camera makers camera straps!

Tony Whitney said:
As far as straps go, the simpler the better for me. Leica straps that come with the cameras are good and Voigtlander straps are even better. I love Gordy's straps, especially the wrist straps. Older RFFers will remember the days when every other SLR (not mine!) was suspended from something that looked as though it belonged on Willie Nelson's guitar.
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I still see those around, even on DSLRs and can only wonder if people are getting them from the odds and ends bin at Guitar Canter..e
 
Doug said:
The straps I most dislike are the brightly colored "hippy straps" with the clanking hardware at each end that can and will scratch up your camera...:(
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Tony Whitney said:
Older RFFers will remember the days when every other SLR (not mine!) was suspended from something that looked as though it belonged on Willie Nelson's guitar.
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I remember those! Had one on my K1000.

Nothing quite screams "1977" like one of those straps.
 
Hey, I really love those woven "hippie" straps!
I'm always willing to give unappreciated hippie straps a new home. :)

Other than those, I use Domke Gripper straps on my rangefinders, and I have some manufacturer-branded straps on some of my lesser-used cameras. Not long ago I found a really funky black and white Pentax one in the local camera shop's bin and had to get it.
 
sevo said:
A trend apparently set by Nikon - from the seventies on, all Nikons I ever bought new or was furnished with came with horrible straps. Either too thin for the weight, or slippery wide things with huge lettering that obviously had had brand name advertising as the main priority in their design process.
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Not too sure. In the 1970's and 1980's most of the Nikon cameras were sold without strap. Their aftermarket AN-1 (black leather) and AN-4B (black nylon) were discrete and had no letterings on them. Yes you could buy a large black/yellow or red/yellow strap with some huge Nikon lettering on it but you weren't forced to.

The AN-4B is one of the best straps out there : thin woven black nylon which holds very well over time, stainless steel loops, and very nice shoulder/neck anti-slipping stitched pad. No lettering. All black.

For a fraction of the price of the $40 (!!!) black Leica strap. And sometimes found for free in shops "pick what you want in there" spring giveaway baskets.
 
I recently ordered a couple straps from the following strap makers -- http://www.tapanddye.com/

Just wanted a leather camera strap made from real hide, not some over manufactured plasticky crap.

Was very pleased with the products -- a bit bulky, but with a bit of time, should break in very, very nicely.

Best,
B
 
My MP came with a strap I don't use because it has 'Leica' printed on it, and I don't like non-slip plastics against my bare neck. I use a narrow black nylon Nikon strap from ebay. Used, about $7 when I got them, no branding, top shelf stainless steel buckles. I strip off the no-slip stuff because it's usually sticky from age. My M3 got one too.

Yes, Highway61, AN-4B (or Y). Thanks!
 
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The current Leica straps are pretty good but mostly use the narrow nylon straps that came with 70s Canon SLRs. They work great and the only problem is that since they haven't been made for years and they're disappearing from camera store's old strap box.
 
... say what you like, I love those cheap'n cheerful nylon straps that come with the bessa cameras ... shame they don't sell them without the camera
 
Highway 61 said:
Not too sure. In the 1970's and 1980's most of the Nikon cameras were sold without strap.
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That may have varied by country - and most of my cameras were bought from their pro or press distribution chain, it is quite likely that the bundles I received contained more branded extras than the average consumer marketed box...
 
I use Leica leather straps (supposed to be elk hide) on almost every camera I own (including the Leicas!). Supple, strong, last forever (or at least the 40+ years I've used them). The rubber non-slip pads are a necessity with heavier cameras.
Regards,
David
 
back alley said:
my largest dislike is the nikon type straps…hugh lettering in garish colours, so wide and metal buckles close to the camera body.
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Metal buckles? Really? On the DSLR straps?

Mine have plastic buckles (or whatever that hardware is called). Yes, the yellow lettering is really bright, but there is no metal.
 
I really liked the hippie straps until one let go and sent one of my cameras onto pavement. My main beef with most supplied straps (or ones that have narrow nylon webbing on the ends for that matter) is that they usually find a way to twist and tangle themselves into oblivion, and end up being more of a hassle than they're worth.
 
I kind of like the strap that comes with the Fuji X10, especially the faux-suede lug covers that keep them from scratching the camera body. It's a heavy and wide enough strap for that small camera.

For wrist straps, the Gordy is hard to beat, though I've kind of gravitated from wrist straps back to neck straps, they keep your hands free.

~Joe
 
css9450 said:
Metal buckles? Really? On the DSLR straps?

Mine have plastic buckles (or whatever that hardware is called). Yes, the yellow lettering is really bright, but there is no metal.
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I haven't seen hippy straps with plastic hardware, probably much newer than the old one I have... which has chrome buckles, swivels, and spring-clips. These are wide straps, an inch or more. From the pre-DSLR era! Clank clank...
 
I use and buy expensive straps... because I wear my camera around my neck for 8 hours at a time. I've had people make fun of my straps, but these are the same people with grips, thumbs-ups, rapidwinders, soft-releases, LCD protecters, replacement logos, tape, etc.
 
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