My DIY R-Strap

I saw all the DIY R-Straps out there and thought I'd make my own. With less than $3.00 in hardware, a hack saw and a guitar strap, you can do this too!

(Of course, if you don't have a guitar strap, it'll cost more than $3.00).

Step 1: Parts needed

I found the hardware at the Home Depot.

Picture 1: 1 1/4" screw with eye. I did have to hack it down some (with a dull saw, ugh) in order to get it to fit properly into the camera.

Picture 2: D-ring. I was originally going to thread the strap through the ring, but I didn't have an enclosed loop of nylon strap.

Picture 3: Guitar strap. In my case, I had my basses hanging from this strap. I took off my strap locks and I was all set. I figured if the strap could hold a 9lb bass, a DSLR would be no problem.

Comments

[TrentReznor]

Don't like this construction very much. Came up with this myself (used the strap of a Guitar Hero guitar) and didn't like the result. The original R-strap works differently, it has some sort of hook that slides up and down the strap without having the strap itself move and scrape your shoulder.

[Gwon Chang]

I agree with the sliding. I was trying to have a strap that could slide through the D-ring, but I didn't have a connected strap (like a circle). But, it works for me.

[ElectroFrank]

May I suggest, add a second D-ring around the strap, fit the eye-bolt to that. It will slide nicely.

[mrsamsa]

I found that the correct width/length of thread you need is approximately equal to the width of the bolt that comes with the eye screw. Screw cut to that size fits nicely on a Nikon D40 and a Sony a230.

[Gwon Chang]

Cool. Glad it worked for you. To update, I recently bought an official R-Strap attachment because I got sick of the screw eye poking out. The attachment is not flush, but is a nice finishing touch. Did cost $12, but oh well!

[J@50n]

 Finished now!

pic one- 

• 2 washers.
• Top of loop.
• washer.
• bottom of loop.
• washer.
• end of bolt.
• nut (the same size as bolt super glued on.

Pic 2-

The nut on the bottom, is a handy little bugger. i thought to myself after i put the R-strap on, how can i make this sit down?? after pondering my ideas, i came up with this:
If i put a nut on the bottom, i can take my tripod insert and put it on there to make it stand!
At that moment, i got my glue and nut and glued the day away, i then had a perfect set-up!

My WHOLE setup with the tripod insert and everything!

THANKS FOR THIS GREAT PIECE OF INFORMATION!!!!

[Gwon Chang]

Awesome! Brilliant execution on the shoe/nut thing. I have to remove mine every time I want to use the tripod.

I had my camera on me all day today at a museum and on the street and it was great. I have never had slippage of the screw, but I do make sure it is tight fairly frequently.

Let's see the rest of the strap!

[J@50n]

 Oh, also before i forget, 5/5*!

[J@50n]

Here are the straps (i found 2), i'm not sure which i like better. black or the zodiac signed one. 

i used a karabiner to hook the straps onto the look (it was red but i painted it black to match it all.

Pic 1- my moms camera (i have the Fuji Film S1500).

Pic 2- both Straps.

Pic 3- Zodiac Signs.

Pic 4- The whole set-up (if you make it bigger you can see it used to be red).

[J@50n]

making mine now, its in the "paint booth" drying. im spraying it all black (color of my camera)

[friezer]

You should probably think about adding a backing nut on the eyebolt to lock it into the threads on the camera.

[J@50n]

 but if you did, it still wouldn't hold it in place. you would need to put one inside the camera (good luck). because if you put on a backing nut, when you screwed that on it wouldn't hold anything.

[wobbler]

I'd be worried firstly about the screw working itself loose, with the obvious damage subsequently inflicted on the camera by gravity and secondly about whether long term it was a good idea to have the camera hanging off a fitting which is not designed to have the camera hanging off it but to generally have the camera on top of it pushing in the other direction. The second may be ok of course.

However, as your strap uses a locking carabina, why not just attach it to a loop of nylon cord which is permanently attached to the camera at the normal strap attachment point or loop? Solves both problems and is cheaper and easier.

[karthikvasudevan]

that looks good. i have all the parts i need lying around so i think i am gonna make one.

[Gwon Chang]

Cool! Let me know how it turns out.

[Gwon Chang]

Good point. I'll check it out even though things are pretty solid. Thanks!

[matt_the_webguy]

I agree with friezer. Try an inverted wingnut.