Messing With Folk's Minds

summicron1 · Oct 5, 2016

So am I the only one who thinks it's fun to use a digital camera strap on classic film cameras just for the visual irony of it all?

The straps are actually not bad, considering that they're made to go on monster DSLRs, so a Leica film camera feels feather light on them. My M3 sports a Nikon D-1 strap. This IIIF works nicely on this canon strap, which is the only part of its accompanying donated DSLR I've found a use for.

Vaughn · Oct 5, 2016

Setting up my 8x10 or 11x14 cameras mess with peoples' minds enough!

"Can you still get film for that?!"

Eric Rose · Oct 5, 2016

I like putting a Canon strap on a Nikon etc. Really pisses off the equipment freaks. On my D700 I have all the identifying stuff covered up with black tape. One guys got really pissed at me for not telling him what camera I was using.

People are so easily set off it just not all that hard anymore.

Paul Howell · Oct 5, 2016

There was a brief fad in the late 60s to paint the white letters black on black bodies, got some folks in a tizzy. I recall reading Henri Catier Bessen either painted his Leica black or taped it black.

DWThomas · Oct 5, 2016

So am I the only one who thinks it's fun to use a digital camera strap on classic film cameras just for the visual irony of it all?

Absolutely not! Until recently when I bought a strap that can be shrunk down by removing the wide neck section, I was using a strap that loudly proclaimed "Canon EOS Digital" -- on my Yashica Mat 124G.

Of course I'm easily amused. I use EXIFtool to add info to scans of my film negatives and get warm fuzzies when an upload of an inverted neg scan to my gallery site preloads data like "Voitländer Perkeo II" into the tech data.

flavio81 · Oct 5, 2016

Eric Rose said:
I like putting a Canon strap on a Nikon etc. Really pisses off the equipment freaks.

Me too!!

Sirius Glass · Oct 5, 2016

I use Hasselblads so I do not have to pull any stunts or use outrageous accessories to attract attention.

BrianShaw · Oct 5, 2016

I can't believe my eyes... I would have thought you were the only one. Maybe in the future you might consider going "under cover" by putting a hippy strap on your dSLR. I'm assuming you have one but just not admitting it.

Paul Howell · Oct 5, 2016

BrianShaw said:
I can't believe my eyes... I would have thought you were the only one. Maybe in the future you might consider going "under cover" by putting a hippy strap on your dSLR. I'm assuming you have one but just not admitting it.

I have 70 vintage hippy straps on all my DSLRs, well not all, one my Sigma D9s has a Sigma strap.

summicron1 · Oct 5, 2016

BrianShaw said:
I can't believe my eyes... I would have thought you were the only one. Maybe in the future you might consider going "under cover" by putting a hippy strap on your dSLR. I'm assuming you have one but just not admitting it.

The only DSLR I have is the now-vintage Canon EOS digital something, (about 2004 vintage) this strap came off of. The camera is so useless and outdated the local college doesn't even want it for their digital class - they said, at best, it would be "backup of a backup" and is so old it would hurt students rather than help them, so I just kept it for grins. It really is no fun to use. I have a little pt and sht panasonic with Leica optics that does grandchildren vastly better.

I do have several of those "hippy straps," as they seem to be called, although in the 60s no self-respecting hippy would have been seen with one. Hippies were more into leather straps with flowers on them, maybe braided with beads or something. The straps came along with cameras that friends give me because they don't use them any more and figure I can give them a home.

Patrick Robert James · Oct 5, 2016

I use a Canon Digital EOS grey strap on my Contax ST. I needed a strap and it was there, so...

I have also used shoelaces, climbing slings, cut up belts. Whatever is laying around.

I taped over the badges of my digital cameras back when I shot weddings. I got sick of people walking up and telling me they "have one of those".

summicron1 · Oct 5, 2016

Patrick Robert James said:
I taped over the badges of my digital cameras back when I shot weddings. I got sick of people walking up and telling me they "have one of those".

Funny, that's never been a problem when I use a Leica. Then I get asked "wow, can you still get film for that?"

Cholentpot · Oct 5, 2016

I show up at events with my T50 and wait for the quietest moment and snap a photo. https://www.instagram.com/p/BC-uxrvCk6q/

The amount of whiplash from other photographers trying to find that one idiot with a trashy motordrive gets me giggling every time.

I've also reloaded https://www.instagram.com/p/BE6uJD8Ckxn/ this camera with decent b&w film and showed up to a wedding as an Uncle Bob. I shot my sisters wedding on a Land 104, the photog let me hook up my hot shoe to his strobes. I got some awesome shots.

Basically at this point I'm into film to be a PITA to my friends and family. It's great.

TheRook · Oct 6, 2016

Eric Rose said:
I like putting a Canon strap on a Nikon etc. Really pisses off the equipment freaks. On my D700 I have all the identifying stuff covered up with black tape. One guys got really pissed at me for not telling him what camera I was using.

People are so easily set off it just not all that hard anymore.

You should have messed with him by making up some random fictional name for the camera: "This? Oh, it's the new Kryptor S-10. A high-end camera from Sweden."

blockend · Oct 6, 2016

Anyone concerned with the origin of a camera strap deserved their minds blowing. Manufacturers are being given free advertising by "offering" a strap that say "Canon EOS Digital" or whatever, and I refuse to carry any advert I'm not being paid for. On the other hand covering your camera in black tape does not make you an invisible street demon, it announces you as a hipster who cares too much about your image and not enough about the photos.

If you must have a strap - and it's usually a sign your camera hasn't been designed to be held in the hand as long as necessary - a discreet black leather one is the mature option.

bdial · Oct 6, 2016

I have a Nikon Digital D??? strap that has been on a Leica, a Canon LTM rangefinder, and currently lives on the Nikonos rain camera.
I got tired of all the prominent lettering though, so I took a black sharpie to it. Now it says "N".

Straps can be handy things, but mine aren't around my neck all that often, I usually have the camera hanging off my shoulder, or else I just use the strap to help with blindly pulling the camera out of a bag or a pocket, and the strap either hangs or gets looped around my arm.

Toyo · Oct 6, 2016

Great strap - good camera.
T

Luckless · Oct 6, 2016

The strap for one of my canon 7D bodies saw a brief time on my C330f when I first got it. I personally didn't really think much of it at the time, it was a camera strap sitting in the general gear bin because my 7Ds generally lived with the straps for a dual camera harness on for sports shooting, and I had a new to me camera without a strap. Camera without a strap + camera strap not in use at the time = camera with a strap.

However I found that the plain flat band of the 'freebie' Canon strap simply didn't play all that nice with something as heavy as the C330f for how I was holding it usually, and it was soon replaced with the strap off a gear bag or something that just happened to also use the same style connector straps. It isn't perfect, I don't even remember what bag I stole it off of to be honest, but so far it has been working well enough that I'm not going to worry about replacing it any time soon.

R.Gould · Oct 6, 2016

I use a canon strap on my IIIf, got a pentax straps on my rolleiflex and rolleicord,also on my Microcord, and both of my Ambi silettes sport Canon EOS d straps,

M Carter · Oct 6, 2016

All of my guitar straps are from the "get'm get'm" company (they also sell camera straps and dog collars). They used to have some incredible brocades, paisleys, and embroidered stuff. I pretty much "curated" my straps for each guitar. Lately it all seems to be snakeskin and faux-animal stuff, but their classic camera and guitar straps show up on eBay often. I'm still looking for a nice camera strap. I like a quick-release strap that goes right to the lugs, since my digitals get used for video and I don't like straps with tripods.

I have this on my favorite electric guitar, the embroidery is very nice and thick, their straps are very well made - later I saw a photo of Prince using the same strap:

etn · Oct 11, 2016

I used to have a dark red Nikon strap on my Rollei 2.8 FX. It made a beautiful "dark red on dark red" effect. Unfortunately the strap broke at some point (before I could take a pic... so sorry no pic). Nowadays I only wear a hippy strap on my bass guitar...

AgX · Oct 11, 2016

blockend said:
On the other hand covering your camera in black tape does not make you an invisible street demon, it announces you as a hipster who cares too much about your image and not enough about the photos.
.... - a discreet black leather one is the mature option.

Veiling the brand of a camera is a sign of the photographer being preoccupied weith ones image? I do not understand.
And why then chosing neutral equipment is a mature aption? Where is the difference?

DWThomas · Oct 11, 2016

A manager at one of the companies where I worked in the 1970s had used a technical drafting pen to black out the "Nikon" on his camera (and maybe lenses -- can't remember). He did it in hopes of making it less tempting to thieves -- at least that's what he said. Those pens work pretty well on the filled engraving of that time -- though cleaning it off would be more difficult than tape!

blockend · Oct 11, 2016

AgX said:
Veiling the brand of a camera is a sign of the photographer being preoccupied weith ones image? I do not understand.
And why then chosing neutral equipment is a mature aption? Where is the difference?

People who care about such things know what a camera is at a glance, and people who don't care won't take any notice of the name, it's just a camera to them. That's different from a wide, brightly coloured strap advertising a camera system. I associate such things with full frame DSLRs and huge white 2.8 zoom lenses resting on generous midriffs.

Alan Gales · Oct 11, 2016

Vaughn said:
Setting up my 8x10 or 11x14 cameras mess with peoples' minds enough!

"Can you still get film for that?!"

Vaughn, you ought to attach a camera strap to your 11x14 and walk around with it hanging from your neck. That would be funny!

I get a lot of attention with my 8x10 Wehman and wooden Ries tripod too. Something that big they can't miss.

Messing With Folk's Minds

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