Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
09-15-2011, 11:00 PM   #1
Senior Member




Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: South Yorkshire
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 214
Hang it all

My thread about my dropped K10 made me think of another problem I have. Camera straps. I use straps for convenience, yet I've had more near-misses with the damned things catching on door handles, chair backs and so on than I care to mention. Wrist straps? I like them but they usually use the tripod bush and so have to be removed to put the camera on the tripod. Any useful ideas - and anecdotes, of course - would be most welcome.

09-16-2011, 03:27 AM   #2
Veteran Member




Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,086
I use an Upstrap. Nice wide rubber pad, with stainless steel sliders on minimalist straps. Easy to stow in the bag, and the weight of the camera and heavy lens is more evenly distributed than the narrow original Pentax strap.
Regards
09-16-2011, 06:50 AM   #3
Veteran Member
RioRico's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Limbo, California
Posts: 11,263
I use wide straps on heavy camera+lens combos, thin straps on lightweight gear. I am VERY PARANOID of what straps could tangle on, and I am VERY CAREFUL in placing straps when I lay gear down. It's just another form of mindfulness, attention to detail. Watch your gear carefully to avoid nasty surprises.
09-16-2011, 06:15 PM   #4
Inactive Account




Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: NJ USA
Posts: 281
On a past film camera I used the sholder strap as a wrist strap.
Many people do the same with their DSLRs.
Without detailed instructions, you wrap the sholder strap around your
wrist until you are holding the camera. This effectively turns it into a sort of
wrist strap with no dangling catch-all strap.

09-16-2011, 06:27 PM   #5
Forum Member
feilb's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 83
I've had good success duct taping the camera and lens combo to my head. It can be quite a workout on the neck, but you get used to looking at things sideways after a while.

In all seriousness, I share your pain. I had a strap end give way once, letting my precious camera and lens hit blacktop from about waist level. Thankfully, Pentax gear is built like a tank and sustained no dammage. I'd recommend electrical or duct tape on strap ends to keep them from coming loose.
09-17-2011, 11:04 AM   #6
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
pacerr's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Paris, TN
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 3,349
Two thoughts:

- I make the neck straps very short. Not as convenient, but much less worry about snags and the pendulum effect and it's easier to use the strap as a hand-strap as noted above.

- At one time I'd made a thin steel plate (about 1/16"/1.5 mm) that was inserted between the camera body and a tripod QR base as the lower attachment point for a hand strap. That worked well for me, but I no longer have it. Been meaning to build another one for a long time. (You need to have non-slip surfaces and tabs on the plate to keep it stable and oriented on the body or it feels dangerously loose.)

H2
09-17-2011, 05:54 PM   #7
REM
Forum Member




Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 78
I use a Camdapter wrist/hand strap. It attaches to the eyelet of the camera and a loop on my L bracket (not from Camdapter). Many QR camera plates and brackets come with a loop for this reason. That way you can still use it on a tripod and have a hand strap.

09-20-2011, 02:06 PM   #8
PEG Moderator
Loyal Site Supporter
Kerrowdown's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 57,760
QuoteOriginally posted by TomK Quote
you wrap the sholder strap around your
wrist until you are holding the camera.
I'm kinda similar here, except I wrap my LX (the choice for still using LX straps is that they are strong, long, thin and black without large logos or writing on them) shoulder straps around my right hand and hold camera by the grip with right fingers.

I'm a manual focus man, left hand is for additional lens support and focusing . I find this a comfortable and secure for long periods of use and it's also quick when switching bodies.

It means I can carry the camera low (at end of arm) which can be surprisingly "stealthy" when required even with biggish fast glass.
09-20-2011, 11:49 PM   #9
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
JimD's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Newport, South Wales
Posts: 187
QuoteOriginally posted by kerrowdown Quote
I'm kinda similar here, except I wrap my LX (the choice for still using LX straps is that they are strong, long, thin and black without large logos or writing on them) shoulder straps around my right hand and hold camera by the grip with right fingers.
I do pretty much the same. I've taken a strap of one of my MX's and put it on my K5.

I found the one that came with the camera too wide and cumbersome. If I want it ready to use I usually carry the camera in my right hand with the strap wound, 3 times, around my wrist.

Of course it doesn't have big red letters and I know that wouldn't suit a number of people.

Last edited by JimD; 09-21-2011 at 12:01 AM.
09-21-2011, 06:01 AM   #10
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Lowell Goudge's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Toronto
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 17,869
I have dropped 1 camera due to the strap catching on a drawer pull, fortunately all that broke was a plastic $3 lens hood, that and my foot cushioned the fall.

WHen out and about, I wrap the neck strap around my wrist 3 times, and it effectively becomes a wrist strap. otherwise I am careful.

I hadd, for my PZ-1 a nice wide neoprene rubber strap, with quick release for the camera. the strap was a little longer than the pentax straps (old or new) and easier on the neck.

I am looking for similar quick release setup for putting a similar arrangement on my other cameras, but for now, they remain as origonal
09-21-2011, 09:50 PM   #11
Senior Member
Arrvon's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Photos: Albums
Posts: 242
Have you tried the 'Death Grip' and gone strapless? With the excellent grips on these Pentax cameras, it feels super secure without the hassle of a dangling strap. Of course you have to be happy using a camera bag to stow the camera in when your not shooting for extended periods. I prefer the safety of the extra cushioning in the bag as well over the exposed camera around the neck. Just a suggestion, not wanting to turn the thread into a 'which way is best' thread.
09-21-2011, 11:32 PM   #12
Senior Member




Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: South Yorkshire
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 214
Original Poster
Me,too

Koenig's suggestion is one I've used fairly regularly. I have an old CCS bag which is big enough to accomodate hand and camera so it's very easy to get it in and out.
09-22-2011, 12:11 AM   #13
PEG Moderator
Loyal Site Supporter
Kerrowdown's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 57,760
QuoteOriginally posted by Koenig Quote
Have you tried the 'Death Grip' and gone strapless?
I'd love too, but working with at least two manual focus bodies at any one time, I don't have enough hands.
09-22-2011, 12:24 AM   #14
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
wizofoz's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Melbourne, Outer east.
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,695
80% of the time I don't have a strap on either my K-5 or K-7. The comfort and confidence I have in the grip means that I don't need a strap. When I'm out on a walkabout shoot, traveling, or carrying two bodies I use a Black Rapid R- strap (or double strap).
09-22-2011, 10:22 AM   #15
Veteran Member
RioRico's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Limbo, California
Posts: 11,263
There's a thread over on General Photography, a story by a fellow who was Cartier-Bresson's gofer in India. HCB used no strap at all, just the death grip. Neither did he carry a bag. He just made sure the gofer with the film and spare body and lens was nearby. Of course, "death grip" on a little RF is a different matter than with my K20D with the Lil'Bigma mounted, eh?
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
camera, dslr, photography, straps, tripod
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Why hang on to film carry overs?? mdbrown Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 64 07-16-2011 07:04 AM
Nature Wanna Hang Out? Rupert Post Your Photos! 7 05-02-2011 01:23 PM
Do They Still Make Camera Cases to Hang on Your Neck? VelvetFoot Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 10 12-08-2010 02:10 PM
Macro Getting the hang of this superb Macro lens. pcarfan Post Your Photos! 16 06-23-2010 01:41 PM
K7 hang Ivo_Spohr Pentax DSLR Discussion 5 04-11-2010 01:22 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:20 PM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top