Camera Neck Strap required

[Geoff F]

I mentioned elsewhere that my 7D has just been repaired and I have been using my 40D in the meantime. This camera has been fitted, by me, with an old thin leather neck strap which came from an Olympus OM 10 camera many years ago.

And I really like this strap. To me, it is much nicer than those thick uncomfortable gaudy Canon straps. So I've been looking around for something similar for the 7D, without success.

Lowenpro and a few other companies make alternative straps but these are just as wide and nearly as ugly as the Canon strap. I want a bit of padding over the shoulder/neck area, like my Olympus strap, but not excessively wide all the way.

And many of them also have 'storage boxes' attached to the straps; which looks like something the SAS would wear!

So I've been searching in vain for a nice classic looking leather camera strap.

Nothing resembling what I want seems available in the UK. I did find just the thing from a US company called Gordy's Camera Straps who offer customised straps and appear to ship worldwide. So I tried to place an order but I can't pay.

Everytime I attempt payment everything just stops and I get an error message; and that is long before I get to entering any card details etc.

I don't use a neck strap very often, just when there is a risk of dropping the camera into the sea etc or a risk of it getting stolen if I place it on the ground while doing other things.

So does anybody know of anything suitable, which is available in the UK?

[Andrew1]

Could you perhaps search the internet for a local person who has a hobby in leather craft and have them copy yours?

[Manfred M]

Head over to your local Leica dealer and have a look at their strap. I'm using one of my old ones on my D90 and it works better than the Nikon supplied one. Surprisingly cost effective for a Leica product to boot...

It's not leather, but does not slip off your shoulder and does not break down like the old thin leather ones.

[rpcrowe]

Perhaps these from eBay UK

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Handmade-R...item3cc02ea47c

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-MATIN-...item3a7056e781

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-MATIN-...item3cbec8f8f0

There are quite a few others...

[Black Pearl]

Call into your local independent camera store (any that deal in used equipment) they will have a box full of them out the box and are likely to hand one over for free.

[Inkanyezi]

The leather may be saved from deterioration by treating it with a suitable product as mink oil or what your leather merchant may propose. And leather straps need not necessarily be found at camera stores. There are also shops specialised in leather. Any leather product may be tailored to the customer's preference.

[DanK]

I haven't used a leather strap in as long as I can remember, but if you want a strap that offers shoulder padding but is thin elsewhere, check out the Op/Tech pro loop strap. (The have a large variety of other straps as well). It has padding with friction grips for your shoulder. The rest is an easily adjusted, thin nylon strap and nylon loops. It also has clips that allow you to take the strap off. An alternative, a bit bulkier but more comfortable in my opinion, is the Crumpler Industry Disgrace. I have both but usually use the Op/Tech because I do a lot of macro work on a tripod and like being able to remove most of the strap.

[accystan]

Hi Geoff:

According to their website Gordy's Camera Straps has a reseller in the UK. Have you tried contacting them?

Hope that helps,

Cheers, Dave D

[Geoff F]

Thanks for the comments, but a few problems.

Firstly, I'm in the wilds of SW England. So no local camera stores I'm afraid. The last one like that, with a friendly proprietor who had boxes of useful stuff closed over 10 years ago.

And Leica stores, Manfred; nothing remotely close here. Sounds a good idea though.

I did look at OP Tech but couldn't find any real information about the products or sizes. I will try to see if I can find the company main website.

There was another maker, Tamrac, which also offered something possible but once again no specific information and they also prominently display the maker's name. Also for consideration are Black Rapid and Etsy. This is where a good local shop would be helpful.

Several of these had straps which fitted onto the tripod mount hole; but once again I couldn't find any real details and wonder how useful or comfortable this would be.

Searching the web did direct me to some items on e bay but, personally, I don't have any real confidence in that organisation. I've purchased or attempted to purchase there previously. But some of the e bay 'shops' have worked for me before so I will check those links, Richard.

I did find a UK Gordy's agent but wasn't impressed by what I saw. They sold a mixed range of stuff but appeared to just offer one item from the Gordy's range, which didn't include the shoulder pad etc. Will check again.

I was thinking about asking at the local (12 miles away) leather shoe shop where I get handmade shoes, specifically produced for people like me with two different sizes of feet.

It doesn't have to be a leather strap. Just something which looks 'classy' in a subdued way, and reasonably comfortable. Unlike the standard Canon straps. I was just thinking around the leather direction but possibly nylon etc may be just as good.

When I started looking for a new strap, as much as a whim as a serious need, I though it would be easy but, so far, I just seem to be going round in circles. And have accidentally found some unexpected lines.

Like leather restraint and spanking straps. Which I just knew was going in the wrong direction!

I will continue looking, and thanks for the suggestions.

[Ollokot]

Hi Geoff,
This is a company that I have dealt with and found them excellent,they do a full range of op/tech straps and connectors,also they trade on ebay,reasonable prices and reasonable postage rates.
Maybe this might be somthing akin to what you are looking for http://www.procameragear.com/catalog...roducts_id/410
These staps can be modified to suit.
Hope this helps,
Pat

[Geoff F]

Thanks for that link Pat. They have real information there, unlike the UK Amazon companies which I had tried previously.

And, would you believe it, cheaper to purchase from the USA than to buy in UK. I checked out one likely item which was $20 there but the best I can find here is £20 and one German company is asking £40 for the same product!

[Ollokot]

Hi Geoff,
Here is the link to their ebay store,
http://stores.ebay.ie/ProCameraGear/...4.l1513&_pgn=1

Best Wishes, Pat

[Mark von Kanel]

Hi Geoff, don't know how far in the wilds of the SW you are but i bought one of those op tech straps from london cameras in plymouth for 18 quid.

regards

mark

[Geoff F]

Thanks, Mark.

I've got the Op Tech Classic strap bookmarked as an option. About the same price on Amazon as far as I can see. This model appears to be a little more 'restrained and tasteful' than some of the others.

But just waiting for a possible alternative option at the moment.