camera makers camera straps!

[back alley]

mostly crap, no?

...or are we just snobby about such things? i see many 'regular amateurs' using these horribly coloured things all the time.
most folks shake their heads when i tell them my straps are about 40 bucks each (and they are the cheap ones out there…not the two hundred dollar leather jobbies)

why do camera makers bother with these poorly designed monstrosities?

 

[NeeZee]

why do camera makers bother with these poorly designed monstrosities?

Been asking myself that question for years now. Refering to cameras, not straps, though...

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Joe,

The best description of most manufacturers' offerings rhymes with "strap" and begins with "cr".

Why, as you ask, do they bother?

Cheers,

R.

 

[Pablito]

why do camera makers bother with these poorly designed monstrosities?

Advertising. They put the brand name as big as possible.

The Leica M6 straps are excellent, bought my two M6 bodies in 1996 and the straps are still good. Also the Mamiya 6 strap was excellent. Don't know of any other original straps that were / are any good.

 

[Bob Michaels]

Actually some of us find they are 100% functional. Especially the generic looking black nylon straps. I find those perfect because you can either sling them over your shoulder or wrap them around you wrist.

I normally do not use a strap of any kind. But when I do, it is always one that I never paid for. And never ever would I have one that said "expensive camera - steal me".

My local used camera store has a bushel basket full of straps. Buy a camera and get the strap of your choice. In fact, if you simply need a strap and are not an AH, you can get one for free.

 

[Particular]

I think the classic leica M straps are quite decent actually. I think they can be found for around $40 also.

 

[CCCPcamera]

I dunno the nylon strap that came with my Bessa R isn't a fancy handmade leather one, but it was included and it's pretty nice. I'm still using it for my M2 - can't be convinced to shell-out $120+ for a leather strap (even though they look very nice). Functionality > appearance. My dad recently bought the a7r and its included strap is also pretty nice. Not sure I agree at all with the premise of this thread actually, haha.

 

[Pablito]

Actually some of us find they are 100% functional. Especially the generic looking black nylon straps. I find those perfect because you can either sling them over your shoulder or wrap them around you wrist.

Oh, I agree with that, but cameras don't come with those any more. Cameras today seem to come with really flimsy straps, or really wide ones with the brand name printed in huge letters, these tend to be very uncomfortable.

Try and BUY a generic black nylon strap - good luck. I use the Domke gripper without any of the fancy quick release stuff. They are about $15.

 

[Doug]

I rather like the leather straps supplied for Contax/Kyocera cameras, some in an elegant gray, and these have the leather protectors that fit over the strap lugs to prevent scratches. Bought several of these from KEH a few years ago. Black leather straps from Pentax some decades ago were nice too. Black nylon as from Leica, Voigtlander are ok, functional.

Not so fond of the wide straps supplied with the camera brand name embroiderd in a bright color. 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...🙁

 

[thegman]

Crappy, yes. Snobby, yes.

I have once bought an A&A strap, but now I just get either cheap one, or use the one a camera comes with.

The A&A strap is lovely, no question about it, but £100 worth? Don't think so, not for me.

 

[segedi]

I tried one of my fancy, uber comfortable straps on my Leica M7. And promptly removed it. Too much bulk for my liking. I've actually taken straps of most of my cameras and use a grip plus one of Leicagoodies Slings.

 

[sevo]

Many of my (non-Canon) cameras are on Canon branded Domke straps, which somehow were a regular item in the bargain sales bins of camera stores back when Canon bundled them - so there obviously is a long-going resentment against using a branded strap, even if it is high quality.

 

[rluka]

The (synthetic?) leather with RD1 is nice, although I'm worried about it cracking.

I also used a Pentax strap once when I had my CL. Kept most peoples from overreacting at the camera because they assume it's the same brand as the strap

 

[sevo]

Cameras today seem to come with really flimsy straps, or really wide ones with the brand name printed in huge letters,

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.

 

[Frank Petronio]

It's good fun to use a Canon strap on your Nikon or vice-versa. Nothing like using a D3s strap to hold up your Rebel Ti. Some people get really upset when you do it ;-p

 

[Spavinaw]

Since we're talking straps, I have one I'd like to ask about. I found it at a thrift store last year. It was still in its original packaging which I have not opened--a 16 inch long plastic sleeve with a 3x3 inch cardboard label on one end. It is "The Bruton Sling" made by J. Bruton Ent, 410 North St., Yoakum, Tx. 77995. The center section is 1 3/4 x 12 inches, it is top grain leather and has decorative leather patterns sewn on top with a western motif. The back side is suede with some unknown soft padding between the front and back. Materials and workmanship are very nice. Does anyone else have or know anything about the Bruton Sling?

 

[jwicaksana]

It's good fun to use a Canon strap on your Nikon or vice-versa. Nothing like using a D3s strap to hold up your Rebel Ti. Some people get really upset when you do it ;-p

I do this too haha. I use grey canvas strap with annoyingly big NIKON for PROFESSIONAL writing on my 5D, and Leica M6 strap on my OM1n. Good times.
For cameras I actually use, I bought various plain, solid color leather and cotton canvas straps, made locally. 😉

 

[Takkun]

Always amused me that they give you things like a strap and USB cord for top-end cameras. Or explain very basic photography concepts and tips in the manual. You bought a $4000 camera and don't know what depth of field is?

But I digress. I like the strap that came with the D3, and the old blue canvas Canon straps. They're just not ideal for a beast of an SLR, and I'm not fond of announcing further that I am carrying said $4000 camera. I find them mostly comfortable.
Now the strap that came with my X100? No way. Quickly replaced by a Domke Gripper.

 

[mervynyan]

actually for all the straps I have used, the stock strap from leica is the best. I changed few brand and unbranded straps over the years, then I always find reason to switch back to stock one.

 

[gb hill]

I don't think you guys really like straps cause this thread ain't getting much love.😀