[G M Fude]

I visited a photographic industry exhibition in Melbourne last weekend at Jeff's Shed and came across AirCell straps at a distributor's exhibit. The distributor only imports two into Australia, one for camera bags and one for SLRs.

I won't post my own photo as there are some on the website, at LCCorporation. With the help of the distributor I tracked down a retail outlet (which happened to be Camera Lane in Little Bourke Street, for any Melbournites reading this).

I bought the only style for cameras they had, the APS75N, and after fitting it to my K10D I wandered the local streets taking photos for a couple of hours this afternoon. I'm tempted to use the trite cliché "best thirty bucks I ever spent on a camera", but I'll refrain. It isn't. But it is very good, certainly far better than the strap with the gaudy red "PENTAX" on it that came with the camera.

The AirCell has excellent weight distribution and the flexibility that most nylon straps lack (just what neck were they actually designed for?). It even has quick-release clasps if you want to take it off quickly for any reason, tripod use perhaps.

I wish these AirCell straps had been around in the days when cameras were actually heavy, unlike the delightfully lightweight SLRs we're blessed with today.