I despise neck straps - they are more of a liability than an asset, IMHO. I ordered a Sling from Lutz but it somehow seemed a bit insecure when used by itself. I also experienced some right hand fatigue when carrying the camera around for long periods with just the Sling. The solution? I put a cheapo P&S type wrist strap (i.e., a lanyard) through the left lug with the Sling on the right lug, et voila: perfection. I simply put my right hand through the lanyard before putting my fingers through the sling. The lanyard provides enough support so that I can let the camera "hang" from my right wrist and fingers, and it distributes the weight to both lugs. It feels very ergonomic, and lacks the bulk and !@#$%&* factor of a neck strap. Neck strap haters unite!

-- Ken Geter (kgeter@yahoo.com), March 07, 2002

Answers

Ken, I don't hate the neck strap per se but rather I hate wearing the camera round my neck. My solution is simple - I use the thin (half inch) straps on all my cameras but I do not wear it around my neck. Instead I loop/coil the strap around my right wrist a few times until the slack is taken up and the body is hanging very near my palm. In fact, when I drop my arm to my side, the camera is still against my palm supported by the tight strap around my wrist. I don't even have to constantly grip it with my fingers. When shooting, my fingers naturally grip the body and bring it to eye level. Simple and very similar to your system. About the only time I wear the strap around my neck is when I change lenses or film and need both hands to work on it.

-- sunil (yatsunil@hotmail.com), March 07, 2002.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), March 07, 2002.

I cant stand a strap around my neck either, believe it or not it gives me a headache plus neckache! Instead if I have to use a strap, its always slung across my shoulder (much more confortable) or I dont use a strap altogether and just have a normal bum bag aroung my waist. I think its best not to have the camera on show when you are not using it. Ive never used a sling before, but having the camera strapped to your wrist doesnt seem right.

-- Karl Yik (karl.yik@dk.com), March 07, 2002.

Wow!

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), March 07, 2002.

I'm just curious, where are you guys at when you change film? I use my neck strap double looped and twisted around my right wrist while shooting, but when it is time to change film on the run, that strap is around my neck. This gives me one less thing to juggle, and lets me only worry about dropping the least fragile of what is being maneuvered, film cassettes and the bottom plate.

To me the strap is another set of hands, which is good because I almost never have a nice flat table near me while I'm changing film out on the street. The strap can be a wrist loop and a strap, but I don't think I could get that wrist loop around my neck.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), March 07, 2002.

I hate straps also. But after dropping an M3 and totally trashing it, I now use them. I like the Domke Gripper line.

-- Peter Hughes (ravenart@pacbell.net), March 07, 2002.

Ken:

Straps are pretty personal and user specific. I , like Peter Hughes, use the Domke Gripper on my Leicas and am very happy with them. I always use a strap since my then new Nikon F100 took a crap-dive off a tripod. Oh well, it's only a Nikon. I like your solution and hope it continues to work great for you....after all, I'm not a strap salesman! Cheers,

Ben

-- Ben Hughes (ben@hughesbros.com), March 07, 2002.

The Leica neoprene strap is pretty good, well made with decent materials. I have taken off those big plastic clips with the famous red dots and just sewn together the ends.

-- Karl Yik (karl.yik@dk.com), March 07, 2002.

karl, does that mean that when you want to re-adjust the strap you have to unsew, readjust and sew back? I have the neoprene strap as well, but hate those plastic clips.

-- sparkie (sparkie@mailcity.com), March 07, 2002.

Sparkie, I have never had the need to adjust the strap, but if you need to you can always use the plastic strap adjusting thingies (dont know what you call them) from the orig strap that comes with the camera. Sewing it together gives a smarter finish, instead of having strap ends flying everywhere!

-- Karl yik (karl.yik@dk.com), March 07, 2002.

If "life is like a box of chocolates," how does one test the chocolates with your fingers through a Sling? ;-)

Actually, the Lutz Sling looks like it would be handy in the studio, but restrictive in the field, and potentially dangerous as to the single lug supporting the entire weight of camera and lens. My personal preference is to put the strap over my head, and then put my right arm through the strap opening, placing the strap diagonally across my chest. If I'm wearing a jacket, it goes under the jacket, so the camera is protected and partially hidden at my hip. The choice of strap allows the camera to be brought quickly up to shooting position, as long as the strap slides easily. "Gripper" straps don't work for this. I find this approach to straps distributes the weight better, while providing optimum utility, safety and convenience.

The ultimate arrangement for the image commando, of course, is John's (I think it was John) two-camera vest harness. Personal preferences in this regard vary, however.

-- Ralph Barker (rbarker@pacbell.net), March 07, 2002.

You are right Ralph. Unfortunately, the "incognito vest" concept never really caught on and it was deemed a commercial failure.... which means that it'll be "hip" one day when the gear groupie gods have come around the fickle bend.

;-)

-- John (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), March 07, 2002.

John,

I think a matching military fatigue floppy hat might have made the difference. Or, perhaps a camo option for both the vest and the hat. You might have been able to talk the fellow in Italy to do a special edition camo leather M6 half-case, too. ;-)

-- Ralph Barker (rbarker@pacbell.net), March 07, 2002.