Does the New Peak Design Micro Clutch Live Up to Expectations? We Review

Peak Design has a great reputation for well-made equipment. So, I was eager to try out their new Micro Clutch, as it met a need I had. Would it be as good as it promised?

What Os the Peak Design Micro Clutch?

If you are not familiar with them, Peak Design manufactures a range of top-of-the-range camera gear products from bags to tripods and is probably best known for their camera straps. The company was launched by its CEO, Peter Dering, back in 2011. It’s an independent business with no external investors that is steadily growing. It is 100% carbon-neutral. They have earned a great reputation for innovative and high-quality products.

The Micro Clutch is a short, padded strap that runs from the right-hand side strap anchor on the camera to an L plate that is attached to the camera’s base. It’s designed for carrying the camera securely in your hand and is especially useful when you don’t want to use a neck or shoulder strap. It helps you grip the camera, thus adding stability.

What interested me was the inclusion of an Arca Swiss tripod plate that you can also attach. I often shoot seascapes using a tripod and will then dismount the camera to take some handheld shots. Therefore, a more secure grip when I scramble over rocks or wade into the sea would be ideal.

Getting to Know the Micro Clutch

In the all-cardboard packaging are the L Plate, strap, tripod quick-release plate adaptor, and attachment screws. Also in the box are a triangular split ring, a split ring sleeve, and a handy tool for threading the split ring onto the camera’s strap anchor point. There are also two different length screws; the longer one is used if you fit the quick-release (QR) plate.

It is a clever design that uses magnets that help align L and QR plates, and they also hold the integrated fastening tool in place within a slot on the side of the L plate.

Everything is well made and up to the build quality one expects from Peak Design.

The Micro Clutch in Use

It took me about five minutes to assemble and fit the plate, but longer to adjust it to fit my hand. The clutch is designed for small and medium-sized camera bodies. I tried the Micro Clutch on my OM System OM-1 Camera and then on my older Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II with the less pronounced grip.

With the older, slightly smaller camera, the clutch worked perfectly. With my middle two fingers inserted between the strap and the body, it was easy reaching the shutter button. Furthermore, my thumb and forefinger could operate the dials with no difficulty.

However, with the OM-1, it took me some time to get it set up. Although it worked with this newer body – the OM-1 is Micro Four Thirds and not a large camera – it wasn’t quite as comfortable a fit as with my older model. I think this is due to the deeper and better grip and the recessed front dial of the OM-1 and my big hands and long fingers.

I got in touch with Peak Design, who said:

Due to the size of the OM-1, the Micro Clutch is slightly at the limit for configuration/compatibility, but a few adjustments can help to make it the most comfortable. When fitting properly, the band should remain loose enough to allow you to reach the camera controls, but tight enough that you can leverage the weight of the camera off your fingers without the camera falling out of your hand.

At first, I was dubious whether I would be put off by the Micro Clutch’s L-plate covering the battery compartment of the camera. However, with the integrated tool, it’s easy and quick to release it and swing it forward to access the battery. With the exceptional battery life of the OM-1 – I’ve done a 12-hour wedding photoshoot and only changed the battery once – it isn’t something I would have to do continuously.

Having the quick-release tool integrated into the base plate also meant it was possible to properly tighten the clutch to the camera. With tripod QR plates, I have often used solely the thumb screw to secure it to the camera. Having a tool gives additional torque, so it doesn’t come loose. At first, I was a bit scared of overtightening the screw, but that left some rotational play between the L-Plate and the tripod QR plate. However, with a bit of extra tension using the tool and that was resolved.

What I Liked and What Could Be Improved With the Peak Design Micro Clutch

At first, I didn’t like the Micro Clutch. I was really dreading having to write a bad review. But the niggles I had with it were user errors. It just took a little while to become familiar with how it works. After ironing them one by one, I ended up enjoying using it. More so for my Olympus OM-D E-M-1 Mark II, and it is likely to stay attached to that camera, especially when I am shooting seascapes on the beach. It added stability and made me less likely to drop my camera when rock scrambling. With the OM-1, it works, although it’s not a perfect match. The camera deep grip is just a little bit too big for it. That's a shame because the OM-1's bigger grip is a great feature of the camera. But for its predecessors, like the OM-D E-M1 Marks II and III, it works well.

For my hands and camera combination, the strap should be a tiny bit longer, with an extra notch; I do have big hands and long fingers. I suspect the larger Peak Design Clutch will be a better fit, and I will give that a go soon and let you know how I get on. I think that the Micro Clutch works better with cameras that have a smaller grip owned by people with average or smaller hands.

Another very minor issue I had was with the Arca Plate QR plate supplied with the clutch. One of my Benro tripod heads has a double-action locking screw to clamp the Arca QR plate in position. It is a failsafe that stops the plate from accidentally sliding off the tripod. With the Micro Clutch’s plate, unless I really force the thumb screw on the ball-head, the tightening screw doesn’t turn beyond the locking notch.

I also tried Peak Design’s standard Arca-compatible plate on that tripod, and the same issue is there. However, this is a unique situation, combining two products from different manufacturers. I have had no other issues with any other Arca plates working with that tripod head’s unusual feature. Similarly, the Clutch’s QR plate worked happily on all other tripods I tested it on. So, it was an incompatibility that won’t affect most people. Furthermore, the tripod I use with the E-M1 Mark II does not have that locking feature, so, although worth mentioning, it won’t be a problem for me.

The supplied QR plate does have holes for attaching the Peak Design strap anchors.

The quality of the materials is spot on; it appears durable, and the finish is excellent. I was really pleased to see that it arrived in all cardboard packaging with no plastic, and they have a zero-carbon footprint. Also, the customer service from Peak Design is outstanding.

In Conclusion, Would I Recommend the Micro Clutch?

In short, this is a great product, and I can happily recommend it if you own a smaller camera.

You can buy the Peak Design Micro Clutch with one of two designs of the plate. Firstly, the L-Plate (the one I tested) fits cameras with a protruding grip greater than 3 cm from the center of the tripod mount and an I-Plate version is for those with a smaller or no protrusion. The Micro Clutch is also compatible with any of their excellent straps.

If you carry your smaller camera in your hand and want the extra stability and security offered by having one fitted, then the Peak Design Micro Clutch is a great purchase. The L-Plate version is available here, and you can buy it with the I-plate by clicking here.