"M"- Camera Straps...

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LeicaVirgin1

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Alright, this has probably been asked over a gazillion times so make mine gazillion-1...

Which strap(s) are best for the "M"'s? I have a Y strap, (worries me because of only one strap-lug & it could come loose), Gordy leather straps, (but I really like to have 2 hands at all times, other then that they are great), & the Leica "stock" straps with the "plastic-rubber" covers. I have many of those. Lastly, I have OPTECH NEOPRENE straps with detachable straps, & 1 Domke "PRO" Strap... Any recommendations from all you "M" users out there?

Cheers,

LV1
 
I like the Domke Gripper w/quick release. Never tangled, comfortable even when hot. Even fits on the M5 if you remove the rings from the strap and just thread it on.

Every camera I own that can take a full size strap has a Domke Gripper.
 
I love the deluxe Voigtlander one: black cotton, non-adjustable, nice leather pads to shield the rings from scratching the M-body. Simple. Doesn't slip much on my shoulder/neck, either.

If one lug breaks, your camera will fall with an ordinary strap, too. You may have 2 more seconds warning, though.
 
Second the Domke Gripper, My favorite for the times when I use a strap. My cameras usually live with a vintage Leica M4 wrist strap, which is nothing special, but I like the camera-in-hand approach more than the camera-around-the-shoulder approach.
 
My straps range from heavy duty ropes (used to pull theatre curtains closed and open) Takahashi san at Lumiere in Tokyo makes them - all the way through Leica straps, old Nikon leather straps to Artisan and Artist and even a Luigi strap (smells the best!).
I like fairly short straps and once i have decided on the length - I prefer non adjustable ones as the "adjusters" then to catch on things.
I keep a couple of longer straps (80-90 cm Artisan ones) for short strapping two bodies (1 short strap for one body and a longer one for having the second body hanging below it when they are around the neck).
The Leica M4P/M6 straps are good, but the "nylon" in the strap gets quite rigid when it gets cold.
The Luigi strap is a thing of beauty - I think he raises cow specifically for that leather - it smells good even after years of use!
The Art and Artisan ones are good too - particularly the "webbed" canvas one with leather as it stays flexible even in colder weather.
The "rope" straps are handy as they are not too bulky when you fold them up and stash the camera in the bag. If the camera is heavy, they tend to cut into the neck and cut the blood flow to the brain and make you buy things you don't need in camera stores!
 
I've been using the Domke Gripper Straps (have five or six) for a good while, but just switched back to the cloth Voigtlander ones, I also have. And one has a patch, marked Artisian & Artists, that I got from Rich Pinto. M5 has a canvas-colored Domke strap on right now, a bit thinner than my "Grippers", but the same nice "treading". Good to have a choice.
 
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LeicaVirgin1 said:
I have a Y strap, (worries me because of only one strap-lug & it could come loose)... Any recommendations from all you "M" users out there?
Click to expand...
Make a "safety"--tie a short cord between the other strap lug and the split ring. I made my own Y-strap with some 1" webbing, a couple of triglides, and a 1" brass split ring. No sewing needed! I tried wrist and neck straps, and so far this is my favorite.
 
I have a basic black Luigi strap. It used to be an adjustable length version. But, after using it for over a year, I'd pretty much figured out the optimal size for me. Then I took it to a local shoe repair guy and he cut it to the exact length I like, took out the adjusting bits and refixed the end with the split ring for the princely sum of $10. It's now a custom length strap made in Italy and the USA!
 
I prefer the Nikon soft nylon straps with the sewn in place suede pad. The gaudy yellow and black stripes used to bother me but I've reached that point where I don't much care what others think. They're flexible enough to wrap around your wrist and use as a wrist strap.
 
sockeyed said:
Another vote from me for the light, simple, affordable and comfortable Deluxe Voigtlander strap by Artisan and Artist. I have them on my M2 and M6.
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+1

Also, they come in two sizes (90 and 120cm), very useful to carry 2 bodies.

Roland.
 
Lately, Im using the strap off my F6 and black felt tipped the Nikon logo off it. Made of nylon, its about an inch at the widest point. Not fancy but very functional.
 
A vote for the Upstrap. Very fast to send them over the pond to the UK and they do not slip. (that's a full stop)
http://upstrap-pro.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=RF
In fact if you shoulder the camera you have to make a positive effort to swing it around to shooting position.
I did dally with the Y strap but found although it worked well for shooting I could never get the adjustment correct so the camera didn't bounce around against my body al the time.
 
i love the Essential Strap from Luigi -- no metal bits to scrape up your camera yet it's light, soft, and strong.

i also have his four-strand braided strap which, after cutting the shoulder rest, is probably one of the most comfortable and sturdy straps i've ever used to wrap around my wrist. the only caveat is that it's quite short -- perfect if you use it as i do, but not particularly comfortable when used around the neck (this could also be attributed to the fact that my chest is a wee bit big).
 
I just make my own camera straps from Saddle leather😀, attached pictures, but Peter at http://www.rggtrappings.com/ makes the nicest ones I have ever seen.

Regards,
RLouzan


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WTT: Set of 4 brand new straps for 5cm Elmar f3.5 (See classifieds.)
 

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3 and 5-strand mystery braids are much stronger than a 4-strand flat braid -so be careful with heavy lenses.

Regards,
RLouzan


cam said:
i also have his four-strand braided strap which, after cutting the shoulder rest, is probably one of the most comfortable and sturdy straps i've ever used to wrap around my wrist. the only caveat is that it's quite short -- perfect if you use it as i do, but not particularly comfortable when used around the neck (this could also be attributed to the fact that my chest is a wee bit big).
Click to expand...
 
rlouzan said:
3 and 5-strand mystery braids are much stronger than a 4-strand flat braid -so be careful with heavy lenses.

Regards,
RLouzan
Click to expand...

now you've worried me.... hmmmmmm. i have some heavy lenses that i rarely carry arround (shoot them more inside) but i will pull out the Noctilux at night.

i think i've seen Peter's version of the Ralph Gibson MP braid and it was absolutely gorgeous.... he'll do custom camera straps still?
 
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