Camera strap recommendations

As it says really! The time has come to move on from the small OE strap and onto something a tad wider and longer, something that's more manageable and comfortable if you have a gripped K20d and a large lens attached.

I've seen Optech straps and they look good and what I'm after but before commiting to buying one I just wanted to make sure I hadn't left a brand out that's better ?

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Gareth

My outfit K5 gripped - Pentax-FA 50mm f1.4 - Pentax 16-45mm F4
Pentax 18-55mm WR - Kenko 1.5x TC - Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 Di LD - Metz 48 AF1 - 2 x Cactus V2 triggers
fully portable mobile studio and some mobile strobist studio stuff !

Flickr

q strap of ebay.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Photography-/625/i.html?_nkw=quick+strap&_catref=1&_fl...

Another vote for the Q strap

Single Strap

Double strap version

I have both of these & are very good for the price, the double I use all the time for festivals, very comfortable & just works

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PPG Portfolio Flickr
Equipment Pentax K-5 mk1 & mkii
Pentax: DA* 16-50mm 2.8 : DA* 50-135mm 2.8 : F 50mm 1.4 : DA 35mm 2.4
Tamron SP 400mm f/4 (65b) : Tokina AT-X SD 100-300mm f4

I've just bought an Upstrap, from the USA. It's a bit minimalist in design, with stainless steel sliders and a large rubber pad. The idea is that the pad doesn't slip off your shoulder. It's easy to stow in the camera bag, as it's not too bulky. See link.

link

Regards

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Sam-Joseph
Pentax K7, Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4.5, Sigma 70-200 f2.8 APO EX, Sigma 70-300 APO, Sigma 1.4x TC, Vivitar 2x TC. Takumar 135mm f2.5, SMC Pentax A 50mm 1:1.7, SMC Pentax -M 1:4 200mm, Pentax X70

I've bought a Black Rapid strap - found it broadly does what it says it will do.

Only problem I've found with it - and it would apply probably to any strap system - is that if the jacket you are wearing has shoulder patches which are 'non slip', the strap doesn't hang properly when the camera is released back into its holding position on your hip. Black Rapid's strap should self correct - non slip patches prevent it.

Steve

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In the Pack - Gripped K5 (SE),K7 & K20, Gripped MZ-S(SE)& MZ-S,DA10-17, DA12-24, DA14, DA*16-50, 50-135, 60-250 & 300mm; FA31mm/43mm/77mm Ltds; Sigma 8-16, 135-400 & 150-500
Half Backs: K10+BG,DA16-45, DA50-200
Backs: LXs,Super As and lots of A, M & K lenses
Impact Subs: 28mm Shift, K 135-600 (the Banahan of Pentax zooms ), 400-600 Reflex

Thanks all for the replies, just ordered the single strap that Gary linked ta

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Gareth

My outfit K5 gripped - Pentax-FA 50mm f1.4 - Pentax 16-45mm F4
Pentax 18-55mm WR - Kenko 1.5x TC - Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 Di LD - Metz 48 AF1 - 2 x Cactus V2 triggers
fully portable mobile studio and some mobile strobist studio stuff !

Flickr

I went for this one.
http://www.luma-labs.com/loop


The strap i've keeps laying on your shoulders so it doesn't move around.

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Stefan


K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ

Does that attach to both strap loops Stefan, or only one?

Only one, the cord isn't long enough but if you've a cord and know how to make a knot you can make it longer.

I've it now attached to the loop on the plate of the wrist-strap.
The buckle moves really smooth over the strap. That's one if the reasons the shoulder pad will not move much if any at all.

Here is the old model compared to a black rapid RS7
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=883375

And this the new model compared to the old one, he also shows the connector fully here.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=957682

They have sent it with lower value on the package so i haven't paid customs fee, lucky me

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Stefan


K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ

OK, so it has no advantage over the OpTech one I already have, apart from being better looking .
I am unhappy about relying on one strap attachment point tbh.

Yeah it's basically the same, just better looking and the newest version has less plastic.

Me too, i have no idea how much they can hold but since my heaviest lens is the DA*50-135 i'm not to worried though and the heavier lenses often have a tripod mount that you can use to connect to.

The connector of the strap can hold 350lbs (~160kg) so i'm not too concerned about that.

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Stefan


K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ

That's an interesting looking strap Stefan and looks very easy to use. Not sure though that I'd have faith and confidence in it though as surely the stress to the camera itself as it's only being supported by one buckle is not good

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Gareth

My outfit K5 gripped - Pentax-FA 50mm f1.4 - Pentax 16-45mm F4
Pentax 18-55mm WR - Kenko 1.5x TC - Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 Di LD - Metz 48 AF1 - 2 x Cactus V2 triggers
fully portable mobile studio and some mobile strobist studio stuff !

Flickr

That's the good thing, you don't have to use the buckle of the camera.
You can also buy a tripod mount and use it like the blackrapid does.
But it gives you the option to do it.

So far with the K5 and DA*50-135 it hasn't be a concern for a problem.
The cord actually can't go through the buckle of the K5 so i use a small key ring chain that's delivered with the strap.

ps. just try to find a report that someone camera buckle broke but couldn't find one, do you know any?
As for the K20D, the buckle is part of the chassis so it won't come lose that fast i think. http://www.pentax.jp/english/products/digital/k20d/image/fea_34.jpg

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Stefan


K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ

Here is a K-7 with a problem. I have heard of a couple of others.

Just to add to the discussion...

I've been using OpTech for a while and really like them. I've recently added a harness, the great thing being that you have so much flexibility. I can use the harness or strap with any of my cameras simply by undoing the clips (which takes seconds).

If you have a number of cameras it means you have a lot of choice.

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