Custom camera strap

fast14riot

fast14riot

To infinity and beyond!
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Mar 17, 2013
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I made this camera strap real quick today for my Electro 35 GSN. It is not adjustable, but it is custom fit to the length I like. I like to carry my camera with the strap across my chest and do not need to take my arm out of the strap to bring the camera up. It is extremely light, very UV stable, does not absorb water, and chemically stable. 39 1/2 inches including rings.

It is Vectran 12-strand braid line I use on my race boats, terminated with a Mobius Brummel eye splice at each end with long tapered tails burried neatly. Shoulder pad is just a scrap of leather I had around.

Let me know what you think!

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-Xander
 
Thanx! I worked as a rigger for years, still do some from time to time, but mostly just race semi-pro now. I have several larger set ups similar to this I use when racing, which is what initially spawned the idea. Although, my strops are significantly more heavy duty!


-X
 
The splice is not at all difficult, 12 strand rope is very simple to work with, nothing more than a hollow rope. A Mobius brummel splice is different in that you don't need both ends, but with some attention to detail you can use a standard brummel splice.
 
Great job,
Light-weight and strong. I like it.


Last strap I made wasn't really anything special. it's just a hand-cut strip of leather with a few holes punched in it. Doesn't need to carry a lot of weight either.
recesky02.jpg
 
Great looking straps gentlemen, Especially fond of the Mr Flibbles interpretation of the one knot strap. Is that one of those Gakken kit camera's?
 
Looks clean and sharp. 😎

A little trick with leather, if you want the edges to be smooth: lightly wet the edges with water on a sponge or cloth, then repeatedly rub something smooth over them (such as a ballpoint pen body, etc). The heat generated by the friction of the process will burnish the edges.

In my small production setting, I use a felt buff wheel on a dremel tool with a notch carved into it, to achieve an effect like this:

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EDIT: to the OP ---> This is a cool strap. Have you tried it without the shoulder pad? Or contemplated starting with a thicker rope and pairing the strands down to a thinner weave (there's a term for that I'm sure...) at the lugs?

I made a strap of my own and I was originally going to do something similar to that with rope, but I ended up looking at too many pictures of Gordy's lovely straps and made a variation of his design (with integrated shoulder pad). I'm still convinced though that rope would have been a better choice ergonomically simply because, as nice as the leather looks, it's a little finicky at the lugs when hand holding the camera. I mean because of the inherent stiffness of such thick leather. I imagine rope would be far less so.

Here's what I've created:
Before burnishing the edges
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After burnishing the edges (for comfort mainly) and some use
IMG_1878_zpsfabdaa94.jpg

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Ironically, I just placed an order for parts to make an ~$8 strap from nylon webbing because I believe this will be more comfortable and practical in the long run. Man I tell you... sometimes I just can't help but make something for the sake of making it (never mind practicality).
 
SausalitoDog said:
Better be careful, guys... You will wind up as strap manufacturers instead of photographers 🙂...
Click to expand...

Lol, you don't need us for this, guys.
This is where I got a 1" leather strip for the leather strap I made (I think it was less than $10):http://www.outfitterssupply.com/Leather-Leather-Strap-Webbing-amp-Fabrics/products/97/

Here's a little secret I use for making all my "pro" sling style straps for about $20: www.strapworks.com

Here's a couple flavors (2" width for my canon beast, and a recently purchased 1.5" width for my hassy)
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SausalitoDog said:
Better be careful, guys... You will wind up as strap manufacturers instead of photographers 🙂...
Click to expand...

That's what happened to me... 🙂

My quest for a camera strap that was both cotton webbing and leather came up empty, so I made some for personal use. Then friends started requesting ones for themselves. Now I pay my rent by making camera straps in my spare time.

il_570xN.453658758_2oih.jpg


whited3,
I think with a bit of usage that the leather will soften up more...it looks like it's well on the way there. You might be able to speed it up a little with Lexol or something of the sort (test it on a small, hidden area first, if you decide to go that route). Nice craftsmanship.
 
That's very nice! If cotton webbing were easier/cheaper to find I would use it because I prefer the way it behaves and feels in many applications over nylon, polyester, and polypropylene webbing.

My leather strap is actually pretty soft overall at the moment. It's simply bulky at the lugs and it's because I got greedy with the leather; in other words I should have just prioritized ergonomics over looks and used a lighter weight leather.

I guess I should add I think my leather strap would sing on a heavier camera like an SLR... maybe it's time for an old nikon or pentax...😀
 
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