Who likes the provided strap what alternatives are there ?

[vanhulsenbeek]

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I have been beta testing a new strap design for the SL by Harry Benz and I believe it will be a winner.  It is similar to his wonderful Urūshī strap which I've used on two of my Leica M240s.  It is made of Water Buffalo hide, so no give, and no matting on the underside so it never gets slick.  That is one of my biggest complaints with other leather straps--they get slick in time and slide easily off ones shoulder.  There is also no give or "springiness" with this strap.  It also has an ingenious swivel allowing full movement and reverse carry for the big lenses (a method I used when carrying big Nikon lenses with the camera body facing inward and the lens laying against the hollow of my hip, reporter style).   I'm not sure when Harry will begin producing these commercially.   I'm not ready yet to say it's the final word on SL strap design, but it may be.  It's certainly the best one I've tried so far.   (By the way, I was asked if the metal screws or pins might not scratch the camera body.  Not sure you can tell this from he photos, but they do not come in contact with the camera at all.)

This is my SL with the Harry Benz "La Cravate Brogue"

 

It feels very good, Safe, solid on the wrist, and wraps nicely around the lens when in the bag.

 

 

It will take some time to get supple and worn in, so a final opinion can be given. Very kind service from Harry!

 

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[Sandokan]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

Wouldn't it be great if we could get an adaptor that would allow us to use previously purchased straps .

I know I have quite a collection from my M's .

The only thing I fear is like Jono said the scratching. 

 

 

That's a nice idea Pete

But my problem was not that the lug was damaged,  but that the split ring from my nice A&A silk strap caught the corner of the SL, scratching the black chrome. Although I'm thinking about something else which might solve that problem too

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000IN3RUE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

This is what I use as well as the Peak Design system attachments. Both are threaded simultaneously on the SL - the second one was hard to get on each lug and they look ugly.

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These Optech ones I use with my other straps, all of which have a small carabiner attached so that I can do a quick swap.

Edited August 31, 2016 by Sandokan

[HeinzX]

I don´t like the provided strap - I bought one from eddycam. Use these straps in other variations for other cams too. If you want to have a look at - there they are. Regarding eventual scratching I never had problems.

 

http://www.eddycam.com/en/home/#&panel1-2

[MyLeicaM]

I got my new Tie Her Up Rock 'n' Roll Strap Special Edition Waxed Leather 125cm

 

 

[dkCambridgeshire]

Last week acquired a RRS SL 'L' plate/bracket and wish to fit a decent hand/knuckle strap. The Leica S 16004 hand strap would fit but it's not in stock at UK dealers and would prefer something with more leather e.g. same as, or similar to, the Leica DMR hand/knuckle strap  - very comfortable with wide-ish straps which fit very snugly to the SL /RRS lugs -  but do not want to keep switching between cameras. I have a Cotton Traders hand strap but it's too flimsy and the strap is too narrow.

 

Any suggestions for a decent SL knuckle strap would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

dunk 

[wlaidlaw]

Last week acquired a RRS SL 'L' plate/bracket and wish to fit a decent hand/knuckle strap. The Leica S 16004 hand strap would fit but it's not in stock at UK dealers and would prefer something with more leather e.g. same as, or similar to, the Leica DMR hand/knuckle strap  - very comfortable with wide-ish straps which fit very snugly to the SL /RRS lugs -  but do not want to keep switching between cameras. I have a Cotton Traders hand strap but it's too flimsy and the strap is too narrow.

 

Any suggestions for a decent SL knuckle strap would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

dunk 

 

Dunk, 

 

If the Case Logic hand strap solve your problem and you are willing to wait three weeks until I get back to the UK, you are welcome to mine. My arthritic hands were too lumpy to use it and I found that it squashed my bones together, which for me was very uncomfortable. Others have found it fine. 

 

Wilson

 

PS for some reason it is refusing to load the link to Amazon to show the strap.

Edited September 12, 2016 by wlaidlaw

[honcho]

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Any suggestions for a decent SL knuckle strap would be appreciated.

 

 

My SpiderPro Hand Straps are very robust and work well with heavier camera and lens combinations like my Nikon D4 dslr's and f2.8 zoom & f1.4 prime lenses. I also use the Peak Design Clutch on my smaller Nikon D750's, either should work ok on something like a Leica SL if a hand strap is what you are looking for.

[dkCambridgeshire]

Dunk, 

 

If the Case Logic hand strap solve your problem and you are willing to wait three weeks until I get back to the UK, you are welcome to mine. My arthritic hands were too lumpy to use it and I found that it squashed my bones together, which for me was very uncomfortable. Others have found it fine. 

 

Wilson

 

PS for some reason it is refusing to load the link to Amazon to show the strap.

 

 

Thank you Wilson. The Case Logic hand strap has mixed reviews; it's OK but would not have the tactility of padded leather and would prefer something more substantial if using the 24-90mm with the SL. 

 

Cheers

 

dunk 

[LocalHero1953]

I use the Herringbone Heritage https://www.amazon.co.uk/Herringbone-Heritage-Camera-Wrist-Leather-DarkBrown/dp/B0148WDLLK

It fits the SL and a RRS universal baseplate.

I find it comfortable, though perhaps a larger and more contoured pad for the back of the hand might stop it occasionally slipping too far forward.

I had the Spider Pro, but the attachments were inconvenient: didn't attach to the baseplate, but under it, and the top one was poorly designed and kept twisting.

At its price the Herringbone is worth a try.

[wlaidlaw]

It is a pity that Leica did not put a threaded boss into the hand grip of the SL. That would give the option of using the M240 MF grip finger loops. I did not like them at first but I have got very used to them and now would not be without. I have a smaller grip for my M240, the Photo-Equip one but I really miss the finger loop on it. 

 

Wilson

[ramarren]

I tried three different hand straps, secured in the top strap lug and by some arrangement with a baseplate, and didn't like any of them. The position of the SL's neckstrap lug just is not correct for a hand strap, in my opinion. It forces the hand strap too far forward on the hand, limits movement and access to controls, and for me becomes uncomfortable.

 

I tried Harry Benz's "La Cravate SL" last and worked with him on it. It's more of a wrist leash than hand strap. The size and flexibility of the small attachment piece is critical ... He made one half the thickness and a little longer than the original delivered, added the leather-covered screw attachment, and this has been my solution since. I fit it on the grip side and wear it by passing my hand through the loop such that the strap is under my palm, not over my fingers. It gives just the level of security I wanted and doesn't get in the way at all.

[honcho]

....I had the Spider Pro, but the attachments were inconvenient: didn't attach to the baseplate, but under it, and the top one was poorly designed and kept twisting.

 

 

Not sure what he's on about here. 

 

Certainly no twisting on my set-up, the fitting is easily adjusted and rock solid. 

 

Top fitting.......

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[honcho]

.....and bottom fitting, which is obviously designed for use with the Spider Holster plate, but also works fine with Arca and Manfrotto plates......

 

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[wlaidlaw]

Honcho, 

 

The problem is you are not showing a camera of the weight, lug type and balance of an SL.

 

I found that the hand strap I used, the Case Logic, was in the end more of an irritation than it was a help. I came to the conclusion that I prefer to have the camera on a very comfortable conventional strap (I am using one of Luigi Crescenzi's Silky straps with a large suede lined shoulder/neck pad) over my shoulder or round my neck, taking most of the weight and then just have my hand loosely over the camera, ready to raise it to the using position, without any hand strap. 

Edited September 12, 2016 by wlaidlaw

[LocalHero1953]

Honcho - the top lug on the SL is different to that shown. The Spider Pro has a nylon strap that is too narrow for the SL lug, and the plastic stiffener designed to keep it in place twists out. Not a safety risk, but irritating. Its design doesn't suit the SL here.

 

The thin plastic strip that slides under the baseplate has to be repositioned each time you remove and reattach the baseplate (if you ever do that). It is more convenient to fasten the strap direct to the baseplate.

 

But I'm just giving my experience. On your camera, and if you don't remove the baseplate, the Spider Pro appears to be fine. It is well made and otherwise comfortable.

[thighslapper]

I agree with Paul .... the Herringbone is cheap, works very well and and has the advantage of fitting via a universal baseplate so you can stick it straight on a tripod..... and if you use one of the smaller RRS ones they are very low profile, add no bulk and minimal weight. 

 

For 25GBP or less on Amazon they are about the best value Leica accessory I possess. 

[rriley]

I agree with Paul .... the Herringbone is cheap, works very well and and has the advantage of fitting via a universal baseplate so you can stick it straight on a tripod..... and if you use one of the smaller RRS ones they are very low profile, add no bulk and minimal weight. 

 

For 25GBP or less on Amazon they are about the best value Leica accessory I possess. 

 

Same here, the Herringbone is the best one that I have seen.

[Vieri]

I received yesterday my two straps from Harry Benz, both are The Brogue SL, one is in black (for the SL) and the other in Dark Brown Leather (for the S 007). They arrived perfectly packed in wonderful boxes, and they look and feel simply amazing. I tried them on with the 24-90 on the SL and with the 24mm on the S and though I walked around just briefly they seem to be very comfortable. I will be away for 2-3 weeks working on the Atlantic Coast of Spain (from Basque Country to Asturias and Galicia) and I will have a good chance to give them a good workout. Will probably write an article about them when I am back.

 

So far, highly recommended.

 

Best,

 

Vieri

Edited September 15, 2016 by Vieri

[erudolph]

I also have the Brogue and like it very much.  Plus, Harry is a pleasure to deal with. 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[fauxtojournalist]

I don't have an SL, but if you want a strap that is versatile and won't scratch the camera, you can get a Peak Design Leash. This is what I use for my M-P 240.