Optech straps

[chrisk]

can you buy them in sydney anywhere ?
also which one is recommended ?

[aim54x]

I want one as well!!

[dviv]

I have seen them in Paxtons on George street in the city, but that was a fair while ago.

They might be able to order them in.

[wendellt]

i've seen them at foto riesol

[DaveB]

can you buy them in sydney anywhere ?

Don't know about stockists in Sydney, but FWIW I know Michaels in Melbourne have some of them. I've bought all mine from B&H.

also which one is recommended ?

The straps have two parts: the padded shoulder strap, and the attachments to the camera. On the whole these parts are interchangeable.

The shoulder part:

• Classic - soft neoprene, but has little grip and can slide off your shoulder. Straight design.
• Super Classic - like Classic but with rubber dots on one side to increase the grip.
• Pro - lots of grip, and bent so that it will stay on your shoulder (i.e. as it wraps over your shoulder it all gets to grip).

The attachment part:

• 3/8" - regular flat strap (like found on the ends of the manufacturer's straps.
• "Pro" loop - soft cloth loop that is very flexible. Shorter than the 3/8" straps.
• A funny plastic loop on the "Fashion" straps - I'd ignore these.

You can buy straps with either attachment style, and you can buy extra attachments. With the attachments I mix them up: 3/8" on my CP-E3 flash battery pack, 3/8" on the left side of my bodies (so the Canon eyepiece cover can live on it), and loop on the right side of my bodies. Unless you're careful when setting up this layout though, if you use Pro straps (with the bend) they can end up the "wrong" way around on one of your cameras.

I tend to use a Classic strap on the flash battery pack (thinner and more flexible in terms of putting around my neck+shoulder) and I have a Super Classic and a Pro strap which get used on the bodies. If I've got the battery pack hanging off the tripod it won't have the strap (the attachment parts clip together into a loop) so sometimes the straps get swapped around between devices during an outing.

You'll probably hear people recommending the Pro straps with the loop attachments. That's not a bad recommendation for starters, but the system is a bit bigger than just that choice.

[aim54x]

Thanks for the info Dave. Can anyone identify the one that some members have that is branded D70users.com?? I tried one of those (thanks Stubbsy, nnnnsic, Matt K - I cant remember who it belonged to, but I do have an inkling that it was Stubbsy) and it really does make the weight seem a lot less.

[MATT]

I have the "D70" version. I believe it is a PRO LOOP strap.


MATT

[aim54x]

I just had a look at BHphotovideo and they are currently US$22.75 + shipping (an insane US$60.60) so they work out very EXY at this point in time. Anyone going to New York anytime soon? Aussie $$ going to make it back to 1:1 anytime soon?

[who]

Or you could try the Nikonians prophotoshop.com site.....

I also want to get one of these straps + tripod leg wraps fairly soon too, and onshipping in Aus would be cheaper than 2 orders from the US

[chrisk]

wow...thanks Dave, appreciate all the info ! exactly what i was after.

[Greg B]

It looks like Michaels in Melbourne stocks Op/Tech....

http://www.michaels.com.au/index.php?pa ... &Itemid=54

Could well be cheaper factoring in the freight.

[fozzie]

I was in Melbourne last month, and Michael's have an excellent range of OP/TECH products. I picked up a spare Super Classic Strap - 3/8" version for AU$31.99 (incl. GST). From memory they had another two (2) units in stock, together with another style ie. Classic Straps in different colours.

It looks like Michaels in Melbourne stocks Op/Tech....

http://www.michaels.com.au/index.php?pa ... &Itemid=54

Could well be cheaper factoring in the freight.

fozzie

[Yi-P]

Thanks for the info Dave. Can anyone identify the one that some members have that is branded D70users.com?? I tried one of those (thanks Stubbsy, nnnnsic, Matt K - I cant remember who it belonged to, but I do have an inkling that it was Stubbsy) and it really does make the weight seem a lot less.

The D70users.com version has a longer loop strap that u can strap around your neck when u not using it and still feel comfortable enough. The pro-loop has shorter strap but the grip is about the same.

Have a look at Paxtons on George, Teds on Pitt and Photo Riesel on Kent st, they should have something.

Otherwise, u gotta go for Michaels in Melbourne or the bay.

I'd recommend the Pro-Loop straps, they are one of the most comfortable out there for the fair price.

Also might be worth looking out something like this:
http://www.camlink.eu.com/news/full.html?id=19
They are wider than OPTECH ones and distributes weight better, but at a higher cost.

I believe Steffen here has one exotic original Nikon strap from Japan, its simply the best I've seen so far, but have never seen up for sale.

[seeto.centric]

i got mine from ebay... pro loop strap, thanks to Yip for his guidance
Cameron, i think u may have also tried mine... i cant remember

the ebay store was "procameragear" from USA. they also do combined shipping discounts.

does anyone find that the pro strap still slides off your shoulder?

-julian

[aim54x]

Sorry Julian, definitely not your one I have not even seen it!

I found another ebay shop (100% positive rep) that sells the PRO-LOOP for about AU$24.56 with AU$12.67 (USD$8.25) post (USPS FIrst Class) and a discount so shipping for each additional item is USD$3.70.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/OPTECH-PRO-LOOP-Camera-neck-shoulder-STRAP-Black_W0QQitemZ170298745096QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBags_Cases_Straps?hash=item170298745096&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

Anyone else want one? I think I will order one for myself

[DJT]

I got mine from "Michaels" in Melbourne. Excellent service. Ordered on line & received in Sydney next day. Great straps by the way - very comfortable.

[radar]

Duracom, I've bought a few optech pouches from there before, very good service.

Sorry Julian, definitely not your one I have not even seen it!

I found another ebay shop (100% positive rep) that sells the PRO-LOOP for about AU$24.56 with AU$12.67 (USD$8.25) post (USPS FIrst Class) and a discount so shipping for each additional item is USD$3.70.

Anyone else want one? I think I will order one for myself

[seeto.centric]

Duracom are great too, i think i ordered my pro pouch from them as well. its a bit tight on the D300 + grip though

[Potoroo]

Anyone else want one? I think I will order one for myself

I might be interested in a Pro 3/8" webbing. I'm not sure how I would mount a Pro Loop on the 50D. I can put the Canon plastic buckle on the webbing as it fits the eyepiece when I want to block light from the viewfinder.

It would be a nice update on my Optech Neanderthal Classic with the rubber attachments that are a mongrel to fit.

[aim54x]

Duracom are great too, i think i ordered my pro pouch from them as well. its a bit tight on the D300 + grip though

It really has been too long since I have shot with you. You have all this new stuff that I have not seen!

[aim54x]

Anyone else want one? I think I will order one for myself

I might be interested in a Pro 3/8" webbing. I'm not sure how I would mount a Pro Loop on the 50D. I can put the Canon plastic buckle on the webbing as it fits the eyepiece when I want to block light from the viewfinder.

It would be a nice update on my Optech Neanderthal Classic with the rubber attachments that are a mongrel to fit.

You could slide the loop through the metal lug on the camera and then feed the strap back through the loop to secure.

There is a picture about half way down the page.
http://optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=23&PRODUCT_SUB_ID=&CATEGORY_ID=4

Not sure if it is worth it to ship it to my place in Sydney and then ship the strap out to Melbourne again.