Your favorite camera strap?

AutumnJazz · Feb 15, 2009

So, what is it? I ask because I'm curious, and I want a new one. I have a decent Tamrack neck strap that I use as a shoulder strap, but I'm tired of it sliding all over the place when I wear leather or something. I was thinking of an UpStrap, but I don't know. I just want something that I can sling on my shoulder that won't slide off.

So, what is your preferred strap? How do you "wear" it?

Markok765 · Feb 15, 2009

I have the Domke gripper strap. It works well on the shoulder without a backpack, but its a bit cumbersome with one. I would get the Gordys strap, but the Nikon F5 is too heavy for a thin strap.

David A. Goldfarb · Feb 15, 2009

I have an UpStrap, and I like it. I can wear it over my shoulder or around my neck, and it stays put.

I don't like neoprene straps like OpTech--they bounce too much.

I generally like straps that are small and don't take up too much space in the case or get in the way when the camera is on a tripod. Often a simple 1/2" wide nylon webbing strap with a grippy fabric in the middle section is just right.

I had one of those Calumet air cushioned straps for a while on my 4x5" Technika--very comfortable for a big camera, but it failed after about a year. The neoprene separated from the neck pad, but fortunately the piping kept the camera from crashing to the ground. Now I write the date that I install a new strap on the Technika and replace it every year or two, and if the strap looks like it still has some life in it, I move it to another, smaller camera.

Sirius Glass · Feb 15, 2009

The ones that hold my cameras.

Steve

Oren Grad · Feb 16, 2009

My favorite is the Nikon AN-4B. It's simple, functional, and doesn't call attention to itself. I wear it around my neck. But I'm not sure that it's the best solution if your main concern is straps sliding off your shoulder - it's not super-grippy.

Excalibur2 · Feb 16, 2009

Well I don't care which one I use.........but the one I hate is the bright red one with large "Canon" in white printed.........supplied with AE1 etc cameras at the time.

resummerfield · Feb 16, 2009

I also use the Nikon AN-4B when I want a neck strap. But a camera around my neck bangs into everything, and the strap always seems in the way unless I take it off my neck and wrap it around one hand.

So more and more Im using a simple wrist strap. I use the lanyard for a whistle, like the ones you see a coach or referee use at basketball games. I cut the metal clip off, and loop the lanyard in choker style through one D-ring, then fix the other end choker style around my wrist. Even if I drop the camera, it only drops a few inches. Very simple, and certainly doesnt draw attention.

Poisson Du Jour · Feb 16, 2009

My EOS 1N and RS, both heavy brutes, are fitted with a Domke Gripper, black in both instances.
No slip, just grip. Imported from USA eBayer last July.

benjiboy · Feb 16, 2009

I use OpTech straps I have them on all my cameras.

EdColorado · Feb 16, 2009

Hauling multiple bodies all day around race tracks caused me to fall in love with the wide OpTech straps. They do a great job of distributing the weight and are plenty tough.

Pinholemaster · Feb 16, 2009

http://www.wapitistraps.com/

Made in Montana.

archphoto · Feb 16, 2009

For my Oly's the ones that came with them, aprox. 4cm wide, B&W
For my "new" RB I have to buy one yet, thinking of: www.optechusa.com for it.
For my SL 66 I don't use one, I have the grip and that works for me
For my Rolleiflex 2.8F I need to get a new one too: the old leather one broke in several places, kept the att. though
and a P2 with a neck-strap ?

Jeff Kubach · Feb 16, 2009

I use barb-wire! Makes me feel like a real man!

Jeff

Richard Wasserman · Feb 16, 2009

I use a Domke Gripper on smaller cameras such as Leicas and it's great, doesn't slip on my shoulder and I can wrap it around my hand to hold the camera securely in one hand. For larger, heavier cameras you can't beat the UpStrap.

Richard Wasserman

alanrockwood · Feb 16, 2009

I like to use a leather shoe lace for the strap on my Ricoh 35ZF because it's so cheap, and it doesn't cut into my neck because the camera is so light.

I must try Jeff's idea for using a barbed wire camera strap, but I have one question. Do you have to buy a whole roll of barbed wire just to cut a short strap, or will the farmer supply store sell you a short length?

Most of my cameras use a plain old Canon strap, which is just fine with me.

Chazzy · Feb 16, 2009

I have Op/Tech Super Classic straps on three of my cameras, and am very happy with them. But I don't pretend to know how other straps compare, since I haven't had the chance to try them.

John Koehrer · Feb 16, 2009

alanrockwood said:
I must try Jeff's idea for using a barbed wire camera strap, but I have one question. Do you have to buy a whole roll of barbed wire just to cut a short strap, or will the farmer supply store sell you a short length?

I just drive down the back roads 'til I find a hunk hanging loose on a fence and liberate it, If it's not loose I just cut a hunk out of the fence. The farmer must not need it if he leaves it out in the middle of no where like that.
I also wear shirts made from dog hair so they itch & stink. Ain't nothin' like wet dog hair.

perkeleellinen · Feb 16, 2009

I have Gordy's wrist straps on my two cameras. I chose these because I walk around with my camera in my hand and I find the neck straps a bit bulky when they're wrapped around the wrist. I carry a lightweight setup: FM2 + 1 lens.

John W · Feb 16, 2009

My favorite straps for my 35mm RF/SLR cameras are some straps akin to the Y-strap or Leicagoodies STRAP that I made myself. At least for the wide to standard lenses that I tend to use these days, I really love this strap style.

It's worth noting that some strap styles work better for some shooting styles. I like the y-style straps for one-body opportunistic/street shooting. OTOH, I've heard folks highly recommend the previously mentioned UpStrap, because it "holds on" very well -- it can rest securely on one shoulder without that annoying slipping-off, shoulder-hunched feeling. Very useful when using multiple bodies or in other "dynamic" shooting situations where the camera moves around alot.

lyonheart · Feb 16, 2009

The UpStrap does it for me and my F5 and my D200. Wonderful straps.

AutumnJazz · Feb 16, 2009

I use an F100 for street, pretty much, but I don't think I could see myself using a bandoleer style strap. It is just way too restrictive. When I sit down, I like to rest my camera around me. So that rules out the Y-Strap, R-Strap, the BlackRapid, and more...

Does B&H have the upstrap? I'm going to NYC tomorrow, so I would be able to stop by B&H and try crap. (I'll search B&H right now...)

Robert Budding · Feb 16, 2009

I use a Black Rapid R-Strap for both 35mm and my Mamiya 7. Best strap I've ever owned.

http://www.blackrapid.com/

mikebarger · Feb 16, 2009

I use a Ultra leather strap for the Nikons, they may be out of business now. They are cut like the hasselblad contoured strap.

On the hassy I use the Hasselblad contour strap.

Koni Omega -- no strap

Mike

Naples · Feb 16, 2009

gordy's

http://www.electricedge.com/gordy_s_straps/

David A. Goldfarb · Feb 16, 2009

I'm fairly sure you can only get the UpStrap from the website-- http://upstrap-pro.com/

I've never seen it at B&H.

Your favorite camera strap?

AutumnJazz

Markok765

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

Sirius Glass

Oren Grad

Excalibur2

resummerfield

Poisson Du Jour

benjiboy

EdColorado

Pinholemaster

archphoto

Jeff Kubach

Richard Wasserman

alanrockwood

Chazzy

John Koehrer

perkeleellinen

John W

lyonheart

AutumnJazz

Robert Budding

mikebarger

Naples

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

Your favorite camera strap?

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