Main Menu
|
|
The Forums
|
|
Cool Links
|
|
Gallery Links
|
|
 |
Snake Chains & LTM Cameras |
 |
03-11-2006
|
#1
|
|
Registered User
doubs43 is offline
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Byron, GA USA
Posts: 1,559
|
Snake Chains & LTM Cameras
How do the rest of you feel about the "snake chain" camera straps? I have a couple of them on my screw-mount Leicas; a IIIa and IIIc at the moment. Other than pulling a few neck hairs out - OUCH - I kind of like them myself. MUCH better than those blasted Hippy Straps!
Opinions?
Walker
__________________
<a href='http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=729'>My Gallery</a>
|
|
|
|
|
03-11-2006
|
#2
|
|
Registered User
Gordon Coale is offline
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Whidbey Island -- north of Seattle
Age: 66
Posts: 725
|
Thin is good. There are options for thin neck straps other than straps that bite: gordy's camera straps. Guaranteed not to remove neck hair! 
__________________
Subminiature: Olympus Pen D, Pentax Auto 110, Minox 110s, Minolta 16, Minox B
35mm: Leica IIIc, Canon P, Zorki Standard, Olympus XA, Pentax Spotmatic SP, Pentax Spotmatic SP F, Gakkenflex TLR
Medium Format: Salut-S, Ricoh Diacord, Mamiya-6, Mamiya Universal & Super 23, Kodak Medalist II
Large Format: Burke & James 4x5 Press, R.B. Graflex Series D 4x5 SLR, Toyo View D45M
Digital: Pansonic G1
gordy's camera straps for sale * my blog * my flickr
|
|
|
|
|
03-11-2006
|
#3
|
|
sans bokeh
dexdog is offline
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,865
|
I like the hippy straps. Generally 1.5 to 2 inches wide, they distribute weight quite well, which is nice when using an old all-metal camera with a longer lens. Everyone is different- I can't stand the snake chains. To each his own.
dexdog
|
|
|
|
|
03-11-2006
|
#4
|
|
Batteries Not Included
Rich Silfver is offline
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 2,733
|
Got a photo of the snake chain on your LTM camera?
__________________
My favorite RF cameras right now:
Leica III (F), Leica M3 and Contax IIIa
 .........................
Blog.........................Gallery
|
|
|
|
|
03-11-2006
|
#5
|
|
Registered User
doubs43 is offline
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Byron, GA USA
Posts: 1,559
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Rich Silfver
Got a photo of the snake chain on your LTM camera? |
Rich, if you look closely at my IIIc you'll see the clips for the snake chain attached to the lugs. I purposely hid the chain when I took this because it wasn't germain to the subject at the time.
Walker
__________________
<a href='http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=729'>My Gallery</a>
|
|
|
|
|
03-12-2006
|
#6
|
|
-
yossarian is offline
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Merritt Island, FL
Age: 58
Posts: 405
|
The only straps I can't abide (and I used to sell the hell out of them) are the Op-Tech
and similar neoprene type. The claim made for them is they make your camera feel
lighter by magically distributing the weight. The problem is that as you walk, it sets
up a bouncing rhythm in the strap, and suddenly you feel like Anna Nicole Smith.
I think the hippy straps look fine on older full size SLRs, but for sheer function it's
tough to beat the Domkes. And if you want to go all-out, there's always Luigi's.
Fred
|
|
|
|
|
03-11-2006
|
#7
|
|
back to basics
laptoprob is offline
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: the original Haarlem
Age: 43
Posts: 1,566
|
No pics yet, I am waiting for new strap lugs...
Rob
__________________
groeten, Rob.
old Sonnars, what else?
You live and learn. At any rate, you live. Douglas Adams
for sale: Alden bulk loader, two Summitar yellow filters.
new: Ed Kowalczyk
|
|
|
|
|
03-11-2006
|
#8
|
|
Longtime IIIf User
Graybeard is offline
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Hudson Valley
Posts: 341
|
If you enjoy using a snake chain then you might also consider a hair shirt to wear along with it. The snake chain seems intended to pinch skin and pulls hairs.
I much prefer a 2" black Domke strap.
__________________
<a href='http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=1096'>My Gallery</a>
|
|
|
|
|
03-11-2006
|
#9
|
|
M6 and Red Blind 111c.
scigeek is offline
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 47
|
You may like to post a picture of that too...
 |
|
|
|
|
03-12-2006
|
#10
|
|
Moderator
Brian Sweeney is online now
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 10,948
|
> MUCH better than those blasted Hippy Straps!
So now I know. I thought you sent me your cherished hippy straps cause you wanted everyone to use them. I'm still waiting for the college kids to come back over the Summer break to my favorite camera shop. They love those things.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
03-12-2006
|
#11
|
|
Registered User
doubs43 is offline
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Byron, GA USA
Posts: 1,559
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Brian Sweeney
> MUCH better than those blasted Hippy Straps!
So now I know. I thought you sent me your cherished hippy straps cause you wanted everyone to use them. I'm still waiting for the college kids to come back over the Summer break to my favorite camera shop. They love those things.
|
Gosh........ And here I was thinkin' I sent them to you because I'm a nice guy!
In my experience, the Hippy Straps get in the way of just about everything but especially the advance lever. True, they are comfortable when a heavy camera is involved but Leicas in the screw mount types are fairly light so the snake chains work very well.... for me, anyway.
Below is my latest IIIa with a (choke) Canon Serenar on it. Note the snake chain. Also two pictures taken with what looks like a badly abused camera. I bought it (very) cheap for the parts but the darned thing works so well that I'm going to put new skin on it and make it my user camera.
The nose art was taken at 1/20, f/2 and hand-held. The two men were taken with light coming from slightly behind and from the right.
Walker
__________________
<a href='http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=729'>My Gallery</a>
|
|
|
|
 |
|
03-12-2006
|
#12
|
|
Registered User
Skinny McGee is offline
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Winter Haven Florida
Age: 39
Posts: 546
|
I have them on every RF with Lugs! Its a good way to keep your neck clean. It is also a good way to keep clean shavin'but they are awsome straps..
__________________
<a href='http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=1103'>My Gallery</a>
Leica M3, 1935 leica 111A 50mm prewar summar uncoated 90mm elmar uncoated prewar,Zorki 1, Anniversary Speed Graphic4x5, 21/4x31/4, ricohmatic 225tlr,Calumet 4x5 view w/ superagulon 90mm,Yashica gsn,MG1, FX70, argus C3, 4x5 pinhole, 35mm pinhole argus,Nikon F601, Nikon N80
|
|
|
|
|
04-02-2006
|
#13
|
|
back to basics
laptoprob is offline
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: the original Haarlem
Age: 43
Posts: 1,566
|
Here is my IIf after a soft abrasion treatment. It took the bright shine off of the red leather. The chrome bits are as clean as they can get. They were really dirty.
New M6 straplugs glued in, new spool ordered and ready to go!
__________________
groeten, Rob.
old Sonnars, what else?
You live and learn. At any rate, you live. Douglas Adams
for sale: Alden bulk loader, two Summitar yellow filters.
new: Ed Kowalczyk
|
|
|
|
|
04-02-2006
|
#14
|
|
Registered User
doubs43 is offline
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Byron, GA USA
Posts: 1,559
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by laptoprob
Here is my IIf after a soft abrasion treatment. It took the bright shine off of the red leather. The chrome bits are as clean as they can get. They were really dirty. New M6 straplugs glued in, new spool ordered and ready to go!
|
Rob, your IIf looks GOOD!
Walker
__________________
<a href='http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=729'>My Gallery</a>
|
|
|
|
|
04-04-2006
|
#15
|
|
Registered User
John Robertson is offline
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Scotland UK
Posts: 1,395
|
I had these chains on two of my cameras about 10+ years ago, the only thing is that you often don't see any wear or damage to them, I had both of them give way suddenly without any warning. At least with a conventional strap you see any wear that is occuring.
__________________
Bessa R2; Bessa T;Fed2; Foca Standard x 2!!; Focasport 11 ;Fed Zarya ; AKW Arette 1c; Leica CL; ; Horizont 202; Olympus Trip35; Leica Mini3; Ilford Advocate: The Fed 2 and Ilford Advocate have been with me since new. (that makes me old  )
Also other assorted junk (Digital camera  )
Flikr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15377338@N04/
|
|
|
|
|
04-04-2006
|
#16
|
|
Registered semi-lurker
harry01562 is offline
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: central MA
Posts: 632
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by John Robertson
I had these chains on two of my cameras about 10+ years ago, the only thing is that you often don't see any wear or damage to them, I had both of them give way suddenly without any warning. At least with a conventional strap you see any wear that is occuring.
|
That's very nice to know. I hope no damage resulted from your experiences. I obtained one of these some time ago, with a Contax IIIa, as I recall. I removed it and replaced with modern leather. The hair pulling was a deterent to using it, but now I have a better reason to leave it in the drawer.
Harry
__________________
<a
Leica M3, IIIf RD ST, IIIa, Summar and Summitar
Canon 7, 7s, 7sz, P, VI-T, plus 10 from SII to IV-Sb2, + 14 50's for body caps
Contax IIa, IIIa, Rollei 2.8f, Ansco Auto Reflex, Crown 2x3, Speed 2x3, Busch 2x3, Mamiya G
So many cameras, so little time
|
|
|
|
|
04-04-2006
|
#17
|
|
Registered User
John Robertson is offline
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Scotland UK
Posts: 1,395
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by harry01562
That's very nice to know. I hope no damage resulted from your experiences. I obtained one of these some time ago, with a Contax IIIa, as I recall. I removed it and replaced with modern leather. The hair pulling was a deterent to using it, but now I have a better reason to leave it in the drawer.
Harry
|
no Harry
the neck hairs acted as a brake, AAAAAArgh.
I think they are best left for hanging a medalion over your chest wig, if thats your thing. 
__________________
Bessa R2; Bessa T;Fed2; Foca Standard x 2!!; Focasport 11 ;Fed Zarya ; AKW Arette 1c; Leica CL; ; Horizont 202; Olympus Trip35; Leica Mini3; Ilford Advocate: The Fed 2 and Ilford Advocate have been with me since new. (that makes me old )
Also other assorted junk (Digital camera )
Flikr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15377338@N04/
|
|
|
|
|
04-04-2006
|
#18
|
|
Trying to get it right
pshinkaw is offline
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,347
|
Some snake chains are sold with a clear plastic tube which covers the metal and protects the neck. However, it does not look as cool. I quite using them when I dropped an Exa off my neck without warning. The chain had been damaged, but I couldn't see it. I caught the camera on it's way down.
-Paul
__________________
<a href='http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=117'>My Gallery</a>
|
|
|
|
|
04-04-2006
|
#19
|
|
Registered User
ZeissFan is offline
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,336
|
These chains worked best in an era when men wore Oxford shirts with collars. John has it right -- they simply rip the hairs from the back of your neck.
They look nice, but that's about it.
|
|
|
|
| Thread Tools |
|
|
| Display Modes |
 Hybrid Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 18:09. |
|
|
