Luma loopit arrived!

mine is on it's way so I look forward to testing it too and comparing thoughts.

 

As I couldn't get hold of a loopit in time for a trip to Barcelona this week I bought Op/Tech's sling solution and I've been delighted with it. The quick disconnect at the camera end fits on the GF1 as it uses a flat cord loop and as the buckles are plastic there is no risk of damage.

The strap was very comfortable and the sling design is a boon, made using the camera much easier whilst tramping the trade halls at Mobile World Congress. I'm a convert to the system now.

 

Darren
Could you point me to what strap you ended up with

Thanks Phil

 

This is the one I went with. Op/Tech Utility Strap. Has the added advantage of compatibility with other Op/Tech accessories as well.

Comes with the strap/shoulder cushion and two quick-release connectors.

 

Question for those who are using these types of slings (be they from Lu.ma, Op/Tech, Gordy's, etc.):

Do these slings work well without a viewfinder?

I really like the concept of these things, but I don't (yet) have an EVF for my E-PL1. All of the photos I've see of these slings in use depict the user holding the camera up to his eye. It doesn't appear that the slings have sufficient length to allow one to comfortably frame a shot while holding the camera away from one's body as one does when using the LCD screen.

Does anyone have experience with this setup that they can share?

 

I'm not using an EVF and it worked fine. There is sufficient adjustment to allow it to be used in the normal manner when framing using the LCD. You wouldn't be able to use with arms fully extended but that's to be expected.

 

Yeah, no different than when using a typical neck strap I imagine. I am jealous...mine is in the mail. Hopefully not to delayed by going through the Canadian border.

 

The split ring solution is not the best, but the GF-1 has such narrow brackets that the alternative was to cook up an entirely different lanyard system just for it. Fairly straightforward widget to create, but it becomes difficult to explain to people why there are multiple options when introducing an entirely new camera strap connection system.

Duncan (the other founder of Luma) and I are both big GF-1 shooters, so we'll probably create something for these cameras sooner rather than later.

Shame I didn't find this forum until now; I could have told Don about our PodMount sale going on for Portland area Ducati riders!

(Luma is in PDX and I ride a black Hyper 1100S!)

 

Need it be that complicated? Using flat material would be sufficient to get the loops past the GF-1's narrow brackets and would be suitable for every other device too?

 

We went with the cord because it is significantly stronger than the flat webbing. More accurately; the flat webbing is tremendously strong, but that little plastic tri-glide that you thread it through to lock the camera on is not. We've seen some fail in testing at as little as 50lbs.

Our cord is built by Sterling Rope in Maine and has a certified minimum breaking strength of 300lbs. At only 2mm, it fits into almost every widely used camera bracket (save the GF-1 and Leicas). It feels better against your skin than flat webbing (more critical with our sling's design than a traditional neck strap) and it is very fray resistant. It is very cool stuff actually.

In the end, a small company like ours has limited bandwidth to manage production, inventory and marketing so we have to limit the number of widgets we launched at one time. The current Luma Connector is strong enough to carry big SLRs carrying pro quality glass and can be adapted to work with any small camera (using the split key or tri-glide). A lanyard designed for smaller camera brackets can't scale up the same way the current lanyard can scale down, so it only made sense for us to launch with the current design.

Though, having found this forum, I am half temped to make up a few Lanyards that will work with GF-1 brackets. :smile:

 

I had to Google tri-glide! Is that the plastic buckle used in camera straps? I'm not suggesting you use one of them. Simply a flat webbing loop that terminates at your quick-release connector. The loop can be passed through the camera bracket and over itself to secure?

I'm only suggesting it be used for the quick release/camera connect. Not sure why that would be an issue with comfort against skin?

Understood. Just suggestion an option for future consideration. Love the design and would have chosen yours over the Op/Tech had it been available in time.

 

Hi Greg,
Do you have a partner company who sells the Luma products in Europe ?
It's easiest, in my view, to order from Europe than USA.
Kind regards

 

I'll bunch up my replies into one post, so I don't appear to be running up my post count!

Yup, that little plastic bit on the webbing at the end of your camera strap. You run your webbing through the camera and back through the plastic bit to lock it on. There are about 5 or 6 different names for that thing: Ladder lock, tri-glide, webbing slide, strap keeper, sliding adjuster. Personally, I think "tri-glide" sounds the nicest, so that is what we use. :smile:

The trouble is this; when you pass the webbing through the camera bracket, it is two layers thick, so it won't fit. Also, if you do manage to get it through, when you circle hitch it on, the webbing twists and binds in funky ways that expose the (sharp) webbing edge against your hand. Hence the latter comment about comfort.

Unfortunately, we don't have distributors yet. Part of our business model is direct sales; removing middle men allows us to build far nicer products than anyone else (the stainless Luma Connector hardware costs the same to build as most other guys spend making a whole sling system). By the time distributors got their markup going, we would be priced way out of the market.

We do offer very low cost world wide shipping (I think it is $8; not my side of the house though).

Understood. I've begun work on a better solution for the GF1. Drop me an email (greg@lu.ma) and we'll make you our first tester.