Plain Old Plug

Just a gratis plug for my favorite strap. Regardless of all the options available, I use the RF strap on cameras of any weight. It constitutes ironclad proof that you never need to spend more than $27 on a camera strap.

All the cameras I use regularly have this strap plus a light wrist strap. I don't like photographing with a strap around my neck, so the wrist strap goes on when I'm shooting, and I carry the camera with the neck strap over my shoulder.

I never let the camera hang from the wrist strap—it's just to prevent possible accidents*.

The UPstrap is the only strap I've ever found that's completely comfortable and never slips off my shoulder. Perfect stocking-stuffer. And hey, Jay Maisel uses 'em too.

Mike

*Being a full-disclosure type of guy, I once admitted in print to dropping a camera...and breaking it. A test camera. That belonged to the company that made it. And that was made out of plastic. Which shattered...took me a while to live that that one down.

P.P.S. 200 MJ-fan points if you can name that camera.

Original contents copyright 2013 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Carsten Bockermann: "Yes, they're great straps and I use them on most of my cameras. Also, Al Stegmeyer, the guy behing UPstrap, is a really nice and very helpful person!"

Aaron: "A few months back, I set my then two-day old X-E1 on top of my car while I was loading the kids into the back seat. I then proceeded to drive, with the camera on top of the car, to a restaurant about two miles away. We headed into the restaurant, at which point my heart sank when I reached for my camera and remembered where I left it. I ran back to the car and found the camera safe and sound, sitting on top of the car, on top of the rubbery part of the UPstrap. Pretty amazing. What ever that material is, it really, really grabs on and doesn't slip."

Oren Grad: "Fujifilm GS645s, of course."

Mike replies: To quote Ed McMahon, who was probably still on TV when that review was published, "You are correct Sir."

And try not to spend all 200 of your MJ fan points in one place!

William Schneider: "I like UPstraps because they don't call attention to you. Just yesterday I switched out a garish gold-lettering-on-black Nikon strap for an UPstrap to reduce visibility. I addition, I must have badly sloped shoulders, and need all the help I can get keeping a strap in place. This strap works for un-manly physiques like mine. I just wish it had a quick-release feature to detach it quickly from the camera."

Comments

[Rob Atkins]

I'll second that. Upstraps are great; I have three cameras outfitted with them.

[Bernd Reinhardt]

How does it feel on bare skin? I live in California, and use overpriced leather straps made in exotic locations, because the nylon straps that came with my cameras are either to slim, or have a spiky plastic pad that feels awful on my neck. I feel that most camera straps are not made for people wearing t-shirts all year long.

[Tim Fitzwater]

I've never used a camera strap on a digital camera - they just get in my way. I just use the bag. I think I'm going to buy the wrist strap though - that is a good idea.

[El Inglés]

Is the clue in the question? The "plastic fantastic" alias the EOS 5 alias the EOS A2?

[Dave Jenkins]

I tried an Upstrap, didn't like it at all, sent it back. I always use the inch-wide Domke straps. Different strokes!

[Gordon Lewis]

I'll second that recommendation. IMO, any strap that lets your gear slip off your shoulder is a piece of junk and should be tossed into the nearest trashcan. Although I mainly use Gordy's leather wrist straps for my cameras, the only strap I use for my Domke shoulder bags (which have removable straps) is the UPstrap camera bag strap. Mine generally loose their "grippy-ness" after 3-4 years but it's still money well spent.

[Ed Grossman]

Seeing how attached people are to their gear, I'm surprised how many photo enthusiasts just use the strap that came in the camera box if any at all. This strikes me as especially odd given the number of people who shoot exclusively handheld. The right straps can reduce the risk of dropping the camera and keep it in the ready position when "the moment" avails itself. While everyone's tastes and requirements vary, (I use the Op-tech neoprene SLR strap around my wrist and the Black Rapid R-strap across my shoulder) straps are inexpensive accessories with great value.

All that and they fit great in Christmas stockings, too!

[Jim Henry]

You're right - the UpStraps cling like crazy. Just TRY to get one to slip off your shoulder!

But that is also the strap's biggest irritation - try to get it to slide when you are bringing the camera up from your waist to shooting position, especially when you have a winter coat on. It sticks. You have to shrug it out of contact and then readjust the camera position for shooting.

Still I've used it on my Nikons for several years.

I got a "slippery" strap for my NEX-7 that goes across my body (around my neck) and I have to say it is nice not to have that binding effect.

Since I got a Brownie Hawkeye in 1955 I have never dropped a camera. Or a lens. And so, having tempted fate, now I am holding my breath...

[Animesh Ray]

I once slipped and landed on my palm that was carrying a d300 with its strap wrapped around the wrist. The lens broke, but the body survived the thud, a testament to Nikon durability. Since then I never carry a camera on my wrist, but always on a long neck-strap that I can swing out freely. Here is a good review on a CSLR shoulder-strap (http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2012/06/17/review-of-the-cslr-glide-strap-for-street-photography/), although I don't have one like that.

[Bob]

Camera Straps and Camera bags, two of the hardest things to decide which one to get.
I have a closet full of camera bags and not quite so many camera straps.

[Stephen Scharf]

The Upstraps do their job on staying on your shoulder really well, but I stopped using them for a number of reasons:

1) The pad is extremely grippy, but it's also really stiff and bulky; this makes using them with more than one body (we motorsports PJs often carry two bodies around the track) uncomfortable and bothersome. Why? Because the of the stiffness of the pad aand the fact it can't be folded flat at the pad, they simply get in my way when slinging two bodies off my shoulder. Also, ironically enough, they grip too well. I've lost some shots because I couldn't get the camera unslung from my shoulder quickly enough-too grippy! LowePro makes a grippy PJ strap that is much softer more flexible, but grips just as well.

2) The stiff and bulky pad make them difficult to pack in an Airport International roller case. I need a strap that can be folded onto itself in several layers to be able to pack it and the body away neatly.

At the end of the day, while the strap stays on your shoulder, I found using them to be a pain in the ass.

[Stephen McCullough]

I have an Up-Strap and agree that it lives up to the promise.

I like a dual purpose strap: hanging from my shoulder ready to grab, and easy to wrap around my wrist as a wrist strap. The Up-Strap isn't so cool for the latter role because of the relatively inflexible grip part.

As a result my main straps are the same as Dave Jenkins (above): the inch-wide Domke straps. Great grip, yet very flexible. Outstanding.

[David McGaughey]

The UPstrap is great - except for people with long hair. My wife has to be careful when I hand my camera to her.

[Dave Fultz]

I do a fair amount of shooting in below-freezing temperatures and have found that keeping the camera in a big insulated pocket is the way to go as you're skidding down ravines. Bags catch on things and full straps just don't make it in this scenario—too fiddly. What does make it are these wrist straps that are designed for point & shoots: a wide band across the back of your wrist that tapers down to nothing, well something, a very thin kevlar cable that is fixed to the camera lug and in 8 years of use has never broken. It's so convenient I even use it when it's above freezing. . . .

Dave

[Mike]

Yay, just like RFF.

I like the plain cotton Voigtlander deluxe strap, but I only found out when I bought a ZI without a strap on it.

[Paul Mc Cann]

My problem is I have no shoulders ! Having said that the UPstrap was the only one that would stay on my non existant shoulder for any length of time..
Nex 7 is on my preferred method, a wrist strap.

Be careful in high tourist areas if using a shoulder strap. They can be cut easily and the camera snatched.

[Tom Hassler]

I agree with the "negative" comments above, but still:

Best… straps… ever! (And I've tried 'em all.)

These days, we carry multiple thousands of dollars worth of gear attached to our straps. Convenience aside, I want security first and foremost.

Straps are like bags, though - a very personal choice.

[Andy K]

Nice looking I guess. But I'm all strapped out. My brief, but multiple forays into the whacked out Leica world did result in something permanent, a handful of braided leather straps made by Luigi, from Rome, he of the most disfunctional website before Obama's. Luigi used to make a double braid, now makes a triple braid, the former perfect for mirror less sized cameras and the latter for everything else. I cut off the pad and leather ring straps, put on round rings and just move them from camera to camera. The leather smells great and just gets softer over the years. Luigi charges some outrageous price for these, which is expected for Leica owners, but you only buy once. I get a kick out of using them on the likes of cheapo Panasonics and Pentaxes I favor.

[David A. Goldfarb]

Also a fan of the UpStrap. I have one on my 4x5" Linhof Tech V, which I do indeed carry on my shoulder or around my neck and shoot handheld sometimes.

[MJFerron]

I cannot stand a neck strap!! Never could. I have two very cool, self modified Nikon wrist straps that seem to be no longer available and for me irreplaceable. probably just me but I don't know how anyone could do with out such a necessity!!

[Jim Simmons]

I've dropped two cameras in my life - after day one of a two day job, a Nikon F slid off the roof of a car I drove away in (yep, forgot it put it there). Used the camera on the second day, hoping to the heavens it was working properly. No problem at all. Threw a Leicaflex up in the air, landed on concrete sidewalk after falling 8 feet (too long of a story, but it was an accident). Huge dent in bottom plate, dinged Series 6 filter ring, absolutely no damage to camera or lens functionality. I hate straps, I love bulletproof cameras.

[Eric Auer]

+1 for the 1" Domke Grippers.

What I really like about it is that the grip threads are on one side only so that you can reverse it to a more "Sliding" configuration when needed.

[B. Volland]

I was underwhelmed by the Upstrap, it's surprisingly bulky, stiff and ugly rubber pad left me longing for the mainstream narrow strap with a thin antislip pad.

[You must have gotten one of the bigger ones. I don't like those either. The RF I recommended meets your second description. --Mike]

[Mikent]

UPstrap works on the non-square shouldered among us. It will NOT slide off. Your shoulders and back can relax and you can walk upright not fighting against strap slide. And no giant logo on the strap - very low key.

[Andreas]

Aaron, I love that story, thanks!

Mike, how do you change between Upstrap and wriststrap?

[Luke]

It won't slide off your shirt, but it sure will pull your shirt right off your shoulder.

[Dave Stewart]

Rapid processing and delivery too. It took just over two days to reach the North of Scotland via the most economical option (Fed-Ex) - much to my surprise. Especially at this time of year.

Thanks to them, and yourself Mike.