For connoisseurs of camera straps (in general, those who don’t fit the strap that comes in the camera box), the choice is now huge. But the fundamental decision remains — does today’s outing demand a full neck strap, or is it a wrist-strap day? The dilemma could now be over thanks to the Bowman Duo and the ingenuity of a British manufacturer.
The Bowman Duo range of straps offers a combined neck and wrist configuration that will appeal to the ditherers among us. I am a confirmed ditherer when it comes to choosing between neck and wrist straps, so this strap helps keep my sanity.
Charles Bowman has carved out a niche for his high-quality leather straps in a wide variety of configurations. It’s almost a case of design your own strap, and Charles will help you tick all the boxes.
Earlier this year we reviewed two of his creations, a neck strap and wrist strap and, since then, Bowman straps have had wide coverage, including this review by Andy Westlake in Amateur Photographer.
Best of all worlds
The new Bowman Duo combines the best of all worlds. Outwardly, it is a normal leather neck strap. But hidden at one end is a double run of strap which opens to fit around the wrist. It’s a winner, and I love it.
Even on those days when a wrist strap on a smaller camera is the choice, there are occasions when it is useful to sling the camera over the shoulder to free up both hands. This is difficult with a wrist strap, but the versatility of the Bowman Due instantly comes into play when needed.
In almost every respect, the Bowman Duo fits its role as a wrist strap. It is secure, comfortable and enables one-handed use of the camera. The only downside, of course, is that the strap is longer and can get in the way. However, I soon devised a foolproof method of tucking the surplus strap into the loop.
Quality
The finish of the Bowman Duo strap is superb. It is made from a supple vegetable tanned leather which, like all good leather goods, gets better the more it is used. The sturdy rivets are smooth and do not detract from the overall feel of the strap. The review strap is black, which tends to be my overall favourite since it matches most Leica cameras, but this is very much a personal choice. All Bowman straps are guaranteed for ten years.
I take pride in the quality of all my products, and I am confident that they are built to last. As a testament to my commitment to quality, I offer a ten-year warranty and repair guarantee on all my products.
Charles Bowman
Charles is also open to bespoke requests if you want something a little different. As a craftsman, Charles has made everything from glasses cases to rifle straps, hanging mirrors to dog collars, and he has even repaired leather gun sleeves. He can repair a treasured leather item or, indeed, offer customised versions of his camera straps. He is definitely a camera strap manufacturer you can talk to and feel that you are getting personal service.
Options
One of the big attractions of Bowman straps is the wide range of options to ensure that you get the strap that is just right for you. First choice is the width — 19mm or 12mm — which is determined by the weight of the camera. In general, I prefer a thinner wrist strap, so the 12mm width is ideal. And, for short-term neck wear, it is good enough for heavier cameras. However, if you expect to have the camera around your neck for a longer time, perhaps the 19mm width is better.
The second choice is length. There are three standard options, 70cm (27in), 95cm (37in) and 110cm (43in), but you can specify a custom length of none of the others suit. The cost is the same. Then you choose between a classic square edge, which is standard, or the more comfortable and attractive rounded and polished edge with a £10 premium. Finally, decide on a colour. The options here are dark tan, black, chestnut and mid-tan.
Optional extras include removable leather lug protectors, fixed lug protectors, adding initials and, finally, a stitched-finish upgrade.
Choosing a connector
There is one more big decision to make. You have the choice between traditional split-ring connectors which go well with lugs such as those on the Leica M and Q ranges. Or you can go for the Peak Design quickly detachable Anchor connectors. These have many advantages, and I am a great fan. They fix to the camera with a tough loop which threads through the lug. Occasionally, however, it can be a challenge to thread the loop, so read here about the dental floss trick.
The QD (quickly detachable) connector is essential, however, if your camera does not have traditional lugs for the split ring. Many new, larger cameras now feature a slot. The three versions of the Leica SL and the Panasonic Lumix S5II (but not the S5, which has lugs) now use the slot fixing method. The Peak Design Anchor system works well with the slots.
Prices
There are four basic designs in the Bowman Duo range, and you can browse through them here. Prices range from £41.95 (approximately $53, €50) to £75.95 ($96, €90) depending on width, leather finish and fixing options. Shipping within the UK is included in the price.
When ordering, don’t forget to check the box to tell Charles you heard about Bowman Straps from Macfilos.
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Yeah but, the hard plastic on the Peak Design connectors bashes camera paintwork and LCDs in your bag . . . Just saying! (Unless you’re much more careful than I am!)
Best camera strap I ever got – though I’ve never much bothered about such things, mainly using just two shoelaces tied together – was in Japan (can’t find a link online to one, sorry) in ‘Tokyo Hands’ department store: silvery woven nylon with BIG, WIDE, FLAT – pretend leather pattern – shoulder pad in VERY GRIPPY WHITE RUBBER!
Never slips, always grips, trust it with any camera. Pity I can’t show you a picture of it here. Cost about six and ninepence ..we-ell, about six pounds ninety. Always on my M9. None better.
Never really liked leather ones ..seem to be more poseur than practical, unless really old, very well worn and therefore VERY flexible. But they still never GRIP!
A quick note: the Tokyu Group divested Tokyu Hands. The new owners renamed the stores “Hands”, and have changed the store from primarily DIY more towards lifestyle. Might be harder to find those straps today!
Definitely harder to find those straps today – I was looking for them on their website earlier today; couldn’t find them, and they now say that they don’t send anything to the UK, either ..although I’d previously bought another one of them online from the ‘old’ Tokyo Hands ..darn that spell-checker: ‘Tokyu‘ Hands. But I can’t find them on Etsy, either.
I’ll just have to put this one in my clone machine (as does Mr Tesla in ‘The Prestige’ – film) and generate another one, although – as in ‘The Prestige’ – I won’t quite know where exactly it’s going to appear..
Does the strap have a brand name?
Who, me? ..No, that’s the sad thing about it: there was a name on the box, but I chucked that away years ago (2015?). HOWEVER, specially for you, Stephen, I’ve just taken a photo of it, and I’ll put it up later today, and – with Mike’s blessing – I’ll post a link to it here, also later today.
Okey-doke, Stephen – for what it may be worth:
Go to https://www.edituk.com/Photos.html and scroll down to the very bottom of the page, and there you’ll see a photo of the white rubber GRIPPY shoulder pad moulded (molded) onto its silvery textile strap.
[Also, for what it’s worth, the photo was shot with a Ricoh GXR and its APS 33mm f2.5 Macro module (equivalent to 50mm macro) at – I think – f3.2 and ISO 1600, in dim-ish breakfast-table light. It’s a 12 megapixel 2009 camera ..same age as that M9 in the photo.]
Thanks for posting the link to the photo David and the interesting technical info on the camera used. Will investigate if this is still available anywhere in Tokyo..It sure looks unique! We’ll just keep calling it the silver GRIPPY for now. 2015 is a while ago so it may be a discontinued item but you never know.