Episode 380: What Are the Best Camera Straps?

Show Transcript

Greetings everyone, you’re listening to the Liam Photography Podcast, I’m your host Liam Douglas and this is Episode 380 for Thursday December 7th, 2023. First of all I want to wish my kid brother Danny a Happy Birthday today, hopefully you have a good one.

In today’s episode I want to talk about a topic that Photography Students ask me about all the time and that is what are the Best camera straps for their cameras? As I am sure you are all aware, most all camera makers usually include a strap with a new camera purchase. The problem is, most of the camera straps they give us with our cameras frankly suck. They are not very comfortable and they tend to cause my discomfort than anything else with issues to the neck mostly. I’ve never understood why camera makers cannot make a decent strap to sell us with our cameras?

Luckily, there are third party camera strap makers that do a much better job at making a comfortable strap. The problem is, there are so many of them on the market, it can be confusing trying to figure out which one will work best for you. Some photographers like to have a strap with a thick padded neck portion for the extra comfort and I can certainly understand that, especially if you are lugging a heavy camera body/lens combination.

Other photographers might prefer a sling style strap for my comfort and flexibility as this kind of strap puts the weight on the shoulder more and allows them to quickly swing the camera up to their eye, snap the image and then lower it back down again. Additionally, when using one of these kinds of straps the camera hangs at your hip as you walk and that can be more comfortable when out on a photowalk. So, let’s take a look at some of the available options on the market. I will include Affiliate links in the show notes so if you pick one up using my links it helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra.

PEAK Design

PEAK Design makes two really great camera straps, the SLIDE and the SLIDE LITE. These straps are made from high quality materials and use PEAK’s unique quick disconnect system of buttons with locking pockets on the ends of the straps themselves. This is a nice strap as you can buy a single strap with multiple cameras and just pick up some extra pairs of their quick disconnect “buttons” to add to each camera. Another great thing about PEAK’s system is that the nylon cord loops they use on each “button” change color over time as the material starts to wear out so you get advanced warning when you need to replace them to prevent them breaking and dropping your camera and lens combo! The straps also feature an internally-padded nylon webbing which has a smooth side that can slide easily over clothes and a grippy side that is better suited to prevent the straps from slipping when wearing it as a neck strap. Of course their strap is also one that can be both a neck and a sliding should strap either one so you basically get two straps in one!

SLIDE - https://amzn.to/4abjuKa

SLIDE LITE - https://amzn.to/3RfnfG3

BLACKRAPID

Another company that makes really great camera straps, slings and harnesses is BLACKRAPID. BLACKRAPID’s straps feature webbed padding to make the strap more comfortable to wear similar to PEAK but they make their padding quite a bit thicker to give even more comfort and protection. Just like PEAK, BLACKRAPID makes both a regular and lite versions of their straps and harnesses. Another nice thing about their straps and harnesses is they use an attachment system that screws into the 1/4-20 on the bottom of your camera, you know the tripod plate hole so you have that convenience of a connector that is guaranteed to work with any makers camera and since they are made of quality steel components you don’t have to worry about them failing and dropping your camera. The only downside with using this kind of attachment system is that is leaves the camera hanging upside down as you carry it, which some people might not care for.

You might be asking, what is a camera harness? Well it’s basically a double shoulder strap system that allows you to carry two cameras at the same time, one at each hip, similar to a shoulder holster for handguns. I have a couple of these myself, one from BLACKRAPID and another one that is leather from a company called 4J LEDR. The other different with the one from LEDR is they use metal quick disconnect snap rings similar to what you find on day a dog leash, which is fine as I have never had any of my cameras come off this strap either.

BLACKRAPID Sling - https://amzn.to/4a5Lfnv

BLACKRAPID Harness - https://amzn.to/418mt29

FALCAM

FALCAM which is a subdivision of the company Ulanzi has been making camera mounts for your tripod for a while now and they have also now introduced their own camera straps as well. Theirs are known as the MagLink Classic and Lite, which are really nice straps and are similar in design to the ones from PEAK Design, using a separate camera attachment that stays on the camera all the time and then you mate it with the strap ends. Now the reason why FALCAM’s straps are called MagLink is because they use a magnetic connector that mates into the end of the strap with a special pocket that also has a magnet inside it. The pocket is also tapered to keep the magnetic nub in place and you also get that satisfying “snap” when the two magnets make their connection to each other.

Just like with the PEAK Design straps, you keep the magnet part on your camera and it ties on with a simple pull through just like PEAK’s does. The FALCAM also offers the ability to buy extra camera attachments so you can use one strap with multiple cameras. Now I think I forgot to mention when talking about PEAK that both they and FALCAM offer is you can also buy end connector kits so you can use their magnetic quick connect system with ANY existing camera strap you already own! Talk about having the best of both worlds for your camera, your own favorite strap with either the PEAK Design or FALCAM quick connectors!

FALCAM MagLink Classic - https://amzn.to/482sS12

FALCAM MagLink Lite - https://amzn.to/3GxcObR

OP/TECH

OPTECH is another company that makes quality, affordable camera straps and slings for use with your camera. One of the nice things about the OPTECH is that they give you a much thicker padded neck section on their straps so that you have even more comfort when carrying your gear, especially if you carry heavy camera bodies and lenses when out shooting. OPTECH is also known for adding little pockets to their straps that can carry extra SD cards when out shooting all day.

OPTECH’s straps are made of breathable materials and they have a stretchy factor to them as well, and their straps are very light weight to wear but strong. 

Now, unfortunately, OPTECH doesn’t have a quick connect and disconnect system for their straps but they do use the same loops as your standard camera maker straps so they are fairly easy to tie and un-tie to your camera body. The ends are made from high strength nylon so you don’t have to worry about dropping your camera with them either!

OPTECH Pro Loop Strap - https://amzn.to/47OhlTs

OPTECH Super Classic Strap - https://amzn.to/3t5psvI

Cooph

Cooph is the name brand maker of the LEICA/FUJIFILM rope straps that are very popular with photographers shooting either of these two systems. I was originally Leary of this type of camera strap until I bought one and tried it out and the rope is actually surprisingly comfortable. The straps do not feature a quick connect/disconnect system like some of the others, instead they use the miniature key rings similar to the Leica and Fujifilm cameras come with by default. These rings hold well and won’t drop your camera but they can be a bear to attach to your actual camera. 

The ends with the rings feature leather loops to help prevent your camera being scratched as you carry it by this style of strap. The Cooph straps are expensive and made exclusively for Leica, but there are a number of other companies that make more affordable versions of this rope strap and ones that are especially made for Fujifilm cameras, which include a hole in the leather tabs on the end of it so you can slide the leather over the camera strap nubs to protect your camera’s finish even more!

Cooph Leica Rope Strap - https://amzn.to/3NhzvVr

VKO Rope Strap for Fujifilm - https://amzn.to/47ModR3

Capturing Couture 2” Strap

The last strap I want to talk about today is the Capturing Couture 2” strap for those of you who want a more vintage looking strap that is nicer than the simple straps from your camera maker. These straps are made of Neoprene, Nylon and Polyester so they are quality materials and will last a good number of years.

These straps don’t offer much in a way of padding for your neck but some people are not as concerned about that as the look of this strap itself. To me, these straps look similar to a nice guitar strap and they are available in a selection of 25 patterns/colors to allow you to keep your camera looking unique and retro when carrying it around all day out on the streets or in the field.

The Capturing Couture 2” strap also features the basic loops on the end of the strap so you can tie it to your camera the same way you do the one that came with your camera in the box.

Capturing Couture 2” Strap - https://amzn.to/3RvM3L3

Stop by the website of today's sponsor, MagicMind & subscribe with up to 50% off at https://www.magicmind.com/photography and use my code PHOTOGRAPHY20. Or Stop by any Sprouts Farmers Market locations and pick some up today!

Remember I now have my own discount code for all Platypod branded products at http://www.platypod.com using my code LD20 you can save 20% off on ALL individual Platypod branded products EXCLUDING Bundles, which are already discounted and Square Jellyfish or Lume Cube branded items.

I also now have my own affiliate link for Think Tank Photo, use the link to guy any of their gear, get a free gift and free shipping!!!

https://www.thinktankphoto.com/?rfsn=7232819.5f5392&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=7232819.5f5392

Also be sure to join the Liam Photography Podcast Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/liamphotographypodcast/ You can reach the show by call or text @ 470-294-8191 to leave a comment or request a topic or guest for the show. Additionally you can email the show @ liam@liamphotographypodcast.com and find the show notes at http://www.liamphotographypodcast.com.

You can find my work @ https://www.liamphotography.net and follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @liamphotoatl. If you like abandoned buildings and history, you can find my project @ http://www.forgottenpiecesofgeorgia.com. and http://www.forgottenpiecesofpennsylvania.com.

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