D300 Accessories and paranoia

[kbev]

Hey all -

During a trip to Mexico City with my D70 last year, I felt really self-

conscious about the Bright yellow "Nikon" around my neck - as if the big 17-

55mm/28 (with hood) wasn't enough. I could carry the camera out of sight

beneath my jacket, but the yellow necklace certainly drew some unwanted

attention. (ending with me getting pickpocketed... check out the "bloggy"

type post in the travel board... they deserved the wallet, it was an

impressive snatch!)

 

Fast forward 8 months, and I just got a D300. Now, potential crooks don't have

to worry about stealing a D40, Nikon let's them know I have a D300 around my

neck (even if they can't see the camera). I had the D70 strap turned inside

out for most my of my trip, but wanted a better/ more comfy solution. Anyway,

it is worth getting another strap or just taking a black marker to the D300

strap? I can't think of any reason why I would need "Nikon D300" around my

neck for all to see. Am I misseding something?

 

I was going to buy a generic black strap... I was also going to look into a

pacsafe strap (if they make one). Can someone please tell me to get a marker,

relax and keep shooting? Or should i go another route.

 

Paranoid? Maybe. No Mexico-esque trips this year... SFO, Cayman, Bahamas,

Miami, New York, Hawaii, and maybe a few others.... back to the developing

world in 2009...

 

Happy holidays -

Keith

 

PS I am still waiting for Nikon to send back my D70 8 weeks after I sent it

and 6 weeks after they diagnosed the issue. it's on parts hold. ARGH!

[hiro]

I would get a op tech pro strap. More comfortable, generic colors, and it'll make you less self-conscious. Worth the $20, imo.

[trunfio]

Op-tech pro straps are nice, but I don't like the "bouncy" feel. Instead I use the Tamrac

N45s. Love them.

[Matt Laur]

I agree with Hiro. An Op/Tech strap <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2F37012-Strap-Camera-Equipment-Black%2Fdp%2FB00007E816%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Delectronics%26qid%3D1198947108%26sr%3D8-1&tag=uplandlife-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank"><b>like this</b></a> isn't just lower-profile, brand-wise, but it's MUCH more comfortable than the factory strap. I also like the quick releases, which allow me to get the bulk of the strap out of the way when I'm mounting on a tripod.

[gary_watson]

LowePro "gripper" strap in gray/black+ a Zing Pro SLR cover if you get the MB-D10, regular if you don't. This set-up(I have several)makes big film/digital SLRs all but invisible.

[vilk_inc]

fwiw, i've been using AN-4B straps for a couple of decades:

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/37064-REG/Nikon_639_AN_4B_Nylon_Neck_Strap.html

 

hard to find anything more discrete; it fits under any collar. it's narrow, so i can (and do most of the time on the shoot) put my hand through it, wrap it twice around my thumb and end up with a solid, secure hand grip. it's narrow, so i never struggle with collars, buttons, hats or hoods. it's narrow, so you may hate to hang six pounds from it ;-)

 

cheers

[icuneko]

Use an old, frayed rope tied like a hangman's noose instead of a gaudy expensive gringo neckstap. They'll think you are an hechicero (sorcerer) and give you a wide berth. ;)

[Jerry_]

...you could add a chunk or two of black gaffer's tape to your new D300 body and no one would think to steal a camera that is taped together.

[andrew robertson]

I like the Op / Tech bino cam harness, without quick release. It's great, black, and

anonymous.

 

Plus Op / Tech is a really top class outfit. The president of the company will respond to

your concerns personally if you ever have any!

[photo5]

Yeah I always used my D80 strap (which just said NIKON on it) inside out, then when I got

my D300, I was pretty shocked that they printed not only NIKON but also D300 on the strap

itself. I use that one inside out too, but am planning to get another, more generic strap. A lot

of people also put a piece of black tape over the Nikon on the camera body too.

[janus_javier]

I like the UpStrap myself.

[dirtlawyer]

For heavy loads (like the Bigma) I use an Op-Tech harness. Most comfortable way I have ever seen for suspending heavy loads from your neck. I also have an Op-Tech conventional neck strap that also has quick releases. When I go from the harness to the neck strap, I use a pair of OP-tech adapters, so I don't have to change the part that connects to the terminals.

[ellis_vener_photography]

another vote for http://www.upstrap.com

 

He even makes one or two straps with Kevlar strands woven in to make them much harder to

cut. ?They are also very comfortable and are the only straps that don't slip or slide n matter

what you are wearing.

[timkeller]

I knew before getting my D300 that I wouldn't want the Nikon strap drawing more attention

to it. I'm very happy with my Domke Gripper Camera Strap 1.5" with swivel quick release,

$16.95 at B&H.

[eric_arnold]

hey ellis, your link doesn't work

[bernie moore]

Ellis, I couldn't get your link to work.

[eajames]

http://www.upstrap-pro.com/

[ShunCheung]

There was an extra "s" at the end of the URL Ellis provided; I have fixed it, but the URL Eric provides is correct.

[joseph_smith3]

Another vote for OpTech straps. I have never used a free Nikon strap for the reasons you mentioned in your post. I use the one Matt posted. Here is another one, the Supper Classic strap: http://www.naturescapes.net/store/product.php?productid=100&cat=0&page=1

 

Joe Smith

[kbev]

Thanks everyone. I'm going to run to Calumet and take a look for the stuff mentioned here. Maybe I'll eBay the d300 strap for someone wanting to be a poser!

 

Given the # of responses, I guess (a) I wasn't crazy or (b) we all are.

 

I did see some other straps at Helix (where I got the camera), but the only "plain ones" were quick release. I don't like the idea of hangind $4K worth of gear from a plastic clip. My Northface clip cracked, so I assume they are all "untrustworthy" 8-)

 

Thanks again. This is a great forum.

[frank_skomial]

Another vote for UpStrap. It looks ugly and cheap, but it holds very well - no slip. Nobody would suspect expensive camera on it.

[hugh_sakols]

Keith,

When I feel that I need to take precautions, I make sure to put my camera in a plain looking

day pack so that I look like a low budget traveler. When the opportunity arises, I take the

camera out of the backpack and go from there. Any desperate thief is not going to pay

attention to neck strap color. Have a great time on all your trips.

[lex_jenkins]

Op-Tech straps are comfortable but the soft neoprene can easily be cut or torn. I cut mine up just to use the padding to make my D2H neckstrap more comfortable.

 

I worry a bit about those quick release clips too. I ended up tying 'em together.

 

Some of my favorite straps are homebrewed from military OD green nylon webbing and paracord. I use it on my lighter weight cameras, handheld meters and other equipment. Discrete and strong enough to serve double duty as makeshift climbing assist gear, bootlaces or expedient garrotes.

[stwrtertbsratbs5]

The UpStrap looks interesting. I think I'll buy the Kevlar model for my Mamiya 7 - it now has a strap with "Mamiya" logo on it.

[mike_foster5]

Hey you guys, Wanna look like a pro? Get an UpStrap cause it's the very best!