), and the Axis 44, for larger cameras. In this review, I’ll be using it with the Sony A7 IV and the Canon EOS R5 C, along with a variety of lenses.

What I really like about this strap is that, whilst it’s really advanced in its design and engineering, it keeps the features streamlined and understated. One of the main things is that it has a 4-Axis QD buckle, which enables it to be adjusted into several different positions, which gives you plenty of flexibility over the way the strap is worn.

Along with the strap comes an Arca-compatible base plate that has the QD socket built in, along with the quarter-inch thread. However, if you prefer, and in this review, you can use other plates as long as they feature a QD socket. I’ve used the Arnie L-bracket in this review as it just gives me a little more flexibility if I want to switch quickly from the strap to a tripod or gimbal, and enables me to shoot in both landscape and portrait orientation.

One of the interesting material choices, aside from the seatbelt-style material, which is widely used for camera straps these days, due to its durability, is complemented by Hypalon-reinforced stitching. That really means that wherever the straps are stitched, they should be sure to hold firm for many years, whatever the use and load.

When I first looked at the 3 Legged Thing Axis 44, it took a few seconds to work out. You’ve got the QD buckles on the ends, and your initial thought is that this is like any normal camera strap, and there should be some toggles that fit the camera strap lugs in order for these to click neatly in.

However, this isn’t the case; it’s far more clever. Essentially, one of those buckles clicks into the bracket on the strap, instantly creating a very lightweight sling that you can pop over your head and diagonally across the body with one QD buckle hanging free that then connects to the baseplate attached to your camera.

The strap padding instantly feels comfortable, with the strapping itself being nice and streamlined despite the buckles. When it comes to the adjustment, the locks all work well and enable smooth and easy adjustment.

While I initially used the small base plate that was provided with the strap, I prefer an L-bracket, so I swapped over to the 3 Legged Thing Arnie to be used for the Sony A7 III/A7 IV. There are, of course, similar versions available for Nikon and Canon, as well as other manufacturers.

The point of the Arnie is that it features the QD socket on the base. So, once again, in exactly the same way as the base plate supplied with the strap system, the Arnie will click directly into the strap and hold the camera really nicely and securely. Then, if you do want to quickly switch over to using a tripod, a very quick push of the button on top of the buckle, and the camera will release, ready to be mounted onto the tripod.

Compared with other strap systems, this is so much quicker to use. There’s no fiddling around with toggles, and whilst other systems are great and fast to use, this just takes that quick-release mechanism up another notch.

One of the things I was concerned about was how secure the QD system would be holding a relatively heavy camera. Any worries about this were quickly dispelled, after all, this system filters down from a military and hunting background, where the equipment used is far heavier.

The quick-release push mechanism with the QD buckle just works incredibly well. Once in place, it holds securely. Because it’s pivoted with the strap just above it, there’s absolutely no problem with accidentally pushing the button. To be honest, the pressure needed to release the QD buckle from the socket is far more than you could ever possibly apply accidentally, so there’s really very little, if any, worry that you would accidentally release the camera without meaning to.

I’ve been using the strap extensively for the last few weeks, and I’m just really impressed with the durability. The strap itself does look very simple, but the attention to detail, especially in the CNC machining of the buckles, is exceptionally high, and the overall finish is excellent.

I also really like the fact that 3 Legged Thing has kept the branding to an absolute minimum. Due to the work I’m doing at the moment, having no logos, or at least a very minimalistic logo, is essential. Here, just with a very discreet 3 Legged Thing logo on one part of the strap system, it makes it easy to cover when needed. I had the full black version, which again is handy if you do need to avoid brightly coloured reflections.

Are there any downsides after the test? This is, after all, just a strap, but it’s an innovative strap that feels comfortable, and once you start to use it, there’s no going back to a traditional strap.

The design is also left or right-handed, and it’s just as comfortable, which gives you plenty of flexibility.

With the Axis 44 that I’ve reviewed, it was always comfortable, although I will say that once I put on one of my larger lenses for wildlife, I would probably want to upgrade to the Axis Sling, just with that larger shoulder pad for a little bit of extra comfort. But otherwise, in all other uses, from just being out as an enthusiastic photographer to working professionally, the Axis 44 was an exceptionally good option.

When the 3LT Axis 44 first arrived, I sat there clicking in and out of that QD buckle system. I’d come across QD before, although never really for photographic use, with my first real introduction in the camera world being the Arnie L-bracket that I utilise on my Sony cameras.

To take it out in the field now with the Axis 44, I realised what an innovative and brilliant system this is for use with cameras. The fact that you can quickly attach your camera system to the strap and release it in under a second just makes using it that much quicker and easier than other systems.

For photography, it stands out as a great strapping system, and where it really came into its own was when I was out filming or photographing wildlife and sport. When shooting video, the fact that I could click in and out of the strap when carrying was just fast and thought-free, but then I would quickly click out of the strap and tripod or gimbal mount without having to faff around unclipping camera straps or dealing with toggles, just made things easy.

It was easy to use, and there was no complexity to its use.

At the end of the test, I was really impressed with what 3LT have achieved with this camera strap design. It’s small changes that make a big difference, and the integration of that QD system just makes all the difference.

For any photographer, from those just starting out through to professionals, the 3 Legged Thing Axis 44 really is something that will change the way you use camera straps, and I would highly recommend it as an essential purchase if you’re a videographer, or sports or wildlife photographer who uses gimbals and other mounting options.