Back to basics with the Classic Slim from Rock ‘n Roll Straps

  Truly classic: The Classic Slim in black attached to the Leica CL with a 15mm Super Wide Heliar III
Truly classic: The Classic Slim in black attached to the Leica CL with a 15mm Super Wide Heliar III

I don’t know about you, but I tend to steer well clear of straps that come packaged with cameras. Most of them are adjustable in length, for starters, and I find the loose ends ugly and inconvenient. Far better, I always think, to choose a strap of a fixed length. It avoids the temptation to fiddle but it also simply looks better on the camera. 

  All Classic Slim cases come in a fabric pocket. Here are the classic red, cognac, blue, Nevada and black straps
All Classic Slim cases come in a fabric pocket. Here are the classic red, cognac, blue, Nevada and black straps

Over recent years there has been a growth in fancy straps, brained, plaited, roped and a dozen other variations, thick, thin, with shoulder pads and without. But I detect a return to the more simple approach, to the classic thin leather strap. Nothing looks better on a camera and, provided it is a light model, from the smaller mirrorless up to, say, a Leica M, the leather strap is peerless.

My friend Evris Papanikolas of Rock n’ Roll Straps makes a bewildering range of Classic Slim straps that are beautifully crafted from pliant, smooth Cretan leather and with impeccable heavy duty waxed-thread stitching at the business ends. I’ve had the chance to try out a selection of the straps and, frankly, it’s difficult to decide on the colour I like best. 

  A medley of Classic Slim straps and interesting cameras
A medley of Classic Slim straps and interesting cameras

When my new Leica CL arrived I equipped it with a strap in Cognac colour, a rich light-brown finish that perfectly complements the black of the camera. It is 100cm long, just right for carrying around the neck and, over the shoulder at a pinch. Evris also makes his straps in 120cm for those of a larger girth or who wish to wear the camera over a shoulder. The leather is around 2.1mm thick and the width of the strap is 11mm. 

The leather of these straps is so supple that I am able to wrap the strap around my right wrist when I feel like working in wrist-strap mode. This is something you cannot do so easily with a thicker or heavier strap. So, in many respects this simple strap offers the best of the two worlds — around the neck for security but in the hand with a secure wrist connection when the fancy takes. 

  Classic Red Slim
Classic Red Slim

If you in the market for a really high quality, tailored strap for your mirrorless camera I can thoroughly recommend one of these Rock n’ Roll Classic Slim models. They come in black, Asian blue, cigar brown, cognac, red, royal red and Nevada — a brown vintage leather design. The 100mm-long straps cost €59 while the longer 120cm model are €69 — both prices excluding Value Added Tax in Europe but including shipping.

  The Nevada Slim
The Nevada Slim

Incidentally, after trading initially as TieHerUp straps, Evris has now undertaken a rebranding as Rock ‘n Roll straps which is what we will be calling them in the future.

See the full range here

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2 COMMENTS

  1. Who is kidding who? I have paid less for many a good camera than the asking price of these mere strips of coloured leather posing as non adjustable camera straps. Sorry Mike but am now wondering if you might have more money than sense?

    • Hello Don. I’m tempted to say that least I can be senseless in comfort but… I do the reviews and let readers make up their own minds. These are actually quite nice straps and the prices are not that high in comparison with competitors.

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