What strap gives you minimal tangles?

retinax

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I'm annoyed with straps. But no strap isn't always an option for me either. My main problem is that straps always seem to get in the way of my hands or my eyes when I pick up a camera or lift it to my eye. I'm talking about small-ish 35mm cameras here.

What kind of strap gives you minimal issues like these?

I was thinking something with very supple ends toward the camera might work, I've been thinking about making something from string/paracord and a piece of stiff leather for a shoulder pad.

But maybe these slim leather straps also stay mostly out of the way? I've stayed away from them because I thought the part near the camera would be stiff and in the way, but maybe some stiffness actually leads to the opposite. At least they don't have different stiffness in different parts of the strap, which seems to make things worse.
A strap attached to the tripod socket might solve the problem, but I don't like the idea of having the camera dangle around in no fixed orientation, edges poking me and not being sure where to grab it.
 
Wrist straps never tangle! :D

I love thin leather straps which don't tangle much, like the ones from Gordy or Leica (cool colors!). They are very soft and comfortable, too.
 
If you can do with a fixed-length strap (saves all those buckles) then I would suggest these silk cord straps. There are several brands that offer simple cord straps but those from Artisan & Artist are the nicest—and you can actually assess how nice only when seeing, and touching, them in person. However they're not the cheapest ...
 
I usually use a thin leather wrist strap.

When I need a camera strap I use the Peak Design straps.

Their camera straps are 7.3 x 2.6 x 1.7 inches at 3 oz.

Their Anchor Link system is the primary advantage.

I don't particularly like Peak Design's wrist straps. I find them to be too bulky. I attach one of their Anchor Links to a thin, leather wrist strap.
 
This is my favorite strap, super soft:

M4_gray.jpg
 
Khhmmm, "taste is different"....

OP is using smallish cameras. With those, I'm finding, only light wrist straps will do. With thin nylon cord. Not saddle or sailor rope like fashion accessories. :).
 
I use an inexpensive rope strap from here and the strap itself is great as it doesn't tangle and is very comfortable. The ends are stiff though (connected directly to the lugs) so positioning them as part of the hold is important or they can get in the way.

This version has wax lines at the end and would likely be less of an issue. OTOH you would have to have rings in your lugs for this version.

Shawn
 
I prefer the thin straps (nylon, poly, not sure) that came with Nikon and Canon cameras in the late 70s, early 80s. They were about an inch wide where they go around the shoulder or neck. No padding (some had a strip of leather sewn on) in the shoulder/neck area. They are very supple, very strong, and, they roll or crumple down to take up very little space when packed. They stay out of my way like no other strap I've used.

I wore a few out. We used to be able to buy the OEM straps on camera store accessory racks, under the brand of a 3rd party (can't remember) that apparently supplied the camera makers. I'm currently using my last good one -- Nikon bee stripe with "Nikon" on the metal slides -- on my big Canon DSLR.

For my less-used cameras, I make do with whatever straps I have, mostly like the Canon-provided DSLR straps (early on, we called them "steal me" straps; now, they are too common to matter, much). It helps the handling to have the straps extended to the maximum length.

I think I checked several years ago, for more of those thin straps, and found none. If someone has seen them available, do tell!
 
I don't seem to have problems using the wide cloth straps such as the ones from Tamrac or Domke. For me, their width makes them easier on my neck, while the greater bulk compared to a thin leather strap doesn't annoy me. I do have one leather strap though. It's from Luigi and came with one of my Luigi half-cases. It's OK, but I can't say I prefer it to my cloth straps. I do like the anti-slip rubber stripes on the cloth ones!
 
I used to use corded silk or soft nylon straps all the time. Nowadays, I've switched to using the Peak Design "Leash" strap because of the ease with which I can remove the strap from the camera when I don't want it in the way.

I never have the strap around my neck with the camera dangling from it like a big bauble: bad for the camera, bad for my neck, and it gets in the way. I like wrist straps when the camera and the situation is such that I want to be sure the camera will not hit the ground (or the water...) if I'm leaning out over a vertical drop; I use a regular neck strap when I want to 'wear' the camera across my body like a bandolier because I don't want to carry a bag of any sort.

G
 
For 35mm cameras like rangefinders, where I won't be using any big heavy lenses, I like the Black Bag thin straps. Really supple and not very expensive. Been using these on a Contax IIA and a Voigtlander Bessa-T. I also have a Voigtlander cloth strap (bottom of page) which is great, but no longer available new. You might be able to find one used. For SLR's and some MF cameras, it's been Domke 1" gripper straps, with and without the swivels. They soften up quite a bit with use.
 
I like Domke straps, I wish they were a bit longer to allow wearing them cross body. I find cross body keeps the camera from flopping around and the tangling from that. I have some Lance straps that I use for that purpose.
 
I have a knack for tangling and twisting things flexible. Give me a water hose or an extension cord or a seat belt and I can get it so tangled you will wear out your patience and your vocabulary of swear words before you ever get it untangled. So I have no advice on a camera strap that doesn't tangle...all mine get tangled and twisted.

As for the straps I use, I like leather or leather with nylon. Amazon sells a Ciesta brand that I like a lot. I use the 15mm straps on small cameras and the 30mm straps on medium size cameras. They cost from $30 to $40 which is a pretty decent price. And, yes, they do get tangled.
 
I prefer narrow length non-adjustable straps (Harry Benz are my favourite). No tangle problems
unnamed-14 by , on Flickr
 
No strap, no tangles.

I consider the camera as an extension of my hand connected to my heart and brain and soul. Quick response.

Catch the emotion on the faces. It lasts only a moment. Oops it’s gone.
 
I actually like the basic black nylon Leica straps with the special locking rings - simple and strong.
 
The problem is that straps that don't tangle are generally stiffer. But then a stiffer strap isn't as supple where it connects to the camera and it gets in the way when you hold the camera to your eye.

The ideal non-tangle-yet supple-at-the-camera strap would be leather with 15cm or so of cloth where it connects to the camera. I use a cloth strap and put up with the odd tangle.
 
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