Strap lugs are not a burning topic of conversation. But they are an important accessory feature of every camera, allowing you to mount a range of favourite neck straps or wrist straps. My particular penchant is for RocknRoll Straps, but each to his own. Yet even in this esoteric sector, there are peculiarities, prejudices and preferences among photographers.
I admit I’m a traditionalist and love my old-fashioned lugs to accept straps with split-ring ends. Split rings only. As someone with more camera straps than Imelda Marcus had shoes, I have a tasty collection of ring-equipped samples when it comes to choosing neckwear for a new camera.
That is until the new Panasonic Lumix S5 Mark II arrived at our office. It’s an exciting addition to the L-mount world and, for the moment, offers a better specification and certainly better autofocus than its more expensive Leica competitor, the 24MP SL2-S. It represents the ideal entry-level camera for the L-Mount system and yet offers all the latest technology.
Opening the box, I was keen to take the new camera and one of the kit lenses (the handy little Lumix 20-60mm f/3.5 and the interesting 50mm f/1.8mm, which is very similar in optical characteristics and results to Leica’s budget 50 mm f/2 Summicron-L) for a spin.
Disappearing lugs
Then I discovered that the familiar M-style strap lugs of the original Lumix S5 had disappeared and had been replaced with slots, which I don’t particularly like. While I understand that slots, as on the SL2 and many other new cameras, offer better weight distribution and are probably safer and more secure than the old split-ring lugs, I find them awkward and unaccommodating.
My first thought was to offer up the RocknRoll strap I had used on the Leica SL2 before I sold it earlier this year. But it’s just too wide to go through the slots. So, for a time, I was reduced to mounting the awful, cheap and nasty “LUMIX” strap supplied by the factory. These packaged camera straps are embarrassing in use, and they twist and twirl as soon as you look at them. Just dreadful.
So what to do? Not one of my nice leather straps would fit, but I do know a man who knows more about camera straps than anyone on the planet. My old friend Evris Papanikolas in Greece. Evris is famed throughout the discerning photography world as the purveyor of finely crafted RocknRoll straps for every occasion. He would know what to do.
RocknRoll to the rescue
A quick call and Evris soon identified a suitable strap from his extensive collection, the Universal, made originally to fit Canon’s similarly narrow slots. This is identical in appearance to the SL strap I used with the Leica but has a narrower tongue at either end, suitable for the slot of the S5.
Within days, RocknRoll delivered the new strap, and I was mighty pleased to be able to remove the Lumix monstrosity and pack it back into the box for when the time comes to move on the camera. For good measure, Evris sent me a matching strap with split-ring termination to fit the old S5, which I will be retained for reasons I’ll explain in another article.
Both straps are made from interlinked leather segments, which improve flexibility and introduce a welcome degree of springiness to help lessen the weight of the camera.
The strap for the new Lumix S5 II, the RocknRoll Canon (Universal), is wider at 25mm but has narrower (10mm) ends compared with the 13mm ends on the SL2 range. The split-ring-equipped RocknRoll Special Edition Red Dot strap for the original S5 and similar lug-equipped cameras is 21mm wide.
The (almost) twins from Lumix
The differences between the original S5 and the new S5 II (and IIX) are pretty obvious, even at first glance. The new camera is bulkier than its predecessor, and the big change for the strap connoisseur is the appearance of slots instead of lugs. We will be examining the changes and technological advances in a future article.
Reputation
Since Evris entered the photographic leather goods market in 2015, RocknRoll straps have created an enviable reputation among serious photographers, particularly those in the Leica world. Many pro photographers, including Thorsten von Overgaard and Jonathan Slack, are great supporters of RocknRoll straps — with good reason, in my opinion.
I’ve been connected with the company since its inception, and I can claim to have been part of the genesis of the brand. Back in 2015, I happened to visit the Skiadopoulos Leica store in Athens, primarily to introduce myself and see what was happening on the Leica scene in the Greek capital. Quite a lot, as it turned out. Just in was a small box of leather prototype leather straps crafted by a customer, Evris Papanikolas.
I liked these new straps, made contact with Evris and gave him publicity on Macfilos. The rest, as they say in cliches, is history. RocknRoll has gone on to great things, and Evris, a super keen Leica photographer, is seen around the world at all the big events, including the annual LSI conference. A new manufacturing centre has been established, and products now include camera bags, wraps and other accessories.
Check the RocknRoll website here
The strap suitable for the Panasonic Lumix S5 Mark II slot attachment is the RocknRoll (Canon) Universal. The slightly narrower RocknRoll Limited Edition strap with split rings is suitable for the original Panasonic Lumix S5 and, of course, all modern M cameras. Both cost €120 for the standard 100mm length (which I prefer) or €130 for the 125mm version. Full shipping costs and delivery details can be found on the company website.
RocknRoll Straps for the Leica SL and SL2
RocknRoll Small Havana camera bag: A mini Tardis
RocknRoll: Choosing a strap that makes your camera lighter
Back to basics with the Classic Slim
Soft nappa folders for rangefinder and mirrorless cameras
Spiros Skiadopoulos and the Leica Akademie in Athens
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“The original Lumix S5 is on the left, with its more traditional slugs…”
Slugs? Snails?
Has Panasonic created a conservative bionic camera?
Ha, thanks, Lawrence. I had to think about this one… but clearly a typo perpetrated by me. Author to blame. I will take the option to surreptitiously correct it in order not to cause any more amusement. But you are right, slugs is actually probably a better name!
To be honest, I use hardly any camera strap because I prefer to keep the camera in my bag, and I dislike the extra volume of a strap. Believe it or not, but I hardly lost an image because this was too slow. However, in some instance, straps are great. And the Rock’n’Roll ones look gorgeous. I must get one for the rare occasions…
Thanks for the review and the solution you are suggesting for Pana S5II owners. From all I hear, this must be a terrific camera. I only had it in my hands once, and the viewfinder was so much better than the on in my S5. But then again, the S5 has become so cheap now that if should be irresistible to newcomers.
I do hope that Evris can continue his work for many years to come. His products look beautiful and very well made. A good match for any Leica in this respect!
JP
Same here, the last time I used a camera strap was probably 10 years ago, I keep my camera in a messenger bag, it works fine for me, I don’t feel the need for a strap.
Thanks, J-P, I now know something I didn’t before. I have never thought of using a camera without any form of strap. The most minimal I would go, as in my comment to SlowDriver, is a wrist strap. Actually, a wrist strap with the M11 and a 35mm ‘Cron is perfectly feasible and, for me, gives that extra bit of security. But what about larger cameras such as SL2 or Panasonic S? Do you still use them without any form of strap, even with longer and heavier lenses? I’m curious, as I am sure are other readers.
I personally strongly dislike the slots but I purchase the amazingly Rocknroll straps anyway. I had my local leather expert modify a wonderful strap to fit the slot so one does not have to buy a new strap. It cost me very little to repurpose a strap for slots but why not just stick with the obvious solution. Every company seems to have product managers that get too creative in their offices.
It’s interesting because I now have two similar cameras, one with lugs and one with slots. The lugged camera is easier to handle, with the strap moving freely on the lugs and relatively unobtrusive. On the S5II, the strap is relatively stiff and makes handling the camera quite awkward. I will see if things improve as the leather softens
I agree. The slots aremore beautiful but are less great on haptics and not as practical on strap options. Great design is when form follows function.