Anyone Hang Camera Vertically On Strap?

[jyl]

Does anyone have camera strap lugs that are arranged so that the camera hangs vertically - with the left/film rewind side down and the right/film advance side up?

Seems this would either let you hang the camera vertically with a full-length strap, or would permit a rather solid hand strap.

I have a camera that I am getting ready to bring to the repairman for a tuneup, and I thought about asking him to add a lug to the right lower corner (roughly under the knuckle of the little finger of your ight hand).

 

[rover]

I do it every now and again just for a change. I have a side grip for my Bessas which has the lower right lug with allows this. I currently am hanging (my cameras) horizontally.

 

[back alley]

my mamiya 6 had that. i much prefer hanging from the side like that. not sure why more makers don't add the extra lug.

joe

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Leica CL and early M5 (two lug) hang vertically with the lever-wind down. It took some getting used to on the CL.

 

[jyl]

This particular camera is a Nikon F and the lug could replace a rivet at the lower corner of the camera back - it might actually be handy to have the back "tethered" like that, less likely to drop it in the dirt.

Sorry, not talking about a rangefinder here. Gosh, I think I need more rangefinders.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The mechanism that holds the back on is very strong, it can hold the motor drive with the cordless back on. If you do it, post some pictures. You could also use a Nikon CS-9 or CS-10 soft pouch case with the vertical strap to provide some extra protection. It has zip-up sides.

 

[RML]

My CL hangs vertically. I like that a lot..

 

[Rob]

Not a rangefinder but I have an EOS camera and with the
battery pack/grip attached it gives you a place to attach
the strap to use vertically. The extra shutter button in
the vertical position is really nice.

 

[Roman]

On the Pentax LX it is also possible - though I don't know from experience (the LX is the 2nd camera I'm gonna buy after I win the lottery 😉 )

Roman

 

[jlw]

I also have a Bessa R2 with trigger winder, and I always hang it vertically. I find it much more comfortable to carry that way, and also easier to handle with the strap not fouling both ends of the camera.

The Leica/Minolta CL and M5 are the only other 35mm RF cameras I can think of that had provision for this vertical carry, but it worked really well on them as well.

One point of distinction is to which end to attach the strap. IIRC, the Leicas put it on the rewind end, where it interfered slightly with rewinding but left the advance end completely clear; the Bessa does it the opposite way, which isn't such an issue with the trigger winder.

This option also depends on whether you prefer to carry the camera over the left shoulder or the right: if the strap goes on the left, you've gotta carry the camera over your left shoulder, or it will be upside-down when you pull it up to your eye, and vice-versa (unless you feel comfortable carrying it with the lens pointing inward, in which case the situation is reversed.) That quandary is probably why more manufacturers haven't offered this option!

Another thing to keep in mind: it works well with rangefinder cameras, which are flat and relatively concentrated. With a thick, top-heavy camera such as a Nikon F, it might not work so well -- especially with a long, heavy lens mounted. So you might want to experiment a bit with mounting locations before you commit to the surgery!

 

[Doug]

I too have the CV trigger winder (on my T) and I like the additional grip almost as much as I like its additional strap lugs. Of course, with the extra lugs on the right, that promotes right-shoulder carry as JLW mentioned.

My Bronica RF645 has three strap lugs, two on the left. So I have the strap on the two left lugs, and it carries on the left shoulder. Same for the Fuji GA645, but the Fuji GS645 has its two lugs on the right.

As mentioned, the Pentax LX and Pentax 67-family cameras have four strap lugs for maximum flexibility! The Pentax hand-grip for the 67 mounts to the left-side lugs, leaving the right two for the strap. I have the smaller handgrip from Inoyoon on both my 67's, and it mounts to the right-side strap lugs. So now I've switched to carrying the big Pentax on the left shoulder.

I like vertical carry over one shoulder much more than horizontal carry with the strap around the neck. But horizontal carry over one shoulder isn't too bad either. I find it handier to have the camera vertically oriented for an easier grasp by the hand on that side; swing the camera into shooting position, apply hands to controls as nec...

 

[jyl]

I took a closer look at the back of the F and this seems very feasible. Drill out the rivet, insert lug, drill a hole in the baseplate, insert the locking screw that comes in from the side of the lug.

This F is a bit of a project camera, an eBay gamble (aren't they all) that didn't work out so well. So I'm going to learn a bit about working on cameras, I guess.

 

[nwcanonman]

I use like a heavy ID/cell phone strap to hang light-weight RF's like the Ricoh 500G vertically. Or I use it wrapped around my wrist for quick shots too.

 

[clarkmac]

Right hand lugs

Right hand lugs

My most used camera over the last twenty-five years has been the Pentax LX. I've hung it vertically all that time and wouldn't have it elsewise. My olive R2 w/winder has also been hung that way. It's now been debulked so it's strapless and winderless. Just a canon 50mm 1.2 w/o hood or filter. I'll probably get a filter and ditch the cap, but at least with through-the-lens metering you can't shoot forgetting that the cap's there

Clark

 

[laptoprob]

I have a modified M grip on my CLE with an added lug so I can carry it vertically.
I robbed the lug off of the side grip on the Bessa T. I have not modified that one because it is all metal. More difficult to do it right. Sadly the sidegrip has no 3d lug on the bottom, only one on top.

Rob

 

[Andrew Touchon]

Bessa R3A with trigger winder. The Bessa cameras have forward positioned lugs that make the camera hang at an upward pointing angle when hung horizontally.

 

[traveller]

Thinking along the same lines I saw the solution with strap and hook at Leicagoodies and it looks quit good to me. I like the possibility to carry the camera with a neckstrap or with a handstrap.

John

 

[Al Kaplan]

I'd probably use my CL more often except for the vertical hang. I can never seem to get used to it, and the strap is at the wrong end to just loop it a few times around my wrist. It's light and compact, the 40 is a superb piece of glass, but it always just seems awkward to use because of the end hang of the strap.

 

[Gordon Coale]

I make a vertical hanging neck strap that attaches to a lug and the tripod mount. Check it out.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Vertical hung Voigtlander R3A with winder. Great on shoulder, neck or hand.