Custom Camera Strap Review (www.customcamerastrap.co.uk)
I will be the first to admit that there is little wrong with the standard camera strap on most professional cameras. Indeed, some people like having them as a badge of honour, proving to their friends which camera they are using. The standard straps are usually well made and long lasting, I don’t think I have ever seen or heard of one failing and they look fine. However for some of us, promotion of which camera brand you are using is secondary to the promotion of your own business.
A couple of years ago I began my search for a company that could supply a branded camera strap, suitable for carrying a heavy pro body. It was not as easy as I thought it would be. There were plenty of companies making straps and loads of businesses printing logos but finding one to do both was difficult. Eventually, I found www.customcamerastrap.co.uk and although their website was not brilliant, it seemed like they could do what I required. The price of £24.99 seemed to be fair for a quality product.
The only issue I came across when ordering was supplying my logo as they initially would only accept a .eps file. However they agreed to convert my .psd for me so apart from the delay due to the exchanging of files the order went through OK.
It took a couple of weeks to get delivery, however, I now see that they offer an express service for an extra £6.99 so if you need to rush it, you can.
First impressions were really positive. It is much wider than the standard strap so that helps spread the weight if your camera is heavy, finish of the basic strap is excellent and my logo was printed perfectly. It really looked much better than using a standard strap. If I had any initial concerns it was how the printing would last with regular, heavy, outdoor use.
I am always quite heavy on my kit. I shoot most days, usually outside, in all conditions, so if something will wear out I am your guy. So after two years and approx 400 days of work, how has it held up?
Amazingly well actually! The strap is intact, with hardly any fraying on the edges or connecting straps. The print is still bold and easy to read with just a little bit of fading and dirt transfer, I haven’t cleaned it at all. The biggest issue I have is with the soft shoulder pad on the inside of the strap, it is definitely reaching the end of its life and is torn at both ends. This is to be expected, it is the bit that receives the most wear and with the amount of work I do I am prepared to overlook this. A typical enthusiast or wedding professional would likely not have any concerns at all.
Ultimately I am very happy with the performance of the strap so far, it works well as a standard strap replacement and is really good value for money. I will soon be ordering a new one to be fitted to my 1DX mk2 when I receive it, which I suppose is the best recommendation you can get.
Pro’s and Con’s
Pros:
Value
General Quality
Printing
Cons:
Shoulder Pad
Comments
I would love to see them offer a version for smaller DSLR’s or mirrorless bodies. I have a Canon EOS M which I use for certain job and the standard strap is poor, I’d love to get a narrower version of this strap for it.
You can order your own from: http://www.customcamerastrap.co.uk/store/#!/Premium-Custom-Camera-strap/p/35853484/category=5614071
-LM