(Leica) Strap / Grip / Mount

[roscoetuff]

Curious how folks like to carry their cameras - or at least how they facilitate "the carry". Particularly interested to hear whether there's any difference in the ways you carry different cameras as it would make some sense that certain gear will push for alternatives - whether the difference is practical, economical, or psychological (i.e. based on "need!" vs. emotion or pocketbook).

It'd be great if polls allowed a two-step or two-poll process on these things, or even fill in the blank, but they don't. I guess the fill-in-the-blank is covered by the notes.

Anyway, I've seen any number of underkill, overkill and camerakill ways of getting it done (and not). Don't know why, but it seemed worth a holler to hear what others are doing, whether they're really thinking it through, or just came to something that works without that bother.

Me? I'm a trial-and-lots-of-errors guy. For my Sony A7's (digital) I've settled on a Gorby wrist-strap and guard with a ThinkTank holster as the most comfotable. I can put a lens case on my belt (not a big one) or in a pocket if I think there's a need to have a 2nd. Since I'm new to Leica and shooting a M4-2 that requires metering, I'm on newer ground here and threw an old Gorby neck strap on it, but I frankly miss the wrist strap and don't dig the way a camera dangles with all that potential to slam into the wrong thing at the wrong time. And I'm lugging a camera bag for the extras - size dependent on travel from home.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Neckstrap. Speed, and I like to have both hands free.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Sid836]

A half case. For my M4-P I use the genuine ever ready case with the top removed. I like it dangling on me with its neck strap.

 

[B.Toews]

M3 is hands only, I don't really trust the lugs. M4-P is often on a neck strap but sometimes hands only as well, and I often wrap the strap around my wrist anyway.

 

[Luke_Miller]

Neck Strap on all my camera bodies. My hands/fingers don't work as well as they used to, so I drop a lot of things. Have not (yet) dropped a camera. I attribute that to always placing the strap around my neck as soon as I grasp the camera. With my Leicas I will often add a hand grip if I put the SF-58 in the hot shoe.

 

[Godfrey]

M: 52" Street Strap neck strap.
SL: Harry Benz' Cravat Brogue wrist leash.

When I'm out walking and shooting, the M stays around my neck/body slung bandolier style under my left arm. The SL stays in my hand when shooting. Either will get tucked into a bag when I'm walking a distance between areas of shooting interest, unless I'm carrying only the M with one lens. A bag is always with me when I'm using a tripod because it has carrier loops to make carrying the tripod easier.

The M4-2 has a half-case on it (A&A pigskin or lambskin, I forget which) to make it a little thicker and grippier so I can hold it better.
I have a Leica R8 neckstrap for the Leicaflex SL ... a little thicker, more padded for the additional weight of the camera and its lenses compared to the Street Strap.

G

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I vote "other". I'm physically fit. And I like HCB, Winogrand and Meyerowitz shooting technique at the time of their glory.
Due to this no grips and no fancy hangman's knots to be attached to Leica like it is suitcase full of money. Just neck strap.
But I'm getting softer with age and have original half-case for M4-2 and waiting for Patagonian half-case for M8 from Chile. Will get original M3 case and convert it to half-case as well.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I like the original black leather Leitz neckstrap with rubber shoulder pad from the fifties and later. In fact I collect them. They're made from the best leather, very thin and supple, but strong. And that smell!

Erik.

 

[Mojo]

I like M3 leather neck strap (I kinda collect them myself--I have 4) on my M's but prefer wrist strap on my screw mounts. I use a leica grip on my Leica,s and a GMP grip on my Nikon FM2 and S2 (Leica R grip).

 

[zuiko85]

Cross body strap w/quick release. But I'm anything but lean and mean. Close to 68, fat with jowls and baggy eyes. To go across my ample belly I have to make my own out of nylon strap bought from a notions store, takes about 6 ft. to make it long enough to work with sewing in loops etc.

 

[Glenn2]

I checked neck strap, but rarely wear a camera around my neck. What I do is carry the strap over a shoulder, but underneath a light jacket.
This way the camera is out of sight but ready for instant use. It can't fall off your shoulder because of the sleeve, so is quite secure.

I've found this to work well for rangefinders with compact lenses, but not so good for bigger SLRs. One down side is that the bump under a jacket may make it look like concealed carry. Back in the day of pat downs by airport security I freaked a guard out at Istanbul during boarding. Best not to use this carry around security folks, it may look like a double stack 1911 rather than a Leica.

Glenn

 

[ckuwajima]

Neck strap on my gripped M4.

 

[sepiareverb]

Domke Gripper straps with swivels (the 1" model) on the Leica bodies, SWC, Rollei, Pentax 67. Put a thin cloth neck strap on the GR. The M bodies all have a Rapidgrip on them.

The view cameras are tripod only.

 

[barnwulf]

I use a neck strap but, I always have one hand holding the camera too. I use a Up-Stap narrow strap since they have a very grippy shoulder pad. - jim

 

[ktmrider]

I use a neck strap on my Leica's and a wrist strap on my FujiX70. Gordy makes a combo wrist strap and neck strap which works great and lives on my M2. A Leica nylon strap gets used on the M5 which is carried horizontally.

 

[Doug]

I would have chosen "shoulder strap" had the poll offered that choice. I don't care for having a camera bouncing on my chest as I walk along, though I used to carry that way long ago. Plus, I'm a fan of grips on cameras, whether built-in or add-on... I like the extra secure hold.

Like Glenn2 above I will often have an outer garment over the camera to protect it from the weather and be more discreet. If someone is concerned it's a (ineptly) concealed weapon, that's ok too though I'm not aware it's ever happened. 🙂

 

[Roger Hicks]

A half case. For my M4-P I use the genuine ever ready case with the top removed. I like it dangling on me with its neck strap.

What about reloading? Why slow yourself down?

Cheers,

R,

 

[John Lawrence]

Neck strap - but by using the Artisan and Artist silk strap I can also use it (comfortably) wrapped around my wrist, should the mood take me.

Tried wrist straps on their own a long time ago, but (continuing my toilet theme from yesterday), ever tried paying a visit to the gents whilst holding a camera in your hand 😱 ?

John

 

[rodt16s]

Leica goodies style finger loops on all M's
Except the MDa / 21SA combo this has a short neck strap, of the type Erik is excited by 😀

 

[mdarnton]

I made my own Schwalberg straps for everything, and everything has a Scarabaeus lug on it, too. When not in use, if it's not on my shoulder, it's hanging on my belt. Initially I was unsure about how comfy the Scarabaeus would be, but with the camera hanging there and the strap shoved in the nearby pocket, I hardly think about the camera at all. Even a Nikon FG with 50/1.4 is fine, but best is an M4 and collapsible Summicron or 35 Summicron.

http://www.photoscarab.de/?r=1 To me, this clip was well worth the cost.