Oly v Panny straps

one blind eye wrote:

Allan Brown wrote:

For the past several years, I have made my own straps with Rayon.

The stuff I use is very soft but very strong and can easily hold my camera and largest lens. Although it is thin, it does not dig in and is very comfortable. I make shoulder straps and not neck straps.

Each strap costs less than $2 to make.

Allan

EP5 with DIY Rayon Strap

Looking closer how the strap is attached. The attachment of the strap to your camera lug looks a bit untidy. What is that large mass at the end that is attached to the camera ring? Is the strap secure? Glue/cement🤔

Regards.

The strap is fed through the lug then sewn in place. They are normally quite neat in appearance.

What you see here is the end of an older strap that frayed with use. I applied Fray-Check to stop it. It looks a little untidy but is still as strong as the day I made it.

Allan

one blind eye wrote:

Allan Brown wrote:

one blind eye wrote:

Allan Brown wrote:

For the past several years, I have made my own straps with Rayon.

The stuff I use is very soft but very strong and can easily hold my camera and largest lens. Although it is thin, it does not dig in and is very comfortable. I make shoulder straps and not neck straps.

Each strap costs less than $2 to make.

Allan

EP5 with DIY Rayon Strap

Looking closer how the strap is attached. The attachment of the strap to your camera lug looks a bit untidy. What is that large mass at the end that is attached to the camera ring? Is the strap secure? Glue/cement🤔

Regards.

The strap is fed through the lug then sewn in place. They are normally quite neat in appearance.

What you see here is the end of an older strap that frayed with use. I applied Fray-Check to stop it. It looks a little untidy but is still as strong as the day I made it.

Allan

Thanks for explaining. Cost of $2 per strap can’t be beat 👍

Here is a newer strap on my EM5II. Also visible is a thinner safety strap in case the lugs fall off. I had to return the camera to Olympus because both lugs became loose.

Allan

DIY strap on EM5II

Adrian Harris wrote:

But how do others 'who use shoulder straps' feel about this difference between the Panasonic and Olympus straps and which do you prefer?

I have essentially the same reaction. I hate the stiff, porky Oly straps, and I like the minimalist but grippy Panny strap. My O bodies wear P straps, but I sold a couple P bodies with O straps (apologies to the buyers), so the net marketing effect may be neutral.

This is one of those minor annoyances where Oly could improve their game for probably zero cost.

I think the only Olympus strap I used was 20+ years ago with my C2000z

Past few years I use Joby Convertible straps.

Also home made, but in my case always a wrist strap. Temporarily pinned while I get the right length for my hand, then machine sewn.

My E-P5 pair. Mode dial tops now changed to simpler design.

Unused left hand eyelet thingy removed to stop rattling.

I have never used the camera mfg straps.  I use Black Rapid straps with Arca clamps and custom base plates on all of my cameras, and I remove the strap when putting the camera in the bag.

This approach was confirmed due to the consistent failure of E-M1 strap lugs.

If I was made of money I'd buy a Lucky strap with their quick release clips . They're not as clunky/clacky as Peak Design, but still quick-enough for my purposes.

I almost did press Checkout once. I couldn't bring myself to do it. If they ever introduce a narrower cotton option, I still might be game to buy.

I currently use a cheap Manfrotto strap which is a kind of olive-drab so I blend in a bit better in nature.

GodSpeaks wrote:

Made from the shoulder strap supplied with the camera.

I have not used shoulder straps in over 20 years.

Back late last century into the first two of yearsof this century when using a Nikon SLR I had the habit of wrapping the attached neck strap around my arm and wrist a few times so it acted like a wrist strap. I found that nicer to use than a neck strap, so when digital came along I made everything into a wrist strap.

Adrian Harris wrote:

Oly v Panny straps

As I was worried when Olympus went to the wall I purchased a second Em1-mk2 body. Frankly I couldn't envisage enjoying my photography if I could no longer access the fantastic features that camera provides. Anyway....

Initially I used both. But for many months now keep using the same one, and this morning realised why!

My Panasonic cameras have a nice slim lightweight and more importantly flexible camera straps, whereas the Olympus straps are big and wide and frankly quite stiff - and of course have a big Olympus logo.

So shortly after I purchased my first em1-mk2 I removed the strap - which I hated, - and fitted the one from my no longer used Panasonic GX7.

Happy days.

The strap is far less conspicuous, soft and so easily folds into a tiny camera bag. Whereas my 2nd new backup camera with the Olympus strap doesn't fold well and also requires a larger bag or that I leave the diminutive 9-18 Oly lens behind.

I also find the - no doubt sturdier but inflexible - Olympus strap a nuisance when you take the camera off and place it on a table when stopping for a cream tea, etc.

So the upshot is, instead of wearing two cameras out gradually together, I always instinctively grab the older one everytime!

I have never been one advocating free company advertising on clothing and hate wearing 'Brands' anyway.

So now my Olympus. Cameras have straps advertising Panasonic

But how do others 'who use shoulder straps' feel about this difference between the Panasonic and Olympus straps and which do you prefer?

Peak design strap