Favorite Neck Strap?

A Domke Gripper 1" w/swivels is on all but one of my cameras. I've got a Luigi strap on one body, a Nikon F4. I quite like the Luigi strap, but the Domkes are cheaper and just as comfortable.
 
sanmich said:
I hate to say that but I prefer the narrow black basic nikon strap to the leica.
Only problem: you need to buy a camera to get those :) And of course to blacken the Nikon logo..
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I concur...especially earlier AND latest versions without the white Nikon name logo. [The earlier versions uses chrome slider buckles, latest using black delrin molded with the Nikon name...naturally.]

A strap is only for hanging the camera around your neck or across the body. Wider ones distribute weight better. A length of non-slip materials sewn-on prevents unwanted slip-off's.

Nylon webbing is far stronger than leather and looks good in black.

The Nikon black strap is available separately for ~$15. In Tokyo, many camera stores sell identical no-brand-name version without any markings...for $2. I bought a few in my last trip.

You can also make your own easily:

Nylon webbing from 10mm to 25mm, or 3/8" and up [and in rainbow colors] are widely available, also matching delrin "slider" buckles...even the double loop type used by the almighty Leica strap. A length of silicone surgical tubing slipped onto the strap makes a perfect non-slip pad; also ironed-on waist-band non-slip tapes available in sewing notion stores.

The ends of the webbing is neatly sealed by placing it near a stove-top heat element. Sewing the ends permanently is easy...no pre-punching necessary.

Cutting a length, seal the ends and loop it onto slider buckles takes 5 minutes. No exotic skills required.

I have been making my own before the hippie color wide-strap fad of the early '70's...in army olive drab.

Contrary to popular opinions regarding the benefits of those little leather taps that purport to protect the camera finish: they don't work; rubbing something long enough even with a non-abrasive substance wears the surface...including solid titanium camera bodies.

The only effective way I have ever known is the way used in current M6, 7, 8's...a plastic tab mounted above the eyelets. Before anyone rushes out to buy a Leica just for that, a stick-on translucent silicone bump commonly used as bumpers in kitchen cabinets works great. I even have some black ones if you must use black.
 
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For a neck strap on an RF, I like the Voigtlander thin nylon one that came with my Bessa R2a. I removed the "grip" strip so that the strap will slide easily when I wear an RF camera bandoleer fashion. Grippy straps don't work well worn across the body, particularly under a jacket.

Though when I have a bag with me, usually a wrist strap will be found on the tripod socket.
 
I'm a fan of the griptac bandoleer for my SLRs but I am still trying to find the perfect rangefinder strap.
 
Since I fall in love with vintage camera I use Nikon Coolpix's strap on my first Kodak Retina and later I design my own camera strap. When I go to snap around the city people always ask me "where do you get this strap?"
:)

anat
 
Steve Litt said:
I was interested in the AA silk strap but when I inquired about ordering one the postage was nearly half as much again!Which I couldn't understand having had numerous items from the USA with far more realistic charges.Anyone know of any other source for the UK?

Regards
Steve
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Try here :-

http://www.reddotcameras.co.uk/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=1471

or here for an even larger selection :-

http://www.theclassiccamera.com/category_ARTISAN_AND_ARTISTS_1.htm

Regards
Eric
 
luketrash said:
Here's what I did.. I got fed up with high prices, so I went on etsy.com to their Alchemy application and put out a work order on a custom leather strap.

I posted a couple of photos of the Artist and Artisan leather strap as well as a Luigi strap and asked for anybody in the leatherworking crafts to bid on a recreation.

So for 25 dollars, I'm having a custom black-with-white-stitching strap made that has my name embossed into it and some nautical star embossings as well.

Viva La Etsy.
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Yes... except that I had a couple of 'clones' made of a strap I particularly liked that was no longer in production (Kik-90) and the leather just wasn't right: too thick and stiff.

Cheers,

R.
 
I'm still Domke Gripper but I've cobbled together two camera straps from old Domke bag straps. They're 1½" wide with swivel hooks and extremely flexible in length.
 
Love my Domke Gripper in Khaki . Its been mentioned before but I really like them too. I carry it on my shoulder all day long at times and it stays there nicely with confidence (e.g. no slipping whatsoever). Also, it doesn't have a logo so thats nice... I couldnt stand the Olympus, Panasonic logos in the straps. That being said... once my M8 gets here I think I am going to go for a wrist strap instead of a shoulder strap.
 
I bought a strap from Luigi and got a custom length (after measuring the length of my R-D1 strap) non adjustable one in the 'rally' colour. It's perfect and really nicely made.
 
old-fashioned pentax 1/2-inch leather strap, naked with split rings.
optech with the neoprene band for the neck, 3/8-inch nylon strap ends for split rings.
 
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I mostly use wrist straps, but for my Fuji 690 and SLRs, I like both the Domke wide and narrow straps. If you want grip you turn the rubber "in", if you don't, turn it "out". I'm an outie, because I like to shift the camera around over my shoulder.
 
ped said:
I bought a strap from Luigi and got a custom length (after measuring the length of my R-D1 strap) non adjustable one in the 'rally' colour. It's perfect and really nicely made.
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i'm curious as to what length you chose...

i just ordered a gordy non adjustable in 58 inch length. i normally use a wrist strap but thought i'd try a long strap for the cold winter months...bandolero style.
 
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