So, you spend a lot of money (or in my case, cry and get your housemate to claim it on his insurance) on a nice shiny new camera. It’s awesome, it might just be love. It’s the perfect accessory.
But you stick with the giant branded strap – the one loudly proclaiming your membership to the NIKON or CANON tribe. How bland. Why not something a little bit more individual? Something that makes it personal. Oh, cute camera straps – where art thou? I investigated:
1. Photojojo sells bright seat belt camera straps – saving lives and cameras, which are your life. Win.
2. How about some Etsy country punk chic?
3. Rather than reinventing the wheel, Sugar Pop Designs (also on Etsy) create covers for your existing strap. For an extra couple of dollars you can even get a pouch for that pesky lens cap. I love this idea, you could one day have an entire collection of complementary straps!
4. Souldier up-cycles seat belts too, combining them with retro fabrics to make some sweet straps – there’s quite a few masculine choices:
5. “I think these straps are elegant and rugged all at once. Bob H.” Bob’s talking about Gordy’s camera straps and he’s right on the money. These are the camera straps Monocle fans would snap up; think naturally tough leather, waxed thread and solid construction. They’re beautiful too.
Don’t want to buy a new strap? My other ideas include: pillaging a retro camera for its superior strap, making your own and re-purposing a guitar strap!
Have I convinced you yet? Want another upside? As well as looking cute and fabulously individual, when the day comes that you misplace your camera – and the party host/bartender/bus driver asks – “Well what did it look like?”
Instead of saying “silver” (yeah helpful), you can describe the luminosity of the polka dots, the gentle embossing on the damask. Then you’re saying it is my camera, and it is special to me! Really helpful, non?
Bob H.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
thanks for posting this; i’ve never read about my options!
THANK YOU. i’ve been searching for a pretty camera strap for a ridiculously long time. you’ve made my life so easy. the flowery one is definitely my favourite.
I have a Souldier one! Recommended 100%
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johannaonvideo/3603835327/
Diana & Sophie: You’re most welcome! :)
Johanna: It’s so pretty! I’m glad you’ve got the right idea.
Joel and I picked up new straps in Tokyo :D defiantly a great way to have a bit more fun with ones camera.
Souldier makes the camera straps that Photojojo sells in their store. They have so many choices, no wonder there are so many celebrities wearing them. Out of all those companies, you can customize everything: pattern, backing, hardware, ends, padding. They are the Ferrari of the camera strap world. I wonder if they can make me one from Ferarri seatbelts:)
Riley G Strapworks has some very lovely high end straps.
http://www.rileygstrapworks.com/page/page/6735720.htm