Peak Design’s anchor system for camera straps and the company’s range of webbing wrist and neck products have been covered in Macfilos already. The system, which involves plastic connectors with small anchor tabs to fix to the camera, has been adopted by independent manufacturers of leather straps. You get all the same convenience but with the more traditional appearance of leather and, of course, a more luxurious feel.
The British accessory manufacturer, 595strapco, offers the Peak Design anchor system option on selected straps as an alternative to the standard split-ring system designed for cameras (such as the Leica M and Q models) with the time-honoured lug fixing. They bring the convenience of the PD system to those users who prefer a real leather strap to the high-tech webbing material used by Peak Design.
A question of width
The company, run from the Midlands by Dave Young, was introduced to me by reader Jon Woodbury and I lost no time in contacting Dave to see what his company had to offer. He was kind enough to make two straps for evaluation, one wrist cuff and one 100cm neck strap.
Most manufacturers, including 595strapco, make thin or wide leather versions. While the thinner, ca. 15mm strap is very popular, especially among Leica M users, it isn’t the best choice for incorporating into the Peak Design system. Because the PD connector has a fixed slot of 20mm, the wider leather strap (ca. 19.5mm) is better suited to the system. This is therefore the reason for the wider strap used in the review items.
Both supplied straps are made from Horween Chromexcel leather, a combination of tanned leather that undergoes at least 89 separate processes over 28 workings days, It is a process that dates back over 110 years. Generally, chrome tanning yields soft, supple and durable leathers, while vegetable tanning (as used by 595strapco in other products) gives a round and full feeling leather which patinas well and is easy to manipulate using heat and moisture.
QR Anchor Leather Neck Strap
595strapco’s sample straps are both identical in width to the webbing straps in the Peak Design catalogue. At 19.5mm, they are wider than many similar straps, but this makes them more comfortable to use.
The neck strap we tested was supplied in a 38in (ca 100 cm). But it is offered in a bewildering range of lengths, from a cosy, chest-hugging 24in to a dangly 50in — in two-inch increments. And if you can’t find the right fit from that range, the company will make your strap to a custom length. Note, incidentally, that the listed length includes the strap anchors and links.
The neck strap is available in black or brown leather and there is a choice of black, red, or off-white thread stitching. While our strap has black stitching, I would probably opt for “Leica” red if placing an order.
The smooth chrome exterior leather surface is complemented by a natural tan backing and edges. I was impressed by the softness of the leather and believe it will age well. As we all know, it is difficult to know how leather will age, but the initial softness bodes well for the long term.
In use, I found the 595strapco QR Anchor Leather Neck Strap to be extremely comfortable and a great partner for the Leica M11 with Arte di Mano half case. The slightly rougher finish on the back of the strap is an advantage in reducing slippage, which can occur when the same smooth surface is on both sides. I also appreciated the slightly wider design, with the 19.5mm band successfully distributing the weight of the camera, which I found comfortable at all times.
The QR Anchor Leather Neck Strap costs from £54.99, including UK tax but excluding shipping. International prices, excluding tax, are approximately €66, US$70, CAD$95, AUD$108.
QR Anchor Leather Wrist Strap
The review wrist strap is identical in material to the neck strap, thus ensuring that your strap set is totally complementary. It is made from the same Chromexcel leather, in black or brown, and features the same Peak Design AL-4 Anchor Links for full compatibility with the system.
Again, the width of the leather is 19.5mm (3/4in) for a comfortable fit. There is just one strap length, 8in (20cm) but this becomes roughly 11 in (28cm) with the attached links. The leather keeper loop moves with just the right amount of resistance to achieve a close wrist fit while allowing a rapid escape.
The strap incorporates double-capped black rivets at the Anchor attachment and on the sliding keeper. A split ring is supplied in case the Anchor attachment will not fit through your camera lugs (but see below).
The QR Anchor Leather Wrist Strap costs £39.99, including UK tax but excluding shipping. International prices, excluding tax, are approximately €48, US$52, CAD$69, AUD$80.
A matter of convenience
After using the Peak Design system for the past three months, I am still enthusiastic about the convenience of being able to attach and detach straps so easily. I have equipped my three main cameras, the M11, Q3 and S5 II with anchor tabs, on both lugs. I carry one wrist strap and one neck strap, attaching them to the camera of choice according to circumstances and the occasion.
No longer do I need to decide on adopting a wrist or neck strap as the main accessory for the day. Changing over, using the split-ring system, is frustrating and anything but quick. The Peak Design system solves all these problems, and I am currently hooked.
Fitting the Anchor tabs
When you first try to pass the PD Anchor cable through the lugs of a typical camera (such as M, Q or S5) you would swear it is impossible. But there is an easy way, involving the use of dental floss. See this article for full details.
One word of warning. Make sure when buying extra tabs that they are the genuine Peak Design article. There are many copies on the market and, at first glance, they look identical. The connectors and tabs used by 595strapco are genuine PD items.
Safety is the main concern, and that is why the connecting cords on the PD tabs comprise three layers. As they wear (which will happen sooner if you are attaching them to a slot-type connector), a yellow core will start to show. That’s the time to replace the tabs. Third-party tabs may not be so well constructed and, therefore, could present the danger of sudden breakage, with disastrous consequences for your pride and joy.
Dave Young points out that the PD tabs do not work directly with the later Fujifilm models because the camera lugs incorporate an insert which further reduces the opening. For that reason, he supplies split rings to attach the PD tabs to the camera. However, the tabs do work with all the Leica and Panasonic cameras I have tried.
Downsides
Since we wrote about the Peak Design system, several readers have commented on the potential for the plastic anchor units to scratch the camera body. Although this hasn’t happened to me, many people, including Jonathan Slack, have had experience of scratching when using the system. On the other hand, Dave Young of 595strapco has been using a PD links on his M10-P for a couple of years and has not experienced any damage. Indeed, the only notable issue is that the ISO dial has slightly damaged the PD plastic mount.
I can understand the concerns, but I suspect the main risk lies with the Leica rangefinder models where the lugs are set low, below the top-plate. On my M11, for instance, the bottom of the plastic anchor mount does come into contact with the very top of the plate, at the edge. With other cameras (such as the Leica Q3 and Panasonic S5, the lugs are higher and, when the body is dangling from a PD-equipped neck strap, there is no contact. Similarly, there is less danger from the wrist strap on any camera because, generally, the plastic doesn’t come into contact with the body.
However, there is still the possibility that the plastic connector can come into contact when storing the camera in a bag. Dave reports that he routinely disconnects the straps from the camera before stowing in a bag, just to make sure there is no contact. However, even though I have had no direct experience of scratching, I have taken the precaution of applying black electricians’ tape to the edges of the PD connectors. It is inconspicuous, easy to apply or remove, and offers a smooth, non-scratch surface.
This is something you need to evaluate in the context of your usage. I find the PD system so convenient, that I am prepared to put up with the small risk. If not, leather manufactures, including 595strapco, will supply their wares with split-ring connectors.
More from 595strapco
The QR Anchor leather wrist and neck straps reviewed here are just a small part of 595strapco’s extensive offering. More traditional split-ring attachments, and narrower straps are available, There is even a finger strap version for those who find a wrist strap too cumbersome. It incorporates a 4in loop with adjustment for two, three or all four fingers. It fits over the camera lug so that the split ring which fixes it to the body is prevented from making contact.
Conclusion
After first trying Peak Design’s own webbing straps, I have come to appreciate the convenience of being able to swap from neck to wrist strap easily. The PD system works really well, despite the connector being rather bulky and, some might think, ugly. I don’t mind the look of the connectors, and the convenience far outweighs any cosmetic reservations.
One big advantage, of course, is that you can work with just one neck strap and one wrist strap and move them around from camera to camera. This might be bad news for strap manufacturers, but it is decidedly a good idea for the photographer. In the past, the difficulty of working with those nail-breaking split rings has encouraged owners to buy a strap for every camera.
These finely crafted straps from 595strapco add a touch of luxury that is lacking in PD’s webbing straps. While you may prefer the appearance and feel of webbing, there is no substitute for a fine leather accessory. But if you are not ready to adopt the system, do take a look at the vast range of alternatives, mostly with split-ring connectors, which are offered by 595strapco.
Read here about our first experiences with Peak Design products
A camera strap is always a useful gift for photographers. Need more ideas? Here we go…
Another manufacturer of PD-compatible leather camera straps is Seam Strap from Germany
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