The Ultimate Mirrorless Camera Strap?

May 25, 2014 ·

Kevin Raber

The DSPTCH Strap

dsptch strap with camera

As photographers we have a number of addictions.  It comes with our passion. I don’t know anyone doing photography that doesn’t suffer from gear addiction.  There is never enough equipment to make us happy as we always need the newest camera or the latest lens.   I recently looked at my camera and gear closet which is a large walk-in closet and realized I suffer from a new addiction which has sort of snuck up on me over the years and that is camera bags.  I intend to write something about this side of my addiction soon as I suppose I am still looking for the ultimate camera bag.  And, now in the last year I find that the newest addiction to overwhelm me is camera straps.  Will it ever end?  Where do you find therapy for these kind of addictions?  Are you one of these addicts? Where’s our 12 step program?

Abo ut a year ago I started to explore the mirrorless camera offering.  I quickly embraced the Olympus OMD line up and own the OMD 5 and EM1 and a wide range of lenses.  I also own a Fuji Pro X1 and most recently the XT -1 with a full range of lenses.  My main system (previously) is the Nikon D800e and D7100.   I have never liked the camera straps that are provided with cameras when purchased .  I have explored numerous options and over the years came to like theU-Strap,BossStrapand most recently theBlack Rapidstraps.  TheBlackRapidsystem has become my mainstay strap on my Nikons and Phase One cameras and was easy to move over to the Fuji and Olympus cameras.  However I found the BlackRapid strap just too much strap for these smaller systems.  So, I started to search for the ultimate mirrorless camera strap and low and behold I found one that I have come to really love. The DSPTCH Strap

KevinnRaber with Fuji System

Kevin Raber with the Fuji XT-1, lenses and the DSPTCH Strap

My needs were to have a camera strap that could work on my shoulder or around my neck.  In addition like the BlackRapid I wanted the strap to convert easily to a wrist strap or no strap at all for when I worked on a tripod.  You have to admit when trying to do a long exposures there is nothing more annoying than a strap flapping round in the breeze.  I also wanted to be able to quickly move the strap over to either of my camera systems.

DSPTCH System

The Strap and Connectors As Ordered

I came across the DSPTCH Strap quite by accident and decided to order one.  The strap had the option to order an attachment system that was either flat or round.  This enabled me to put attachments for the flat system on my Olympus and the round one on my Fuji XT-1.  Have you even tried to attach the camera strap that came with the camera to a Fuji?  Forget about it!

   

The Quick Release Strap Connectors

The DSPTCH has quick release connectors on the strap and the attachment straps attached to the camera, making it easy to attach or unattach the strap.  A great benefit when mounted on a tripod or switching over to the wrist strap for street photography.

DSPTCH packaging

As Delivered.  The Case Now Holds My Spare Batteries

The strap comes handsomely packages in a zipper plastic vinyl case.  It even has one of those stylish fashion tags attached to it.  Never knew how fashionable these tags were until my girlfriend snatched it away to add to her collection of tags.

DSPTCH Strap   DSPTCH eyelet    dsptch final loop

Threading The Strap Connector Is Easier Than Attaching The Fuji Kit Strap

Attaching the strap is very easy.  I took a twist tie off a loaf of bread and used it to thread the strap through the eyelets of the Fuji.  It was that simple. Attaching it to the Olympus flat connector was even easier.

The camera strap is very easy to adjust to the length that you desire.  On the DSPTCH website there is a aPAGEto show how this can be done.  Basically it is a balance of adjusting two slide adjusters on the strap.  I had no problem adjusting the strap to a comfortable length for over the should or neck carry.

The attachment clips are very well constructed and seem to be of very high quality.  Once attached it takes a bit of strength to pinch open the connector to disconnect it.  That’s a good thing.

writs strap

I have come to enjoy the Fuji and Olympus for most of my everyday shooting.  When I head out I always have a camera with me.  When I wander the streets I can put a few lenses in my jacket (or vest) pocket, attach the beautifully made wrist strap and away I go.  I love the wrist strap as if I need to use two hand say to work the iPhone or open a map the camera comfortably and securely dangles from my wrist on this strap.  With a quick flip of the wrist the camera is back in my hand ready to shoot.

These straps come in a variety of colors and widths.   You can view theDSPTCH websitefor the full collection.  The cost for a Coyote color strap, round cord connectors and the wrist strap came in at $79.00 USD plus shipping.  I consider it one of the best investments I have made.

The DSPTCH Strap and Wrist Strap definitely earns the Tested And Recommended honor.


Published May 25, 2014

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Photography is my passion and has been for 45 plus years. My career in photography has allowed me to travel the world, meet some of the most interesting people on the planet and see things I could never have dreamed of. My goal is to share the passion of pictures taking through photographs and teaching with as many people as I can hoping it brings them as much joy and happiness as it has me. I do this through Rockhopper Workshops and other projects as well as teaching at my Gallery in Indianapolis.

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