I know there is some kind of rope strap included with the X-E5 body but I’m looking for a quality alternative that does not have a piece of leather on the portion that goes around the back of your neck. Haven’t used these types of straps in the past but looking to try out one with my new X-E5. Are there any high quality ones, known to be comfortable, that anyone can recommend? On both Amazon and B&H I know there are many but unable to know which are known to be better than others.
If you know of ones you have used and feel comfortable recommending please share which ones you have experience with.
I didn't like the pad either and thought it was unnecessary. Took a scissors and sliced it off. The strap is much improved! It's still a little bulky and I'm considering a strap from Gordy's which are strong, basic, and inexpensive.
FYI, picked two VKO Camera Straps of Amazon as a start but I know it won’t end there. We will see what else attracts my attention. Also looking at Hyperion and Gordy but unless I’m not mistaken all of Gordy’s straps are leather and not rope. What attracted me to the VKO is the leather strap ends that mount so simply to the luggs on the X-E5.
I'm not sure how the VKO straps differ from the Fuji strap once you cut the shoulder pad off of the Fuji. Perhaps it's thinner. Looks like you still have to wrestle with the loops to get them on the lugs. And besides, once you do get the Fuji loops attached, you don't have to muck with it anymore.
The advantage of the Gordy strap is because it is leather it doesn't take much room in my camera bag. The Fuji strap doesn't store so compactly in my camera bag whereas the Gordy wraps around the camera and doesn't take up room in another pocket of my small Domke camera bag.
bobbpix wrote:
I'm not sure how the VKO straps differ from the Fuji strap once you cut the shoulder pad off of the Fuji. Perhaps it's thinner. Looks like you still have to wrestle with the loops to get them on the lugs. And besides, once you do get the Fuji loops attached, you don't have to muck with it anymore.
The advantage of the Gordy strap is because it is leather it doesn't take much room in my camera bag. The Fuji strap doesn't store so compactly in my camera bag whereas the Gordy wraps around the camera and doesn't take up room in another pocket of my small Domke camera bag. ...Show more →
I agree that the VKO strap is probably not the different from the Fuji but since I wasn’t sure the VKO strap was not very expensive and allows me to keep the original unused if I intended to sell the kit after using it. I also got the lighter grey version which for some silly reason I prefer.
Attaching the loops on the VKO strap was not a struggle at all. Fuji probably is the same. I found it very difficult to attach the smaller peak design loops to the body lugs for some reason. These are the ones they sell inside a set of four now included.
I’m still planning to look at the Gordy strap. I’ve owned their wrist straps in the past and used them for years. I think they make a good product just a little more expensive.The only concern is that Gordys bumpers for the strap’s end rings are not part of the strap so not sure how well the protect the body from scraping. The VKO straps seem to do the job well. We will see.
You can remove that leather sleeve around the OEM rope strap. Otherwise, most rope straps are the same except for stylistic differences; how they attach to the eyelets of the camera; and if/how they are length adjustable.
I had a Topo Designs rope strap that was too short to be useful, so make sure you find one that has the length you're looking for.
