A properly designed wrist strap...

[Roger Hicks]

...looks like this. And here's the text that accompanies it, from the Short Schrift that changes about once a week on my web-site:

Wrist straps for 35mm cameras date back at least to the 1930s. In fact, the one in the picture probably is from the 1930s, because the metal fittings are nickel-plated instead of chrome: look at the difference in colour between them and the chrome finish of the 1950s Agimatic to which the strap is fitted.

Some people love ‘em; some hate ‘em; and quite honestly, I’m pretty indifferent. They’re OK sometimes, but mostly I prefer neck straps. What I can’t understand, though, is that despite the availability of substantial, comfortable, easy-to-use, well-engineered straps like this, with a proper swivel around a tripod screw, there are still people who affix miserably flimsy wrist straps to one strap lug, sometimes without even a split-ring, using only what amounts to a loop of carpet thread.

Yes, you’ll almost certainly be OK if you use the strap lug in a way that was never intended; pull straight outwards, instead of upwards; put all the load on one lug; and run the risk of sawing through the carpet thread (look at the strap lug through a magnifier: the hole is often quite sharp-edged). But with a proper wrist strap, screwed into the tripod socket, ideally with a dab of thread-locking compound on the screw, you’ve a much wider margin of safety. With an Agimatic, you might not worry too much, but with a few hundred quids’ worth of camera, better safe than sorry.

 

[dave lackey]

...looks like this. And here's the text that accompanies it, from the Short Schrift that changes about once a week on my web-site:

Wrist straps for 35mm cameras date back at least to the 1930s. In fact, the one in the picture probably is from the 1930s, because the metal fittings are nickel-plated instead of chrome: look at the difference in colour between them and the chrome finish of the 1950s Agimatic to which the strap is fitted.

Some people love ‘em; some hate ‘em; and quite honestly, I’m pretty indifferent. They’re OK sometimes, but mostly I prefer neck straps. What I can’t understand, though, is that despite the availability of substantial, comfortable, easy-to-use, well-engineered straps like this, with a proper swivel around a tripod screw, there are still people who affix miserably flimsy wrist straps to one strap lug, sometimes without even a split-ring, using only what amounts to a loop of carpet thread.

Yes, you’ll almost certainly be OK if you use the strap lug in a way that was never intended; pull straight outwards, instead of upwards; put all the load on one lug; and run the risk of sawing through the carpet thread (look at the strap lug through a magnifier: the hole is often quite sharp-edged). But with a proper wrist strap, screwed into the tripod socket, ideally with a dab of thread-locking compound on the screw, you’ve a much wider margin of safety. With an Agimatic, you might not worry too much, but with a few hundred quids’ worth of camera, better safe than sorry.

Nice strap there, Roger...anyone make one like that these days?🙂

I don't know about anyone else, but when I use a wrist strap it is ONLY as an insurance against dropping the camera, not for carrying. In fact, with my Gordy's strap, the one with all leather, no string, I find myself carrying and using the camera with my hand wrapped around the camera and using the lens as a grip at time. Never seem to let any weight hang on the strap itself.

I like the idea of a strap on the bottom plate as shown. Again, I just can't see anyone carrying the camera by the strap, but maybe they do.😱

 

[kully]

In theory, yes.

In practice - rubbish advice (at least for Leica RFs).

I agree that this way of attaching the strap to the camera is much nicer than a strap lug and I tried hard to make it work. The first thing I realised was the need for thread lock compound, as you mention.

But after a couple of months both my Ms had a distorted baseplate where the strap attachment had pulled at the softish, thin brass baseplate.

BTW When I got my M8 I asked Leica UK whether it was safe for me to dangle my camera off a strap lug, I got a reply a week later from someone in Germany saying something to the effect "ja!".

 

[Ronald M]

Looks exactly like mine except mine is chrome. I have had it for so many decades I can`t remember anything about where it was from. Someplace between 3 and 5 decades.

I use it as a safety device only so no distorted baseplates.

Actually i have learned you use the camera or put it in a padded.
bag. Taken too many falls in the woods tripping over leaf covered roots or slipping on snow/ice or leaves on mud. No grip in the world helps when you hit the ground.

 

[Turtle]

Most wrist straps are poorly thought out, too short, too thick etc. One day I am going to have a crack at designing camera bags and straps....

For a wrist strap it is sad to admit that the best I have found is a neck strap twisted around and bound to my wrist. Yes, this is insurance against drops and casual theft not a load bearing solution. I hold the camera.

 

[pphuang]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/561958-REG/Bower_SS881_SS881_Heavy_duty_Wrist_Strap.html

 

[Roger Hicks]

Paul: thanks for the link. Pity about 'leather-like' but a 10 year guarantee removes some of the concerns.

Kully: I've only ever tried it at length with screw-mount, but I'm surprised at your experience with Ms. Not calling you a liar for an instant: just surprised. How badly distorted were the baseplates? Any problems consequent on the distortion? (Light leaks, bad seating on the tripod?) Like Dave and Turtle, I only ever treated it as insurance. i.e. I held the camera most of the time as well as having the strap around my wrist.

Cheers,

R.

 

[newspaperguy]

Good find, pphuang.

 

[Arjay]

For a wrist strap it is sad to admit that the best I have found is a neck strap twisted around and bound to my wrist. Yes, this is insurance against drops and casual theft not a load bearing solution. I hold the camera.

Yes, that's my idea, too.

I wrap my neck strap around my wrist with a twist - the strap that goes to the right-hand side lug of the camera must be set to a specific length. In this way, the lengh of the strap helps me

1. to position my index finger precisely over the shutter button, and
2. to hold the camera suspended for portrait orientation shots, if I'm shooting from the hip. This also works for landscape orientation;
3. the other strap hangs loose when I am photographing from the hip, and also holds the camera if I let go so that it dangles from the wrist.

The trick is to precisely set the length of the strap and the position of the loop around the wrist. I'm working on a 'wrist strap' design without a loop, but with a wrist sleeve that can be preset for the wearer's wrist thickness and position.

Here's what it looks like:

Sorry for the poor picture quality, I just took these shots quick 'n dirty.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Actually, I'll go right along with the idea of the neck strap around the wrist. It's a much better bet than a wrist strap for me.

I'm really glad this post has spawned some debate. It's what my AP column and Short Schrift are for. People may think I'm wrong; they may think I'm the biggest idiot on God's earth. But as long as they think, instead of just reciting what 'everyone knows', I've succeeded.

Cheers,

R.

 

[umcelinho]

http://www.electricedge.com/gordy_s_straps/wrist-tripod/index.htm

I personally prefer a neck strap around my wrist too, it's more versatile: I can use it both ways. For when I need both hands it's useful. I use a gordy's neck strap with the strings on both ends, so when it's around my wrist it won't come in the way of the viewfinder. when used normally, it feels like a "naked" camera, which I like!

 

[icamp]

Gordys has 2 models of tripod mount straps, and they are REAL leather.

 

[Jason Sprenger]

When I'm carrying a gadget bag, I use wrist straps and the wrist straps I also prefer to use are the straps that mount to the tripod socket.

These sort are less in my way and allow my hand to be in a more comfortable position when I'm manipulating and carrying the camera.

I only rarely let the camera dangle, entirely supported by a wrist strap. Not that I worry over much about the socket, it's too easy to flail the camera into something.

However, with my Leica M2, I use a grip from PhotoEquip as I find the position of the tripod socket particularly ill-suited not only for a wrist strap, but also its intended purpose.

 

[ruby.monkey]

Gordys has 2 models of tripod mount straps, and they are REAL leather.

They're also a little annoying on a Leica, due to the daft positioning of the tripod socket. Personally I like one of his standard lug-mounted wriststraps as a last-chance insurance against dropping my M3 - it lies comfortably between index and middle finger when I'm shooting - but I know better than to let the camera dangle from the wriststrap. I'm fond of the Leica neckstrap but usually carry the camera in my coat pocket, so wrapping the strap round my wrist won't do.

 

[Muggins]

I have to confess that I have never ever worried that much about whether or not my wrist strap is going to give way. However that might be because it's attached to a Trip 35 that's price was quintupled by putting an orange filter on it... On the other hand, I've found out that the lower part of a Vitomatic II case makes a top notch half-case for a Trip, so I might just try that...

Adrian

 

[wgerrard]

I'm a camera-holder, too. Neck straps annoy me.

I have a couple "carpet thread" straps I use with small, light camera, because that's what is available. I've actually tried to snap the thread by sawing it back and forth against the lug, without success.

In any case, I never rely on the wrist strap to hold the camera. That's what my hand is for. Besides, having a camera dangling freely from your wrist is risky, and sounds even more annoying than having one bouncing around on your chest.

Now, it would be really nice if someone came up with a wrist strap that sensed when you had lost your grip on the camera and automatically contracted around your wrist, thereby protect the camera and alerting you.

 

[mathomas]

I started with a neck strap and heard of this "wrap it around your forearm" trick, but for the life of me could not figure that out. It would uncoil, fall down, and generally be a real nuisance. Can someone explain it to me like I'm a five-year-old? Or better yet, pictures (Arjay's are nice, but too close-up).

For now, when carrying my Ms, I'm a wrist strap convert (Gordy and Luigi, both with split rings), and do occasionally dangle a camera (I tend not to swing my arm at all when doing so). Shhh, don't tell anyone!

 

[mooge]

Fedka sells those things too.

It seems a little awkward to me, if you let the camera dangle (I do), it'll hang upside down ish. I guess it doesn't really matter though.
it would be nice if they made one that screwed in the tripod socket and looped around to the strap lug. that might stick to your hand better.

 

[ChrisN]

Am I the only person that prefers to wrap the strap around my left wrist, to leave my right hand free for other tasks? (I am right-handed.)

 

[Traut]

The best attach point I've seen on a camera was the Rollei 35's dedicated strap hardware cci wish others copied it.