I apologize if this has been asked before, but I am rather new to the Leica world. I just purchased a Leica M3. I need to get a strap for it. What do people suggest? Thanks

-- Jack Belen (Jbelen@aol.com), April 25, 2002

Answers

i like the optech stuff I'm sure someone will disagree. you can pick them up through almost any camera store or online at b&h, adorama etc. cheers,

-- pat (modlabs@yahoo.com), April 25, 2002.

Use the standard Leica strap 14312.

-- Steve Barnett (barnet@globalnet.co.uk), April 25, 2002.

I'm partial to Domke's "Gripper" straps.

-- Chris Chen (Wash., DC) (furcafe@cris.com), April 25, 2002.

Steve's right. The current M6 strap is fine.

-- Patrick (pg@patrickgarner.com), April 25, 2002.

Hi, I use old style black leather strap from Mclassics.com, I like it very much. The leather just feels great and sturdy, and look great on older Leicas. I remember I paid more than the price on their website years ago, it's worth the price. Cheers,

-- Fred Ouyang (yo54@columbia.edu), April 25, 2002.

I have a generic computer bag type (strong and comfortable) wide adjustable strap with a curved pad and quick releases for those times when I want to be strapless.

-- Allison Reese (a_b_reese3@hotmail.com), April 25, 2002.

I purchased a strap for my Canon-P (same weight and size as an M3) from Seth Levine of M-Classics about 6 months ago. It is a pretty authentic copy of the origional strap that was offered with the M's in the 50's. It is a simple 1/2" Leather strap with an adjustment buckle. He also supplies soft chrome plated brass split rings as to not wear the lugs of the camera. I think I paid $ 23 or so. I think his email is pepe3@bellatlantic.net. I needed a strap for an eveready case for a IIIc and he custom made it for me of thicker leather.

-- Gerry Widen (gwiden@alliancepartners.org), April 25, 2002.

Oh I forgot,

It was essentially free, from an old non-used computer bag. And, I can clip it to my small carryall too. I have a couple/few of these straps.

What do Leica straps cost, $40?

-- Allison Reese (a_b_reese3@hotmail.com), April 25, 2002.

Allison,

$49.95 last time I checked for the "regular" Leica strap. They make a better one though with a wider and more "cushony" (sp?) shoulder and neck pad that's worth the extra 10 bucks. Has those silly red Leica dots on it though.

Best,

Jerry

-- Jerome R. Pfile, Jr. (JerryPfile@msn.com), April 25, 2002.

Use one of those Lowepro straps. I truly love those. The Domke gripper strap works well too but Lowepro is the most comfortable for my M3 use.

-- Alfie Wang (leica_phile@hotmail.com), April 25, 2002.

Another vote for the mclassics leather strap. I have four, myself.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), April 25, 2002.

Allison Last time I bought a Leica strap, about six months ago, it was only £18.

-- Steve Barnett (barnet@globalnet.co.uk), April 25, 2002.

I use one the Tamrac straps with the big, wide foam rubber pad--does a great job of distributing the load.

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), April 25, 2002.

I'll second the vote for the Domke gripper strap. I have one on my M3- it came with little bits of leather that go over the strap lugs, which provide good protection from the metal rings so they don't scratch the body, for those of you who worry about cosmetics and reslae value. Mine cost me about 12 bucks from B&H Check it out. Or for a couple of bucks more you could get one with clips like Allison's, incase you wanted to go strapless.

-- drew (swordfisher@hotmail.com), April 25, 2002.

www.UpStrap.com.-----for a strap that WILL NOT slip off your shoulder. I have them for my RF's and Nikons and they are fantastic!

-- Todd Phillips (toddvphillips@webtv.net), April 25, 2002.

i love the m classics strap -- i have several. really beutifully made. sherry krauter sells them and m classics sells them directly. ken hansen usually has a few. i met the m classics guy at a camera show in waltham mass two weeks ago. he gave me a handfull of chrome plated brass lug rings that are very easy on camera bodies (MUCH!! softer than steel) and wear to a nice brass color quickly. anyway, this is a great product (his bags are nice too, but i'm partial to the fogg bags myself).

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), April 25, 2002.

I bought a Domke gripper strap for my M4 because it came with leather ring guards to prevent the strap rings from brassing the camera.

-- Chad Hahn (thehahns@cornhusker.net), April 25, 2002.

Thought you might like to know that on Sunday, I will put a genuine original M3 black strap stamped Leitz wetzlar germany on it, on ebay in mint condition.

-- John Abela (jamriman@yahoo.com), April 25, 2002.

As someone who does not like neck straps, I took the advice of a poster to a similar question and purchased some of the thinnest climbing rope from EMS and fashioned a wrist strap. Keeps the camera ultra handy & secure all for about 80 cents.

-- John (jbee193@aol.com), April 25, 2002.

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions.

-- Jack Belen (jbelen@aol.com), April 25, 2002.

www.kameraleder.com

I have a Kameraleder strap for all my bodies. Will never go back to over the counter stuff.

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), April 25, 2002.

What color strap with black and which with chrome? ;)

-- Hil (hegomez@aol.com), April 25, 2002.

well all depend on the mood, and the weather, and my shoes,

domke, and easy longer easy shorter leica one.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), April 25, 2002.

good to see the forum back on topic

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), April 26, 2002.

If you go with a newer Leica strap on your M3, keep an eye on the wear on your camera strap lugs. The ends of newer straps are hard steel, and can wear down the relatively soft lugs of the older M cameras fairly quickly. When they wear out, the lugs can be replaced with the harder steel ones used on the newer M models. The split brass rings that someone mentioned above are kinder to the old lugs.

-- Tim Nelson (timothy.nelson@yale.edu), April 26, 2002.

Another ditto for Domke.

Regards,

-- Alan Purves (lpurves@mnsi.net), April 26, 2002.