I’ve used many digital camera setups via my years as an expert photographer. Nevertheless, one factor that has remained the identical for a very long time throughout a number of digital camera setups is the digital camera strap system I’ve been utilizing.
Since I first purchased my Peak Design Slide and Clutch digital camera straps in 2015, I’ve been just about completely utilizing the Peak Design strap system throughout all my DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
I’ve basically been field-testing my Peak Design digital camera straps for round a decade. I’ve taken all of them all over the world, from far beneath zero temperatures photographing the northern lights to the new and humid jungles of Uganda on gorilla trekking and birdwatching journeys.
My Peak Design Slide digital camera straps have been rained on, snowed on, lined in mud, stuffed in a digital camera bag, and usually been via the wringer.
One has even been chewed on by a fox (extra on that later!).
In any case that, I believed it was about time I put collectively a evaluation of the Peak Design digital camera straps, primarily based on my expertise really utilizing it.
I’ll cowl the nice, the dangerous, my expertise with Peak Design’s customer support, who the straps are for, the choices out there, and much extra.
Peak Design make quite a lot of straps for a variety of makes use of and digital camera sizes. By the tip of this evaluation, it is best to have a good suggestion of whether or not or not this strap system is an efficient possibility in your digital camera setup, in addition to which particular mannequin is perhaps best for you. Let’s begin with a fast introduction to Peak Design.
Contents
Who’s Peak Design?
Peak Design is a U.S. primarily based firm, based in 2010 by Peter Dering. The corporate launched its first product in 2011, a digital camera clip system referred to as Seize, which remains to be out there in the present day.
Peak Design primarily creates merchandise that are designed to assist folks manage, shield, pack, and use their images gear. These embrace digital camera straps and clips, digital camera luggage, tripods, and so forth.
Given their reputation, they’ve additionally launched some extra basic merchandise designs for vacationers and commuters, together with packing cubes, wash luggage, commuter backpacks, and cell phone circumstances.
They purpose to create merchandise which look good and final a very long time. They arrive with a lifetime guarantee as normal.
Peak Design is thought for his or her progressive and trendy designs. Lots of their merchandise are additionally designed to work properly collectively, so for instance you should utilize the strap to hold the tripod bag in addition to a digital camera.
Additionally they have stable environmental credentials, being totally carbon impartial, a registered B Corp, and so they additionally donate 1% of all their income to environmental nonprofits.
What’s so particular about Peak Design digital camera straps?
Peak Design began when its founder, Peter Dering, was on the lookout for a extra snug digital camera strap system after an extended journey again in 2010. The corporate’s first merchandise have been their progressive digital camera clips and straps, and it was these merchandise that originally made them in style amongst photographers.
The standout options of their straps, which I’ll cowl in additional depth, are their consolation, sturdiness, attachment system, supplies and guarantee.
Peak Design now make a number of totally different merchandise and I feel get a whole lot of buzz for his or her luggage. I do personal a number of different Peak Design merchandise. For instance, I at present have a Peak Design digital camera backpack, some digital camera packing cubes, and a Peak Design journey tripod.
Whereas I’ve appreciated lots of their different merchandise I’ve tried, I feel that their digital camera strap system stays their hero merchandise for a lot of photographers equivalent to myself.
I first purchased a Peak Design Slide strap again in 2015 and have by no means used one other digital camera strap system since. I now personal three of their Slide straps in addition to a Clutch strap, and proceed to advocate them to others primarily based on my expertise.
So, on this evaluation I’m going to concentrate on the Peak Design digital camera straps and go over the varied straps out there and share my private evaluation and experiences with them.
Peak Design Digicam Strap Decisions
Peak Design make a number of straps, with the primary variations being the scale of the strap (width, weight and size), in addition to how the strap is designed to be worn.
These variations make the varied strap fashions appropriate for various functions, with some straps being extra suited to bigger digital camera fashions and others suiting extra compact digital camera fashions for instance.
Some straps are additionally properly suited to different functions past being as digital camera strap, equivalent to for binoculars or as a strap in your tripod or digital camera bag.
Some Peak Design digital camera straps are designed as a full physique strap to be worn over a shoulder, across the neck, or as a sling, while different straps are designed as wrist or hand straps.
The principle digital camera straps that Peak Design supply are as follows.
Peak Design Slide Strap
That is the primary strap that I exploit for my cameras, I at present personal three of those straps. They’ve had slight tweaks over time however the primary design is identical.
The strap is designed so you possibly can put on it in 3 ways, as a neck strap, a shoulder strap and a sling strap. My private favourite is carrying it as a sling strap.
The strap is made out of a powerful nylon webbing materials, which is actually fairly like a seatbelt strap in texture and really feel. The vast majority of the strap is clean and slides simply.
The realm which sits round your neck or shoulder (relying on the way you put on it) is padded internally for consolation. It additionally has a gripped floor on one aspect to stop the strap from sliding round.
The strap is adjustable, with a fast launch deal with that allows you to rapidly and simply modify how lengthy the strap is. The utmost size is 57″ (145cm) and the minimal size is 39″ (99cm).
The strap comes with an anchor mount, 4 anchor connectors, a hex wrench and a microfiber pouch. It may well deal with gear as much as 200lbs.
That is the strap I might usually advocate for carrying a bigger setup equivalent to a much bigger mirrorless or DSLR digital camera in addition to bigger telephoto lenses. It’s additionally a good selection should you simply favor a wider strap as the load is distributed extra evenly.
See extra in regards to the Peak Design Slide strap right here.
Peak Design Slide Lite Strap
The Slide Lite is actually similar to the Slide, it’s only a bit thinner. Nevertheless, it will probably deal with the identical weight load and has the identical options.
So you continue to get the anchor level system, snug clean nylon webbing with padding and a grippy aspect, and adjustability. You additionally get all the identical merchandise within the field.
Nevertheless, the strap is 1.3″ vast (32mm) in comparison with the 1.8″ (45mm) of the unique Slide. So should you really feel the Slide is a bit chunky in your tastes, then the Slide Lite is perhaps for you. It nonetheless has the identical most size of 57″ (145cm) and minimal size of 39″ (99cm).
It may well additionally assist the identical weight, however I’d advocate it for barely smaller mirrorless cameras, bridge cameras, and binoculars slightly than the most important of gadgets.
This isn’t as a result of it will probably’t take the load, however slightly is extra to do with consolation over lengthy intervals of carrying the strap.
A barely thinner strap means the load isn’t distributed over as a lot space, so over time the Slide is prone to be extra snug with notably heavy setups.
See extra in regards to the Peak Design Slide Lite strap right here.
Peak Design Leash
Should you’re a minimalist however you continue to desire a excessive performing digital camera strap, then the Peak Design Leash is probably going the strap for you.
That is the thinnest common strap that Peak Design provides. As with the Slide and Slide Mild, it may be configured as a sling, neck or shoulder strap. You additionally get the padded webbing part with a grippy aspect in addition to the anchor hyperlink system.
The principle distinction is that the strap is simply 0.75″(19mm) vast. The max size of 57″ is identical, however you possibly can really make Leash shorter, right down to 32.6″ (83cm).
Leash is an efficient possibility in order for you a extremely minimalist digital camera strap. As with Slide Lite, I’d advocate it for smaller digital camera setups, particularly should you plan to hold them round for a protracted time period.
See extra in regards to the Peak Design Leash strap right here.
Peak Design Cuff Wrist Strap
Not everybody needs an extended digital camera strap that goes round their entire physique, and in case you are a kind of folks, Peak Design has you lined with plenty of choices. The primary of those is Cuff.
Cuff is a wrist strap which, because the identify suggests, permits you to put your digital camera on a strap which you safe round your wrist. And I do imply safe, as there’s an adjustable locking slider which helps you to cinch Cuff round your wrist so it will probably’t slip off over your hand.
In fact, you don’t have to do this, however it’s in all probability a good suggestion should you do.
By way of the strap itself, it’s product of the identical nylon webbing as Peak Design’s different straps. There’s no grip however there’s a spotlight space which fits round your wrist, which is obtainable in both leather-based or a cloth referred to as Hypalon which is vegan. Width sensible it’s the identical as Leash, at 0.75″ (19mm).
The strap additionally has a magnetic clasp, which cleverly permits you to put on it as a bracelet when not in use as a digital camera wrist strap, which is fairly neat.
By way of what it will probably carry, as a result of it makes use of the identical materials and anchor hyperlink system as the opposite straps, it will probably deal with as much as 200lbs (90kg) of drugs as properly.
So, should you don’t wish to put on an enormous strap however nonetheless wish to hold your gear secure when it’s in your arms, Cuff is a superb possibility.
I’d say it’s higher for people who are inclined to put a digital camera away in a bag and take it out once more usually slightly than carrying a digital camera over their physique on a regular basis.
See extra in regards to the Peak Design Cuff strap right here.
Peak Design Clutch Strap
Clutch is Peak Design’s hand strap. It’s mainly designed to sit down on the aspect of your digital camera and goes round your hand when you find yourself gripping your digital camera.
This provides you extra peace of thoughts when holding your digital camera, particularly in case you are utilizing a heavier digital camera with no strap round you.
Clutch makes use of the identical anchor hyperlink design at one finish as their different straps, which attaches to the digital camera’s base utilizing the included tripod appropriate base plate.
I’ve had my Clutch for a similar period of time as I’ve had my Slide straps. I’ll admit that it took a little bit of time to regulate to utilizing it on my digital camera as initially my hand wasn’t used to having a strap across the outdoors of it when holding my digital camera. Nevertheless, I rapidly received used to it, after which I discovered utilizing a digital camera physique with out it felt odd!
I’ve really had two variations of Clutch. The primary model I had for a very long time, however the strap the place it hooked up to the digital camera wore via from friction over time.
I contacted Peak Design and so they despatched me the newer model which changed the model I purchased. This encompasses a totally different sort of fabric on the level mine failed which I’m happy to report has not suffered from this situation.
Total, I might say in case you are on the lookout for a hand strap for a bigger digital camera, undoubtedly contemplate Clutch. It’s a bit massive for smaller cameras, however clearly Peak Design has an answer for that situation within the type of the subsequent product on this checklist!
See extra in regards to the Peak Design Clutch strap right here.
Peak Design Micro Clutch
Micro Clutch is mainly a smaller model of the Clutch strap. It’s designed particularly for smaller mirrorless digital camera techniques, with the concept being that as a substitute of placing your entire hand in it, you solely use it with between two and 4 fingers.
This leads to a small and unobtrusive strap that also provides you the safety of a hand strap.
This one doesn’t really include the anchor hyperlink system, nonetheless the bottom plate does have loop attachment factors so you should utilize the provided base plate with different Peak Design straps if you wish to combine and match.
Total, Micro Clutch is a good suggestion in order for you a extremely small strap for a smaller mirrorless digital camera. It’s not appropriate for bigger cameras, however helpfully Peak Design has a digital camera compatibility information for micro clutch which you’ll see right here.
You’ll be able to see extra in regards to the Peak Design Micro Clutch strap right here.
Peak Design Strap Options
As you possibly can see, there are a variety of Peak Design straps to select from. Now I’m going to undergo the important thing options of the straps.
Anchor Hyperlink System
The anchor hyperlink system is, for my part, what makes the Peak Design straps so distinctive and versatile.
The anchor hyperlink is the way in which that almost all of Peak Designs straps connect to your digital camera, binoculars, bag, or no matter else you wish to carry. After getting used it along with your gear it’s actually exhausting to think about utilizing some other system.
The anchor hyperlink is a fast launch strap system which is made up of two components.
The primary half is the short connector which is hooked up to the strap. Peak Designs straps all include the short connector already hooked up, however you can even purchase them to connect to any current digital camera strap you personal.
The second a part of the system is the anchor connector. This can be a small spherical tab with a nylon loop. These are designed to simply connect to a variety of merchandise, together with cameras, luggage, and the Peak Design fast launch tripod plate, which is how I connect them to my cameras.
Regardless of their diminutive dimension, the anchor system is rated to assist 200lbs (90kg) of weight, which ought to be greater than sufficient for even the heaviest digital camera setup. I’ve used mine for years and by no means had a failure.
Clean Nylon Webbing
Most of Peak Design’s straps are produced from a powerful nylon webbing, which has similarities in texture and really feel to a seatbelt strap. Seatbelt straps are clearly extremely robust, given their supposed goal, and Peak Design straps are additionally extremely robust.
What I actually like about them is that they don’t appear to lose structural integrity should you occur to break them barely.
For instance, I used to be capturing at sundown in cemetery in Glasgow, Scotland one night, and a curious fox came to visit to see what I used to be as much as.
I put one in all my cameras down on the bottom and began taking footage of the fox, at which level he determined he needed to steal my digital camera in case it was edible. He did this by grabbing the Peak Design strap in his tooth and dragging my digital camera away.
Clearly, I finished him, however not earlier than he’d put some good sharp tooth holes in my strap!
I’ve continued to personal and use that strap for years for the reason that fox incident, and the opening hasn’t impacted efficiency or gotten any greater. It’s only a neat reminder of a cool encounter I had as soon as!
Now, clearly I wouldn’t encourage anybody to break their strap to see the way it performs. However my expertise has proven that the straps proceed to carry out properly even after prolonged use, and a few slightly uncommon harm!
The webbing on many of the straps even have a really grippy part which stops the straps from sliding round in your physique as you progress round.
Lifetime Guarantee
Peak Design provides a lifetime guarantee for his or her merchandise towards manufacturing defects, and failures or breakages that render half or your entire product to grow to be non-functional.
This doesn’t cowl beauty blemishes, scratches, stains, or put on & tear. Nor does it cowl failures or breakages resulting from misuse, neglect, or intentional harm.
In my case, I’m undecided the fox encounter can be lined, though provided that the strap works nice, that’s not been a problem.
I’ve had two events to make use of the lifetime guarantee, and in each circumstances Peak Design honored it. The primary was to switch my Clutch which wore via, and as I stated, they’d already recognized and addressed this downside with the newer model. You’ll be able to see the wear and tear within the picture beneath.
The opposite situation I had was with a restricted version crimson coloured model of the Peak Design Slide.
This one had a unique sort of grip materials to different variations I’ve owned, which was a kind of rubber compound.
This labored nice till I took it trekking within the Ugandan jungle on the lookout for gorillas. Sadly, a mixture of warmth and humidity, coupled with a whole lot of motion, brought on the rubber to basically soften throughout my shirt.
The strap grew to become a sticky mess (though it clearly nonetheless labored superb as a strap). You’ll be able to see how this ended up within the picture beneath.
I contacted Peak Design about this, and so they dispatched a substitute strap to me freed from cost. Additionally they let me know that they’d since modified the fabric used for the grip space, so this downside wouldn’t occur once more.
I’ve been utilizing the substitute strap for a few years now and I can affirm it has held up properly with no meltdowns but, and the grip materials is certainly completely totally different.
Adjustability
Clearly, everyone seems to be constructed otherwise, so having a one dimension matches all strap isn’t going to work for everybody.
Peak Design’s straps may be adjusted. The precise mechanism and vary of adjustment varies barely relying on the strap mannequin, however the primary factor is that they are often adjusted to go well with the necessities of the person person.
Strap Colours
Peak Design supply their straps in quite a lot of colours. Colours range relying on the product.
Within the case of Slide for instance, you at present have a alternative of traditional black, sage inexperienced, midnight blue, ash gray, and coyote brown. Additionally they often do particular version straps of various colours.
Relying on the kind of images you do, you would possibly favor a unique strap coloration.
For instance, wildlife photographers will in all probability just like the coyote brown coloration because it blends in properly with camo type and pure colours. Black is a superb coloration that work nice for those who simply need one thing that may go together with all the things and matches most digital camera our bodies.
Peak Design Digicam Strap Overview
I’ll now go into some extra element concerning my private expertise utilizing the Peak Design digital camera straps, together with what I like, and areas I really feel could possibly be improved.
What I Like About Peak Design Straps
The factor I really like most about my Peak Design straps is the anchor hyperlink system. I feel it’s actually intelligent, and it makes attaching and eradicating straps tremendous simple.
Let me clarify why I prefer it a lot for my private setup.
The way in which Jess and I usually put on our Peak Design straps is crossbody, like a sling. The strap attaches to the underside of the digital camera, the place the tripod thread gap is.
This can be a pretty widespread design characteristic for sling straps, the place the digital camera is inverted round your midsection space.
I discover this to be a cushty technique to put on a digital camera for a protracted time period, definitely far more snug and sensible than having it bouncing round on a neck strap.
The issue with many sling type digital camera straps that use the digital camera’s tripod mount level is that they require you to place an attachment into the digital camera’s tripod mount gap to connect the strap to.
This implies you possibly can’t connect it to a tripod with out totally eradicating the strap system.
The factor is, I all the time have a fast launch tripod plate hooked up to my digital camera our bodies and telephoto lens collars. I exploit a tripod loads (see my explanation why you want a tripod right here for why), and for ease of use I completely use tripods which have a fast launch plate system.
Which means I connect a particular tripod plate to the bottom of the digital camera, which implies I can connect my digital camera to a tripod very simply with out having to screw or unscrew issues.
So you possibly can see the conundrum. I desire a strap system I can go away on on a regular basis, that makes use of the tripod mount level on my digital camera, but in addition lets me use a fast launch tripod plate system.
Fortunately, the Peak Design system does simply that. Through the use of the tripod appropriate Peak Design mounting plate on my digital camera, I can connect my digital camera to any Arca appropriate tripod head (Manfrotto appropriate plates are additionally out there) with out having to take away the strap system. It’s seamless and simple to make use of.
The flexibleness and ease of use of the short launch system can also be nice. For instance, I even have a pair of enormous telephoto lenses, the place I favor to connect the strap to the tripod collar slightly than the physique of the digital camera, as it’s extra balanced that means once I carry the digital camera.
With the short launch anchor system, I simply must have anchor connectors on the lenses tripod collar.
After I change lenses from a large angle to a telephoto, I can rapidly transfer my Peak Design strap from the digital camera physique anchor connectors to the telephoto anchor connectors. I may even use a seperate strap, and simply carry the telephoto lens over my different shoulder if I would like.
In fact, the pliability continues. You’ll be able to have anchor factors on the digital camera’s high strap connector hooks in order for you. Just about each digital camera on the market has normal strap connecting factors on the higher physique of the digital camera the place the usual strap that comes with the digital camera attaches.
So should you put anchor connections right here, you possibly can go from carrying your digital camera sling type, to carrying it the extra conventional means round your neck, or over your shoulder.
Okay, that was loads in regards to the Peak Design anchor system. What else do I really like in regards to the Peak Design straps?
Nicely, clearly they’re actually snug. The padded part of the strap is snug, and I’ve actually worn mine for a lot of hours on lengthy hikes with out feeling uncomfortable or prefer it’s rubbing in any means.
If I’m capturing occasions, or some other scenario the place I would like easy accessibility to a few lenses on the similar time, I normally put on two straps, crossbody. This provides me easy accessibility to a digital camera on every hip, slicing out the time wanted to vary lenses, which could possibly be time the place I’m lacking a shot. That’s additionally extremely snug.
I additionally like that the straps are simple to regulate, and that they simply work. My expertise with customer support has additionally been nice once I wanted it.
Clearly, no-one needs a product to have points, however for a corporation to rise to the event and resolve the issue as they’ve finished each time, speaks volumes in my e book.
How Might Peak Design Enhance their Straps?
What I like about Peak Design is that they’re all the time bettering on their merchandise primarily based on buyer suggestions. For essentially the most half, the brand new model of the product replaces the previous model of the product.
Most upgrades are iterative, so that you don’t essentially must improve should you already personal the product.
Nevertheless, in case you are a brand new person, you may be assured figuring out that you’re getting one of the best model of the product so far. With my instance of the strap that melted into my shirt, that downside was addressed with a brand new materials.
Nevertheless, not all of the adjustments are essentially upgrades.
For instance, once I first purchased my Peak Design Slide straps, they got here with a tripod appropriate plate. This meant that I might connect them to my digital camera and use them with a tripod immediately.
Sadly, the vast majority of their straps now solely include an anchor mount which isn’t appropriate with tripod fast launch plates. So, it’s important to purchase that half individually, with each an Arca appropriate plate and a Manfrotto RC2 appropriate plate out there.
Now, should you occur to purchase a Peak Design journey tripod, this does include the required plate. So possibly now that Peak Design additionally make tripods, they really feel it makes extra sense to bundle the tripod plate with the tripod. Moreover, as they will’t inform what sort of tripod plate the end-user requires, sending them an incompatible plate isn’t an incredible buyer expertise.
Nonetheless, I appreciated it once I received my Arca appropriate plate once I first purchased my Peak Design Slide strap because it let me use the strap instantly with the tripod I had on the time with no need to fork out for extra equipment. So I want to see it as an possibility maybe at checkout for a small improve price even when it’s not included once more.
One other space that has involved some customers of Peak Design straps is that the adjustment mechanism is a steel loop, and I’ve seen reviews that these can scratch a digital camera physique when packed in a bag. Personally, I’ve not had this downside, however my digital camera our bodies get fairly banged up anyway!
Nevertheless, if it is a concern, you would possibly wish to pack the strap individually.
Lastly, when it comes to enhancements, it is perhaps good to see a system for carrying two cameras that doesn’t contain simply having a “X” form of straps throughout my physique. Some digital camera strap techniques supply a twin carry system which is extra like a physique harness, and I’d have an interest to see if that’s one thing Peak Design might supply.
That’s simply an thought slightly than a criticism although as I’ve actually been snug carrying the 2 straps crossbody.
Apart from the above, I’ve not received a lot else to say in regards to the Peak Design strap system that wants enchancment! Clearly, they’re comparatively costly as straps go, however I do really feel you might be getting a well-made and high quality product that may final a very long time.
Peak Design Digicam Strap Overview Abstract
As I stated initially of this evaluation, I’ve been utilizing the Peak Design straps for a few years, throughout a number of digital camera our bodies and lenses. In all that point they’ve saved my gear secure, which is the primary goal of the strap. I additionally discover them extremely snug to put on even for lengthy intervals of time.
I feel they provide probably the greatest strap techniques available on the market, with straps which can be snug and safe. Their lifetime guarantee can also be one thing they stand by.
Total, I feel the primary resolution most individuals must make can be which strap to purchase. I’d say when you’ve got a heavier digital camera setup, particularly if going to make use of telephoto lenses, to go for the Peak Design Slide. For smaller cameras and lighter set ups, for my part it’s a choice between Slide Lite and Leash.
Then, should you favor a much less obtrusive setup, contemplate Cuff. And eventually, in order for you extra safety when gripping your digital camera, take a look at Clutch and Micro Clutch.
Actually, I feel whichever product you select you’ll be pleased with its efficiency, construct high quality, and longevity.
Additional Studying
That’s it for my evaluation of the Peak Design strap system – I hope you discovered it useful. Earlier than you go, I needed to share a few of our different content material which we expect one can find helpful.
- I’ve an in depth evaluation of the Peak Design journey tripod
- Our evaluation of the Vanguard VEO 2 265CB tripod after three years of normal use.
- A evaluation of the Vanguard VEO 2Go 265HCBM, the VEO 3+ 263AB and the VEO 3T+ 264CB.
- We’ve got a information to why you want a tripod, a information to selecting a journey tripod, and a round-up of our favourite journey tripods
- We’ve got a information to use a compact digital camera, use a DSLR digital camera, and use a mirrorless digital camera. We even have a information to how a DSLR works
- Realizing compose an incredible picture is a key images ability. See our information to composition in images for many tips about this topic
- We’ve got a information to what depth of area is and while you would wish to use it.
- We’re huge followers of getting essentially the most out of your digital picture recordsdata, and do to that you will want to shoot in RAW. See our information to RAW in images to know what RAW is, and why it is best to change to RAW as quickly as you possibly can in case your digital camera helps it.
- You’re going to want one thing to run your picture modifying software program on. See our information to one of the best laptops for picture modifying for some tips about what to search for.
- Should you’re on the lookout for extra recommendation on particular ideas for various eventualities, we additionally have you ever lined. See our information to Northern Lights images, lengthy publicity images, fireworks images, ideas for taking photographs of stars, and chilly climate images.
- Should you’re on the lookout for an incredible present for a images loving good friend or member of the family (or your self!), check out our images present information,
- Should you’re available in the market for a brand new digital camera, we’ve got an in depth information to the greatest journey cameras, in addition to particular guides for the greatest cameras for climbing and backpacking, the greatest compact digital camera, greatest mirrorless digital camera and greatest DSLR digital camera. We even have a information to the greatest digital camera lenses.
- If you need a digital camera or lens, however the costs are a bit excessive, see our information to the place to purchase used cameras and digital camera gear for some price range financial savings choices.
And that’s it! As all the time, when you’ve got any feedback or questions on this put up, simply pop them within the feedback part beneath and we’ll reply as quickly as we are able to!
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