Strap or Sling

nightfly

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Just picked up an M4-P and wanted to get some sort of handholding implement. Looking around here I saw some discussion about wrist straps and the Sling and was wondering which people prefer.

I basically keep the camera in my hand whenever I'm shooting and in a pocket or bag if not. Never used a neck strap as anything but a wrist strap so I figured for this camera I might as well cut to the chase. For the wandering urban street shooter which is a better option, a wrist strap or the Sling? Just want something to help support the weight of the M4-P when carrying all day and give a little extra security when my hand is tired or sweaty or both. I guess a grip would be another option but I'd like to keep the camera as naked as possible.
 
Egads.

Duct tape. And put it over your eyes.

NOTE: Edit - that was harsh. Sorry. Snap reaction to yet another how do you carry your precious camera to make you a real street shooter thread. Yikes. Sorry again.

I need to stop now. I'd delete this, but it makes some folks tense that I can. So I'll leave it as evidence of my idiocy. SORRY!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
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'I'm thinking of a word that starts with 'a', but I don't think they'd like it, and I'm not allowed to say it here. But it describes my opinion of people who name things using words, letters, and other weird combinations that CAN'T BE PRONOUNCED.'

we all have things that bother us, i guess, eh bill?

joe
 
I tried to send nightfly a private apology via PM, but the PM system is making my web browser lock up, no fooling. And yes, it was uncalled for on my part and I regret having said it. I left it there so there would be no denying that yes, I screwed up. Sorry.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
bmattock said:
I tried to send nightfly a private apology via PM, but the PM system is making my web browser lock up, no fooling. And yes, it was uncalled for on my part and I regret having said it. I left it there so there would be no denying that yes, I screwed up. Sorry.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks


no worries pal.

but it did hit home tonite as i'm on my third strap for the cl cause i can't figure out how to make it comfortable.

joe
 
Oh heck, I don't care if I tick you off, buddy. You've got thick skin, you can take it. Well, mostly. We kinda broke you a while back. I was worried about Nightfly. He's new, and I jumped out with the nasty stuff right off. Bad Bill. Anyway, PM's are working again, I just got and replied to one and didn't lock up this time.

OK, so I use whatever I happen to have on the camera. Some have neckstraps, thin, wide, leather, stretchy stuff, and old hippy straps. I use wrist straps if they happen to be on the camera. I might, on a rare occasion, go look for a strap if I think I might drop a camera. But otherwise, wrist strap or neck strap - I never cared much.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
I have a wrist strap for my Konica Auto S3 (made by Konica – a truly serendipitous find), and a wrist strap for my Ricoh GR1 (funny thing, this...the one other thing these two cameras have in common is their being on the DL till at least summer – ugh). For one of my two Konica Hexar RFs, however, I've come up with a dandy setup: the left lug gets used for the neck strap, now doubled-up, allowing the camera to hang from the shoulder almost like a 3-lug Leica M5 (or CL); the right lug has a SLING. Best of both worlds, IMO. the other HRF is set up in the normal manner.

When you're in the habit of running out the door with your cameras a given amount of the time, you gradually (hopingly!) get some idea of what does and doesn't work on-the-go. I have a camera strap I bought a bunch of years ago which handled two cameras: one was carried lower, permanently attached to the strap, while the second camera was higher up and coupled via Fastex clips. Worked great, but I have no idea what happened to the short Fastex ends that attached to the camera; I fear they vanished with the Nikon F2 Titan I reluctantly let go of eons ago for something else (and forgot to remove the damn strap ends from...[expletive deleted]). If anyone here knows what I'm talking about, and just happens to have the required missing pieces, please PM me.

Moral of story (no, I didn't forget): wrist straps are nice. Neck straps (slim, fabric-based) are nice. SLINGs are fantastic. I use all three, just not necessarily at the same time.


- Barrett
 
I find my half-case and neckstrap to be the most convinent approach for my M2.

However, I usually sling the strap around my shoulder instead of my neck; personal preference for comfort and reachability..
it does make the camera slightly more loose and bang-around-able, though.

tradeoffs are inevitable in something like this.
 
Ergo said:
Ever had an M5 bang into a parked car when on a sling or hand strap?

I only use neck straps.
I had some gal with heavy wrist jewelry slam into my Hamilton Atlantis II diver's watch (yes, something of a wannabe Rolex Submariner, there are legions of 'em) on the street several years ago. I could feel the scratches being embedded into the crystal, that's how violent the impact was, or so I thought; the actual damage was considerably less, but I was still miffed. The watch lived, and so did I.

All my cameras have suffered assorted slings and arrows; by now, I've more or less accepted this as the price of wanting my cameras with me almost everywhere I go. I don't expect them to look flawless, merely to operate thusly.


- Barrett
 
erikhaugsby said:
I find my half-case and neckstrap to be the most convinent approach for my M2.

I take the half-case off and throw it at someone. It slows me down and looks dorky.

OK, I'll keep it on an old RF if I suspect a light leak. But that's it. As far as I can recall.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
back alley said:
i've started collecting half cases now that i realized they help keep my hands from freezing in winter shooting.

anyone have half case for the canon p or leica cl?

joe

What, you wear them like gloves? Seems strange, but whatever works.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
I have tried them all on the M7. The sling is good, but it almost broke my fingers a few times (yes it was the correct size). I gave it away.

The fancy wriststraps are nice, but give a false feeling of security. That little strap lug is NOT designed to support the camera by one lug. The less fancy neoprene wrist straps (optech) work best for me because it is essentially a safety tether that loosely fits any wrist. I have not tried Gordies wrist straps show on this site, but they look good since some are attached to the tripod thread.

Add to this the Leica Goodies sliding strap with the quick release and you have it made. Although this supports the camera on a single lug, you tend to hold the camera at your side with one hand. It also puts the camera out of sight.
 
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I spoke to both Don Goldberg and Sherry Krauter and they both emphatically said that any force that pulls the lugs away from the body can work them loose, which includes any kind of one-sided strap even if the camera isn't allowed to dangle from it. That'ss good enough for me, but what other people want to do with their Leicas is none of my business, it's their money.
 
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