Press camera straps

About a year ago I got a nice big comfortable air padded strap from Calumet for my 4x5" Tech V. I've been shooting the Tech exclusively for the last two months, using the strap quite a lot, either when shooting rangefinder style or when I want to travel light and carry just the camera with one lens, or maybe the camera on the strap and a fanny pack with three more lenses, and a belt pack for Grafmatics.

Well today the strap separated, but fortunately I noticed it just as I was putting the strap over my shoulder, and it was still holding on by the piping along the edges, and I had my hand on the grip, so the camera didn't go crashing to the pavement.

So next I want a really nice leather strap. Linhof used to make them, and I've seen some more recent red nylon straps, but I'm not sure if they are made anymore. Any press camera shooters with recommendations for a strap that is both comfortable with a big camera and that will last?

Anyone know about either of these companies, that do custom leather straps?--

http://www.actioncustomstraps.com/C...CS/Blackheart_Regular/blackheart_regular.html

http://www.leicatime.com/000-STRAPS-page.htm

Of course there are places in New York that specialize in, umm..., custom leatherwork.

Have you checked out Gordy's? The straps look good and you may be able to get a custom one made. that Leicatime site looks good too.

David, a good shoe repair shop or leather worker might be able to make a nice one for you. You would have to do the design. tim

My favorite straps are Nylon dog collar straps. One used on my Horseman is unaltered other than being made a little shorter. The was cut from a collar and is a replacement on my Busch Pressman for the leather original.

The collars are in a soft, fine-yarn Nylon material available in several thicknesses, widths and colors from Walmart.

I second the Nylon dog collar strap, although it's not like an air-padded strap.
I use a nylon child safety-buckle restraint strap from a wal-mart carriage.
If you keep the buckle on, you can adjust the strap for you hand. Mine is very snug and makes it quite comfortable to hold.

Thanks for the suggestions, but I'm looking for a neckstrap, not a hand strap.

Gordy's straps look great, but last I checked, he was making straps exclusively for lighter cameras than a Technika.

I'm thinking more about just having one of the local leather shops make something for me.

As long as you have the original strap to use as a template any decent shoe repair store should be able to duplicate it in leather. I've had something like that done for the hand strap on a Deardorff and a belt strap for my meter holder. The store was local and nothing special, just an ordinary shoe repair store.

David:

A few thoughts here.

Linhof appears to still make the red cloth strap & you can order it from B&H - see link below as well as Linhof's link. Not cheap but I'm certain it will not fail.


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home;jsessionid=GrwyGpcWZX!274259959!1156264040248?ci=1&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=RootPage.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t&shs=linhof+strap&image.x=7&image.y=6

http://linhof.de/english/index.html

I am not selling it but do have a new old stock leather strap that if you're interested I could take pics & also trace a pattern for you to take to a leather worker.

Also - Luigi at Leicatime is very good at what he does - I have bought a few items from him - just have to be clear & also if you have him make a strap ask him not to put Leicatime on the strap & he's happy not to do so.

The original strap has the tiny barbell type fasteners to attach the strap to the body after slipping it through the rings - similar to an early Leica or Nikon rangefinder strap.

The straps do come up occasionally on ebay & if I see one I'll let you know.

On the Linhof site click on Master Technika Classic & scroll down to see the strap & listing.

One other though is to consider using a Domke strap & add the postal shoulder strap - I have two of them for my bags & they are great & also cheap - you could essentially use a longer strap around your shoulder crosswise for shooting.

See:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...198&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Good luck

Thanks, Lee. I might try ordering the red strap from Linhof and maybe look into having one of my own design made when I've got a little more time.