A large part of what Tech Toy Playground is all about is sharing cool things with you that don’t fit into a “me too” mold. Products that clearly stand a cut above similar products or that forge off into their own uncharted territory and open a whole new world of possibilities. They don’t exist because they’re the cheapest; they exist because they are the best.
Our product for today is a camera strap. What’s that … a
camera strap? You mean that thing that already came attached to my camera with
the word NIKON as big as a marquee in Times Square? Those things I can get at
Walmart for $5.00? What could be so special about a camera strap that it would
rate a feature store at Tech Toy Playground?
Well, I ran across just such a strap and ordered two of
them. One for my classic Leica that is so pristine it has never had a camera
strap attached to it in all of its 75 years of life. The camera represents a
time when cameras were made with fastidious attention to detail and despite its
lack of anything that would be considered a “feature” on today’s plastic
mass-produced cameras, it is still regarded as one of the best cameras ever
made. If ever a strap was to be attached to this jewel, it would have to be one
the best in the world.
THE LEICA STRAP
The Cecilia brown leather model is such a strap. Hand-crafted
of Argentinian leather together they are a marriage meant to be. The strap is 2.5cm
wide, narrowing down to 1cm nearest the camera and as soft as a baby’s behind
but as strong as a rhinoceros. Unlike most camera straps, the end loop is
riveted in place, no chance ever of it working loose and your priceless vintage
camera crashing to the pavement. Even the ring that attaches to the lug of the
camera is nickel-plated tempered steel. The color is equally rich. It comes
with matching leather tabs at each end to protect the fine finish of your
camera. There is some additional detail about the leather and the fastener
hardware below. At $68USD it is not something you would find at Walmart. The
manufacturer’s website is below and the great news is that you can buy a limited selection at
Amazon, but for the full range of colors and styles please visit Cecilia direct.
THE FULL-FRAME SONY STRAP
The second strap is equally exotic; however I bought it for
a camera that I am more likely to have thrown over my shoulder wherever I go
than any other I own – a Sony A7. It is
photographed on another camera here because I was using the A7 to take the
photos. As you may know the A7 is not considered entry level, with glass it
cost me well over $2000. Not as expensive as my pro gear but for pro shooting I
have always preferred no strap or a handgrip depending on the kind of shooting
I’m doing. What sets this strap above the rest is it wider than the one on my
Leica at 4cm wide for the neck portion narrowing down to 1cm wide at the tab
(the part you see in the photo nearest to the camera). It is crafted of full-grain
brown Argentinian cowhide sewn together with handwoven sand-color Peruvian baby
alpaca wool for a soft, supple strap that can’t be beat for all-day comfort. Baby
Alpaca one of the finest and rarest in the world sheared and spun into wool
from Peruvian alpacas. It is then woven by hand with traditional, centuries-old
backstrap loom techniques. With over twenty shades of natural color, the fiber
will not readily absorb water, has a high tensile strength, and is also
hypoallergenic. The tanning process for the leather portion is responsible for
its supple feel, deep color, and traditional aroma. Its full-grain structure provides strength
and durability. The hides are finished in the USA with surface treatments that
further protect the leather. All hardware is a zinc-alloy known as Zamac. Nylon
webbing runs through the ends of the strap to reinforce strength and
reliability. This strap cost a little more, at $94USD and has had me stopped on
the street by people asking where I got it.
ACQUISITION
I worked directly with the manufacturer who could not have
been more helpful in getting these straps to me in time for an out-of-town
shoot recently. A note about them, they are a relatively new company, started
as recently as 2013 but with generations of industry experience dating back to
1803.
CONTACT:
In inquire about purchase, contact the manufacturer at http://ceciliagallery.com/ and let them
know you saw it at Tech Toy Playground.
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