Since I bought a Olympus Pen E-PL5 Micro Four Thirds camera, I have been looking for a better camera strap than the version that came with the camera. As I mentioned in a prior post, I am a huge fan of the Black Rapid strap and it is perfect for the 5D Mark III. However, I wanted something less bulky to go with the much smaller Olympus camera.
Gordy Camera Straps has a lot of options. You can buy wrist straps, sling straps, neck straps, adjustable neck straps and there are different ways to connect some of them to you camera. I went with the Adjustable Neck Strap because I am tall and it can be adjusted to allow someone my height to carry it across the chest like a Black Rapid strap. The Olympus strap is too short to work that way. The Gordy adjustable strap can be ordered in different lengths, so I ordered their longest strap.
There are issues that come with buying a neck strap rather than their standard String Strap. If you wear the Adjustable Neck Strap on your side, like I usually do, you have to move the whole strap to pull the camera to your face, so you have to adjust it back when you are finished shooting. I also got the neck pad, so that has to be moved back over my shoulder. While it is pretty easy to maneuver because of its light weight, their standard Sling Strap solves this issue.
I was aware of this issue, but I went this route rather than buying the String Strap because I wanted the option to wear it around the neck in full "tourist mode"...with the camera bouncing across my chest or stomach. The reason is that the camera has an adjustable screen, so I can hang it around my neck, adjust the screen up so I can see it, and take the shot. This gives more flexibility without kneeling down and the neck strap helps keep it stabilized.
I should mention that I really like the leather look and feel of this strap, so my choice may have been as much about aesthetics as functionality. I looked at other neck straps that may have had more flexibility. The Peak Design "Leash and Cuff" , in particular, has tons of flexibility and makes it easy to attach a Sling Strap and then quickly change it out for a wrist strap. I just didn't like the way it looked as much as the Gordy strap.
Gordy's wrist straps look fantastic, too, Judging by user photos on their website, their wrist straps are more popular than their neck straps. I just wish there was an easy way to switch them out. Having to remove the lugs from the camera is not something I want to do with great frequency. I may send Gordy and email to see if he has a suggestion for quickly switching them out, since I will be more likely to use a wrist strap when I am wearing a jacket...not something I have to worry about for a while. I will also see if there are some third party connectors that make it easier to attach and detach the Gordy strap rather than using lug mounts.
Finally, I am very pleased with the adjustable neck strap. It seems to be high quality, the price was right, and it looks fantastic. I imagine that I will be using it for years, and as it breaks in, it will be even more appealing.
There are issues that come with buying a neck strap rather than their standard String Strap. If you wear the Adjustable Neck Strap on your side, like I usually do, you have to move the whole strap to pull the camera to your face, so you have to adjust it back when you are finished shooting. I also got the neck pad, so that has to be moved back over my shoulder. While it is pretty easy to maneuver because of its light weight, their standard Sling Strap solves this issue.
I was aware of this issue, but I went this route rather than buying the String Strap because I wanted the option to wear it around the neck in full "tourist mode"...with the camera bouncing across my chest or stomach. The reason is that the camera has an adjustable screen, so I can hang it around my neck, adjust the screen up so I can see it, and take the shot. This gives more flexibility without kneeling down and the neck strap helps keep it stabilized.
I should mention that I really like the leather look and feel of this strap, so my choice may have been as much about aesthetics as functionality. I looked at other neck straps that may have had more flexibility. The Peak Design "Leash and Cuff" , in particular, has tons of flexibility and makes it easy to attach a Sling Strap and then quickly change it out for a wrist strap. I just didn't like the way it looked as much as the Gordy strap.
Gordy's wrist straps look fantastic, too, Judging by user photos on their website, their wrist straps are more popular than their neck straps. I just wish there was an easy way to switch them out. Having to remove the lugs from the camera is not something I want to do with great frequency. I may send Gordy and email to see if he has a suggestion for quickly switching them out, since I will be more likely to use a wrist strap when I am wearing a jacket...not something I have to worry about for a while. I will also see if there are some third party connectors that make it easier to attach and detach the Gordy strap rather than using lug mounts.
Finally, I am very pleased with the adjustable neck strap. It seems to be high quality, the price was right, and it looks fantastic. I imagine that I will be using it for years, and as it breaks in, it will be even more appealing.
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