Which camera strap is the best in the universe? How about...No Strap?

 Once upon a time I hung out with a talented cinematographer. Then he got a full time job and, well, work became...work. We used to do projects together and at one point we got onto the discussion of camera straps. I was always trying to find the right strap and he was of the opinion that no one in the cinematic universe ever used a strap on a camera. After all, they use their cameras most on tripods, rigs, gimbals and the like and the addition of a strap is just one more thing to get in the way. He was, to say the least, dismissive of my camera strap use. 

About a week ago I dusted off the weird TTArtisan 90mm f1.25 lens I bought for the Fuji GFX medium format camera. I figured that I never really gave it a good trial run because it was so hot outside last year when it arrived and the idea of carrying about two pounds worth of camera AND two pounds of lens was  just too much. The lens got buried under a pile of new gear until recently. I rediscovered it during a flurry of house cleaning. Or studio cleaning. Or whatever I should call it.

About a week ago I also discovered that I had acquired a collection of small Domke camera bags in addition to the original bigger Domke bags I already owned for years and years. The damn bags just seem to breed in the captivity of my gear closet. No encouragement from me...

I have to confess that the Domke bag I pulled out is a mystery to me. I have no idea what model it is but it's only big enough to exactly hold the GFX 50Sii when that camera is burdened with the 90mm TTA. Well I can also shove in my house and office keys and maybe, just maybe an iPhone. But the bag is well padded and, overall, it's light and discreet. Basic light brown. Part of the "wax wear" series of bags from Domke. 

When I rediscovered the bag and sized it next to my GFX+90 combo I realized that it would make a perfect, modern, every ready case for that camera and lens. I pulled the strap off the camera and nestled the camera with the lens attached into the bag. Perfect. And the strap on the bag, dotted on the underside with little rubber-like grippers, is a much better solution than the Peak strap that had been on the camera. 

I took the combo out for a spin through the downtown area this morning and was happy with the way I could more easily carry the camera and how much less in your face the camera and lens were when I was not photographing. When I was just walking around. Getting my 10,000 steps in. 

I was so happy with the operational characteristics of not juggling a camera strap, of not worrying about drawing attention to myself or looking too nerdy as the only person within a ten mile radius dragging a huge camera down the sidewalks, that I researched and ordered a similar but cooler looking additional Domke bag for use with one M camera and one lens. A bag for every occasion. Seems like overkill but I'm not sure it is. Comfort when photographing is important in its own way. 

The new bag is the Domke 700-80A-F8 Rugged Wear, small shoulder bag. It's small. Definitely a one camera camera bag. No long zooms accommodated. It comes with its own can of wax. Wax up the bag and it's mostly waterproof --- or at least rain resistant. 

I found myself, this morning, carrying the camera in my right hand when I was in a target rich environment and then dumping it into the bag when I was just walking along, moving through space, with a low threshold of photographic anticipation/intention. Basically a "dump pouch" for gear I didn't need to have in my hands. 

This is the bag (the newest 800-F8) I'll pack in my suitcase to use on vacation locations when I want to travel light but still be able to drag a couple batteries and maybe one small M lens around with me. Perfect protection from quick rain storms. Just the size to ride almost undetected off one shoulder. Practical for keeping my mobile phone company. 

I must confess that movie-maker friend, James was right about being strap free. It is a very unencumbered way of working. Strapless-commando style.

Come back soon and see how the 90mm TTArtisan lens actually performed. TL:DR? Much better than I remembered. 

the new Domke bag for Leica M stuff.

The rediscovered Domke bag for Fuji Medium format cameras.