Rolleiflex Straps & Clips: What fit which camera?

[Rob-F]

I've been looking at ads for Rollei neck straps. The Fotodiox looks interesting, but the sellers always seem to leave out my 2.8D when they list the models the strap is supposed to work with. They list 2.8E and a number of others; but not the 2.8D. Yet, the strap lugs on all Rolleis I can remember look the same. Is there any difference at all?

I could get the strap complete with the clips, or the separate clips that can be used with other straps, like Domke and Tamrac. Has anyone tried that approach?

 

[x-ray]

I have a 2.8D as well as a 3.5F and the lugs and fitting are different enough where the straps won't interchange. I have a synthetic woven fotodiox on my F and really like it. It's very comfortable, just wide enough to distribute the weight and breaths through the weave.

On my D, I wasn't able to find the correct fittings. I think there's one on eBay but I'm not up for paying the price. What I do is use a Domke and just loupe the ends through the fittings and put the ends through the buckel of the strap like you would on any 35mm camera. It works just fine.

I even tried a Hasselblad strap on the D. It's similar but didn't work.

 

[Rob-F]

Thanks, X-ray, you just saved me time and effort. Using the Domke strap that way is a great idea, I will try that.

 

[TomN]

THIS is the strap that goes with your Rolleiflex. Or a simple leather strap with a slit/hole may suffice - this is what I made as I was unwilling to pay that kind of money for a strap they may have bad leather.

 

[Chromacomaphoto]

The early letter models like the C and maybe the early D's have a similar looking scissor clip design but it is of a different size than used on the later models through E and F etc. Most annoying if you happen to own both types, this happened to me a few years back but all my current ones share the same later size so it's a non issue right now.

Kind of like Bay ii vs Bay iii attachments etc, there are often lots of little incompatibilities in Rolleiland.

 

[JPD]

The early letter models like the C and maybe the early D's have a similar looking scissor clip design but it is of a different size than used on the later models through E and F etc. Most annoying if you happen to own both types, this happened to me a few years back but all my current ones share the same later size so it's a non issue right now.

TomN posted a picture of the original strap type for the C and D, and 3,5 B (MX-EVS). They don't have scissor clips.

However, I recommend a strong modern loop strap, like this:

https://optechusa.com/media/catalog...2ffe127f42dca9de82fb58b1/s/i/site-3-8-con.jpg

Earlier Rolleis had plain leather straps with a punched hole and slit directly in the leather, but those are dangerous to use today, especially with the heavier cameras.

 

[Rob-F]

TomN posted a picture of the original strap type for the C and D, and 3,5 B (MX-EVS). They don't have scissor clips.

However, I recommend a strong modern loop strap, like this:

https://optechusa.com/media/catalog...2ffe127f42dca9de82fb58b1/s/i/site-3-8-con.jpg

Earlier Rolleis had plain leather straps with a punched hole and slit directly in the leather, but those are dangerous to use today, especially with the heavier cameras.

Yes, I think that is the best solution. There is no need to attach to the metal post, is there. A good heavy ballistic nylon strap will work just as well, and is all we need!

 

[valdas]

What I do is use a Domke and just loupe the ends through the fittings and put the ends through the buckel of the strap like you would on any 35mm camera. It works just fine.

That is exactly what I do. I have a nice Rollei strap (I believe from a SLR model), I paid 5€ for it on the flea market. It is very comfortable and 100% secure (I had one near miss situation with an old original leather strap, I will never use those again).

 

[Chromacomaphoto]

Funny, I recall using some kind of scissor clip on my old C, it might have been a non factory clip then maybe?

Whatever option you go with, I recommend making sure that the weight of the camera is held onto the metal post in the middle and NOT just on the guard section around it. Although this is commonly done and seen everywhere, the metal post inside was the part that was designed to take the weight and it goes deeper into the camera. Putting all the stress onto the outside guard does basically work but is apparently not a great idea, according to several Rollei repair techs where I live at least. It does kind of make sense when you think about it.