Custom Neck strap for Rolleiflex - where to have one made?

Matus Kalisky · Feb 1, 2014

Hello. I have now 2 neck straps for my Rolleiflex 2.8E (yes - the 'alligator' ones) and I am considering to use the clips from one of them and have a custom neck strap made. Something with braided leather like the Yin Yang one from Barton1972. Any idea who could do that sort of custom job?

I am also opened to other types of custom neck straps - arguably there are other design that could be more practical than a braided strap.

JLP · Feb 1, 2014

Nice straps. Not sure how big an operation Barton 1972 is but would it not be possible to contact them and see if they are open to custom straps?
I would consider one of those for my 2.8F if they will make them.

Matus Kalisky · Feb 1, 2014

I have actually just dropped them a mail. I will let you know once I have an answer.

JLP · Feb 1, 2014

Thank you.
I use the original on my 2.8F but it does feel a little thin, wish it would give a little more secure feeling especially being quite old.
For my 2.8D I have bought one of the more beefy Chinese straps that don't use the alligator clip but instead wrap around the chrome cover over the pin for the clip. It works ok and is solid and inexpensive.

Bob Marvin · Feb 1, 2014

My main camera is 2.8E that I've been using since buying it used in the early '60s. Some time ago I had a shoemaker rivet the scissor clips from my worn leather strap onto a generic nylon one. That wasn't very satisfactory, so I cut the nylon strap, leaving several inches attached to each clip, and buckled those ends to a Domke "Gripper" strap. I think that looks attractive and is very comfortable to use.

TheFlyingCamera · Feb 1, 2014

There are some wide (1" or thereabouts) straps available on eBay with the gator clips made of nylon webbing. They're very solid and secure - I have one on each of my 2.8E's. They're not as glamorous as a leather strap, but they're about $30 USD each, including shipping.

Matus Kalisky · Feb 1, 2014

It seems that Luigi does also leather strap for Rolleiflex which however costs 140 (he also does full case, but that is one expensive case! - still, he is probably the only person in the world that does that)

Matus Kalisky · Feb 8, 2014

So I have the reply from Barton1972, see below:

Hello Matus,

Sorry for the late reply, we had closed the shop over the Chinese New Year holidays.

We do not custom our straps due to our extremely tight production capacity. However, we will keep your suggestion in mind for our future designs.

Thank you for your inquiry, feel free to contact us if you need more details.

Sincerely,
Barton1972

I am not discarding them as an option yet, but that would mean that I would have to find a very skilled person who could customise their wrap for me. Whether it would be economical (I live in Germany - costs of skilled manual work is very high here) is an another question.

I will keep looking for other options.

Mark Fisher · Feb 9, 2014

I took a set of the clips to a local shoe repair place and told them what I wanted. Nothing fancy, but it was fine. If you went to a proper leather worker, I'm sure they could do whatever you'd ask.

Matus Kalisky · Feb 9, 2014

Mark I absolutely agree - I just have to find one locally.

Custom Neck strap for Rolleiflex - where to have one made?

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