The Type A strap is the root of the Strapateer system - it is the Legacy Strap... Conceived in 1958 and still holding strong. The strap was used by the great photojournalists of the past and is today's choice for the world's leading photographers. The strap will carry all 35mm and digital cameras with standard style strap lugs - which means pretty well any 35mm camera and most digital cameras. We can also supply the strap with looped ends secured by buckles for cameras like the Leica SL. Please email us that you want SL style strap ends.
The strap can carry your camera hidden discreetly under a jacket (see photo)- with the snap quick release used to pull the strap out from your shoulder to then be snapped back together around your neck when a photo-opportunity arises.
There is enough leather in the strap for it to be adjusted to be carried across the body as well as around the neck. Across the body is ideal when the camera has to be carried for long periods - or where there is a chance of the camera being grabbed from your shoulder.
With the buckle slipped closest to the snap link on the main strap, the complete Type A strap is approx 104cm long. Slipping the buckle as far away as possible from the snap link makes the shortest length of the whole strap about 68cm… If you want the strap longer - up to approximately 120cm in total length (so that, for example, you can sling the camera lower across the body), you can order the 120cm version.
STOP PRESS! A note on the snap quick release link we use for the Type A - after years and years of searching, we have just found a wonderful sealed box of new old stock, original style Strapateer snap links. In the photo of an original Strapateer link, you can see that the new old stock link is identical...
This link is that incredibly distinctive attachment seen in so many photos of the great photojournalists - like the photo here of Jim Marshall at Woodstock; with his Leica M4s carried on Type A Strapateers. And in the photos of LIFE photographer, Paul Schutzer and war photographer, Marie-Laure de Decker...
Time and again in the images of the greats, we see that distinctive Strapateer snap link; almost like a badge of the true professional... And that snap is just as useful in today's digital age as it was way back then... We will fit these new old stock clips until they run out and then will go back to our standard clip - so, if you want a strap that is historically 'forensically correct' now is the time to order.
The poppers for the neck/shoulder pad are also vintage. Sourcing the high grade Newey brand snaps - and, crucially, the press tools to fit them to the leather proved an epic hunt. We also needed to find a sufficient quantity to be confident that we could offer the shoulder pad to anybody who wanted one. And, of course the bonus with the Newey poppers is that - like all the other hardware on the strap - they are true vintage nickel plated; and thus go perfectly with the rest of the nickel plated hardware used on our straps. In the photos are seen the pads for both the Type A and the wider Type C/B Strapateers.
By using the fast-acting slip buckle, the Type A can also be shortened into a hand strap - the perfect set-up for fast street photography. Legendary street photographer, Garry Winogrand was a big fan of using The Strapateer this way. See also our dedicated 'Type D' wrist strap.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LEATHER, METAL PLATE AND PAINT FINISH ON THE RIVETS WILL ALL WEAR WITH USE - JUST AS ON THE ORIGINAL STRAPS. WE LOVE THE WAY THIS PATINA DEVELOPS WE HOPE YOU WILL, TOO.
PLEASE GIVE US YOUR PHONE NUMBER WHEN YOU ORDER - WE CAN'T SHIP TO YOU WITHOUT IT!
IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH ONE OF OUR PRODUCTS PLEASE CONTACT US FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO YOU WITH ADVICE/REFUNDS BEFORE YOU LEAVE AN ONLINE REVIEW. WE WANT YOU TO BE 100% HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE.
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