Why pay outrageous prices for a camera strap

Never having liked any of the camera straps, I ever owned I decided one day (a few years back) to do something

about it. I franticly searched the internet and visited every local camera shops and at the end my insane search - I

realized I didn’t like any of them. So, what were my alternatives? First, I didn’t want any metal touching any part of

the camera and second I wanted something pliable.

 

I pondered and pondered holding my Leica M6 in hand and it finally hit me, parachute cord with a neoprene shoulder

strip. I had a roll of green parachute (550) cord somewhere in my closet so I thought I would test this new idea. I cut

a piece the length of my typical camera straps, burnt the edges, inserted each end through the lug nuts, and tied a

knot.

 

Perfect, except for the missing neoprene shoulder strip. I ran down to the local fabric shop and bought a 10-inch long

strip (6-inches wide) of neoprene folded in over and placed two O rings (sewing them securely) on either end then

cut, burnt and tied the parachute cord to the O rings and never looked back. That was my very first camera strap -

today the parachute cord is sewed directly to the neoprene shoulder strap making it very secure and comfortable.

 

Ok, you need to make a statement - so go ahead, buy one of those expensive big name leather straps, and enjoy :)

 

Let's hear your ideas for a better shoulder strap.

Well, I don't have a camera strap story but I did use a Tamrac camera strap to make a better tripod carrying

strap a few weeks ago.

 

My grievance with commercially available tripod straps is that they clutter things up too much - looping around

the center post area and all 3 legs.

 

One thing nice about owning a Gitzo is that the legs don't flop around like they do on the Bogen 3221 (black

3021) I bought in 1997. Maybe Bogens are different now, but that's how mine is/was and I never figured out a way

to tighten the joints. So, a strap only needs to attach to one leg on a Gitzo. I attached Tamrac quick release

buckles on the center post and one leg with hose clamps. For quite awhile the exposed screw assembly didn't pose

a problem but last weekend in Zion I nicked my thumb pretty good so I'll be wrapping them with something.

OK, there was a problem uploading the photo with my original post...here's my camera/tripod strap.<div></div>

I've used paracord for years to homebrew straps. Works great for lightweight cameras. Got 'em rigged on my little compact rangefinders, incident and spot meters. I use a modified slip knot that enables quick adjustments for length but which hold securely. No padding needed for these lightweight items.

 

For heavier gear I use paracord to make the low-abrasion fittings between a regular neckstrap and the camera body.

 

I salvaged the neoprene padding from an Op-Tech strap to use on my standard D2H strap. Never did trust the quick release fittings on the Op-Tech, but liked the comfort. I didn't bother sewing it on, just cut slits and slipped the D2H strap through the slits. Fugly but effective.

 

Don't expect to convince too many Leicaphiles of the error of their ways. For folks who spend that kinda money, it's often about having the "correct" pieces. Let 'em enjoy their gear the way they want to. It's their money, their gear, their fun.

I really like Tamrac's Boomerang straps. They are just a bit stretchy to absorb bounce and they spread the load across my shoulders. The new ones have little memory card pouches on them too which are very handy. My only gripe is that they are not long enough. I like to carry my camera cross chest and modern straps just aren't long enough. I always have to make some extenders to add about eight inches to the length.

Is it just me, or do some people <i>perhaps</i> underestimate the value of their own time when they do the math on this sort of thing? :-)

Matt - I just chalk it up to photographers' tendencies to do things their own way.

 

An exclamation point was too much for that comment, and I'm also not into smileys. But that was meant to be lighthearted :)...dang, there's that smiley.

I've never had any problems with my Nikon AN-4Y and AN-6W straps (for motor drive equipped cameras).

Matt, it can go either way. You are right about the cost of one's time. How ever let's not forget about the satisfaction of

actually creating something with one's hands. I like to cook and thought about the cost of cooking something myself. It is

definitely not less expensive than eating out. The reason is I can't cook one small serving for myself. That said it is very

satisfying to cook something I like to eat.

To each their own, I guess. There are times when I know a home brew took me more time and effort than the store bought product, but it is fun anyway. I usually learn something (unfortunately, sometimes it's that I shouldn't have attempted this), and get great satisfaction when I complete a project I knew little about, but finished successfully. :-)

re: Matt. I wonder what it cost Bill Gates to simply wash his hands, or what he can do about making constructive use of his time, cost considered. It would be a glorious problem to have.

I know - we all take our pleasures in different areas, that way. Hey, I made my own lightstand sandbags ... but that was because I couldn't actually find ones in quite the configuration I wanted. But if I <i>could</i> have found them, they'd probably have been less expensive than the time I put into making them (um, if I had actually billed that time to somebody else, should I have been in the mood to put on my billable hat, of course). I guess I'm just having a bit of fun with the notion that a home-brew camera strap is going to work out better than something from OpTech or the UpStrap people.

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I've been happy with OpTech, but like Lex, I sometimes get the willies just a bit when I look at the quick disconnect hardware (er, plastic-ware). Eh, the camera's pretty much always in my hand, or in a bag/holster anyway. I'll might regret saying this, but I've never yet dropped a camera in over thirty years of going out of my way to use in them in situations where that seems so likely. A strap's great insurance, and on those rare occasions that I juggle two bodies I sure like having a solid one. Think Tank's are about indestructible, but a not quite as cozy to use.

I carry a camera a great deal of the time and I therefore value a good strap - though the nature of these varies

depelding on the weight of the camera. While it's nice to have the "right" strap for a Leica or big Nikon, they

are blooming expensive and here in the UK alternatives are limited, or are 'generics' of mediocre quality. The

non-slip Optech Super Classic is great when toting big cameras outdoors, especially with slippery waterproof

jackets, etc. But I too have permanently fixed the Optech quick releases with nylon cable ties - I'm not risking

an F5 & 80-200 f2.8! to a little plastic widgit!

 

However, modern straps often look plain silly on some vintage/classic camera,s so I invariably have to use older

straps that are 'modified' or re-sewn, etc, as necessary. I used to make wide comfy leather straps, but small

metalwork (buckles, etc) is increasingly difficult to obtain in small quantities, let alone the right sizes.

Clearly scaling-up such homestead industries is not easy and would inevitably result in an expensive product -

and I'm not sure I could ever compete with Luigi in price or quality without a bank enterprise loan ... and those

days are gone!

 

Close to where I live is one of the last family rope-makers in Britain - he can make almost any style, texture or

colour

of cord/rope .... that could be an interesting avenue - custom paracord for Nikon, Canon, Leica ........ AC

Eric,

 

Have you noticed that the tripod tends to slip, head downward, when carried on a strap that way, and you have to

keep hitching it up? If the lower strap gets a little loose, you will dump the tripod on its head (which can get

interesting if you're a long way from home).

 

Try attaching both ends of the strap to the top of the legs. The weight will always be in the legs and the tripod will

hang vertically under one arm, head up, without continual adjustments.

 

I suppose I'd make a strap if I couldn't find one that did the job. However, I'm pretty happy with Op-Tech straps. I

stopped knitting my own seat belts too :-)

Edward -

 

The tripod is actually pretty well balanced, and the strap in the photo is an "anti-slip" model. The photo I

posted makes the head look big, but it's a little Kirk BH-3.

 

I'll give your suggestion a try - it'll only cost me a few minutes time to move the clamps around and see how it

hangs.

I am rather lazy. I'd rather shoot photos than design a camera strap. So, I bought a very simple design camera strap, that

is durable and comfortable for my cameras, the Upstrap.

I made a tripod strap out of an old dog leash. The loop fits over the tripod head. The hook clips onto a fitting on the bottom of the extension tube. I had to tie a couple of knots on the ends of the leash to shorten it up but it works just fine. This saved me about $25.

Domke Gripper. Strong, never slips.

I can buy a very good Op/Tech strap for GBP 16. I'm probably not going to go through what you did to save that amount of money. But then I don't make my own clothes, service my own car, cut my own grass, do my own plumbing, or process my own film either. So I guess I'm just a natural subcontractor. But were I to change this aspect of my character, I think I'd start on something that might have a different time/saving ratio than a camera strap!

I have such a strap and a gitzo (w/ small Bogen monoball). This will work great when I am out and about with just one camera and pod. Thank you.

Paul

How are any commercial or home brewed straps any better than one provided by the camera maker, let's say a Nikon D200? I would like a clip on the end for quick release, but I am getting better at rethreading,

A few select individuals will know that the best (but not the cheapest) staps come from the Ni Kung province in China. They are hand woven from virgin yak hair. The process involves plucking only the softest hair from the underbelly of a male yak. It is then woven with loving care by the young women in the village. At this stage it is then cured by washing in goat urine and placed in the sun for two years to dry. The final stage is a blessing by the local tribal elders during the course of a seven day drunken orgy. They are quite difficult to obtain but are an excellent product. Make sure you specify film or didital when you order because they are different. I think they do a special Leica one. Nikon and Cannon are the same.

" . . . How are any commercial or home brewed straps any better than one provided by the camera maker, let's say a

Nikon D200?"

 

How about, the strap doesn't cost $30+? Last time I checked a local national franchise store for a strap, they had this

rubber-molded ergonomic thing with five attachment points and a cupholder on it. Also, a huge sign yelling out the

strap's brand name.

 

Last time I met a press photographer, I knew from across the room what equipment she was using because the whole

strap had been turned into a big sign with the camera logo and model number. I don't think wearing big labels looks good

to women. While appearance is not important to me personally, I think there are people out there for whom that counts.

 

Maybe some good quality materials would look better than a big sign.

Straps from Ni Kung are garbage. Truly excellent straps come only from the province of Q'an-on. You can tell them a mile away becuase they lack the red stain on the front, which the Ni Kung's have, and they also magically turn your telephoto lenses white.

I found that most straps will cut into your neck if you carry your camera for any lenght of time, so I took a soft wash cloth and folded it around the strap that came with my Sony and sewed it on to the wide portion. It is very comfortable on the neck . On another note, if anyone is concerned about having your camera strap cut and your camera stolen (this does happen is some parts of the world) Pacsafe has straps with a stainless steel wire imbedded in the strap so that nobody can "slash & run" with your camera. They have bags with anti-theft features as well. See them @ www.pacsafe.com