The Strap-On Follies Or How I'm Learning The Hard Way

Sitting there looking at the Fuji cameras I own started me thinking. I have encased two of the bodies in purpose-built cages to allow for easy attachment to my Cullmann  or Gitzo tripod  and to allow me to attach a Fujifilm EF 42 flash easily on the side. The cages are well made with Arca Swiss rails on two sides.

They're great - they provide a better grasp of the camera body and metal protection against bumps and knocks. Even if you don't attach them to a tripod, they can act as platforms in either landscape or portrait orientation to steady the camera. And they are not  too heavy.

But....

They jigger up the attachment point where the camera strap clips onto the sides of the cameras. I can get away with the stiff proprietary strap on the X-100 or a thin little Crumpler Hitch on the X-E2 body, but neither feel comfortable...and in the case of the Crumpler, a big lens seems to add an unsafe weight. I determined to get another to provide a better carriage.

Mistake N0.1 yesterday - I got a big strap from Crumpler with the sort of metal ring and leather flap that we see on A&A and other premium straps. No good. The leather flap and the metal cage are fighting for space - every time you put the camera to your eye you have to fight your way in there . Even your shutter button finger is pushed out of the way.

Mistake No.2 today - tried several of the hand-hold wrist straps attached to one ring. Alleviated the eye/strap contest but introduced the wrist/cramp/problem. Plus this ties the camera to the drinking hand...

Mistake N0.3 tonight - I am going to go out into the shed and dig out the old leatherworking tools and see what is in the scrap bin. If I made a perfectly good holsters for Colt .44 Army revolvers*, I can make a strap for a Fuji X-E2.

Yee hah.

* And I did.