What strap is this?

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nightfly

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Wondering if anyone can identify this braided strap from a Leica Q review:

Mirrorless-Cameras-Gear-Patrol-Lead-1440.jpg


Curious if these sort of straps are comfortable or if they cut into you more than a regular strap which would distribute the weight better.
 
Or a Lance. We have a couple, they are nice on a real light camera but on the M9 they sort of dug in to the neck.
 
Good info Darthfeeble.

I was thinking of it specifically for an M9. Not really a strap person but thought this was minimal enough not to get in my way but suspected would dig into neck.
 
Well synthetic fibers are synthesized not only to be cost-effective. They can be extremely strong and heat resistant, water resistant, UV resistant, rot resistant, abrasion resistant, ...the kernmantle ropes for climbing are especially so, usually made with multiple treatments, and are not necessarily cheaper to get than silk.

So it all depends on how we'd define "superior".
 
Archlich said:
Well synthetic fibers are synthesized not only to be cost-effective. They can be extremely strong and heat resistant, water resistant, UV resistant, rot resistant, abrasion resistant, ...the kernmantle ropes for climbing are especially so, usually made with multiple treatments, and are not necessarily cheaper to get than silk.

So it all depends on how we'd define "superior".
Click to expand...


I've had a braided silk strap in the past, and made a DIY strap out of climbing rope. To each his own, but I preferred the A and A silk one. Why? Perhaps unsurprisingly, it felt silky:) The kernmantle one felt like a climbing rope. Having said that, the next time I need a strap which can safely arrest the fall of a 175lb camera, I will use that one.
 
Archlich said:
Well synthetic fibers are synthesized not only to be cost-effective. They can be extremely strong and heat resistant, water resistant, UV resistant, rot resistant, abrasion resistant, ...the kernmantle ropes for climbing are especially so, usually made with multiple treatments, and are not necessarily cheaper to get than silk.

So it all depends on how we'd define "superior".
Click to expand...

I was referring to comfort. Soft as silk vs. "soft as nylon" (said no one, ever).

That said, silkworm silk has a tensile strength of 200-600 MPa depending on the species, and spider silk is over 1000 MPa. Kernmantle ropes used by search & rescue personnel have a tensile strength of 360-380 MPa or so, so silk is competitive to superior there. The reason why the ropes are made of synthetic material is cost, and factors like resistance to abrasion or humidity, not performance. Parachute cords were made of silk in WWII, before the advent of nylon and other synthetic fibers.

You'd need to use Kevlar to outperform silk, needless to say that would not make for a fun carrying experience.
 
nightfly said:
Mirrorless-Cameras-Gear-Patrol-Lead-1440.jpg
Click to expand...

What's curious in that photo is that the strap is affixed upside down to the camera lugs. It should be the other way around with the eyelet protectors when you're wearing the camera on the strap. ;-)

The next best thing to the A&A silk cord strap is the Street Strap, available from Amazon.com or direct (http://www.streetstrap.com) in two lengths. It is made of a nylon/synthetic cord that is virtually identical in softness and flexibility to the silk cord and is only marginally heavier, and costs less than half the price. The Lance straps are made of a much beefier, stiffer nylon cord and aren't as comfortable IMO.

I have had this strap on the M9, the M-P 240, the M4-2, the X typ 113, and the M-D 262. It's my favorite strap for anything up to the weight of a Leica M. Due to the design of the leather ends, you don't need a protective leather flap on it to prevent damage to the body.

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