Good news everyone :),

I finally got my first DSRL Camera, it is used and came without the strap. It's a Canon 300D, it's old but will help me improve my skills as a photographer.

Like almost everything in my life I get really excited and start planning ways to improve the setup I have, sometimes I think I like the gadgets better then the activity itself.LOL

I was thinking about buying a new neck strap and then I remembered about some company, Black Rapid (http://www.blackrapid.com/), and I have to say they have one of the best products ever, the problem is I just can't afford it.

Well, back to business. I decide to build my very own r-strap-like. I did some research on the subject and what I found, specially here on instructables wasn't really anything like the real r-strap. The main problem with almost all the projects here is that they fail to perform the very special thing that the real r-strap offers: the camera slides on the strap, this is what makes the r-strap perfect. If you go to their website you will be able to see the videos showing how awesome it is to have the camera sliding on the strap and not the strap sliding on your shoulder.

So here I will share my own version of the r-strap, with the sliding camera.
Hope you enjoy.

Please don't forget to rate this instructables if you like it. Thank you

Step 1: Parts

All the parts you need are pretty cheap. The best part is that the only tools you might need are scissors, lighter and a dremel (if you can't find the proper size screw).

Here is the list of thing we will need for this project:

1 Eye Bolt with Nuts (http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100177233/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053) $1.00;
1 Lashing strap 1" wide 6ft length ( I don't have the link, but you can find it at walmart, in the camping section) $2.00;
2 slide rings (1 comes with lashing strap, so buy 2 of them and you will be good :));
1 Flat Swivel Bolt Snap (I had mine so I didn't have to buy it. Most important thing here is that the ring has to be flat) $3-4~;
1 laptop shoulder strap ( I also had mine, but surely you can find it really cheap at any Salvation army, thrift store, etc).

Step 2: Assembling

The process is simple. Follow the pictures and you will assemble you strap.

The pictures show only one side so just repeat on the other side the same steps :) Each step is shown in a picture here.

Step 1: first you add the hook to the strap. Remember to leave the hook on the outside, just like the picture!!!
Step 2: after that you will add the slide ring to each side to the strap. Ring facing out;
Step 3: now let's connect the strap to the shoulder part
Step 4: first under the ring...
Step 5: and under again on the other side.
Step 6: come back going over the fist and under the second
Step 7: same thing here, under the ring and under again.
Step 8: here is the final assembly. Do it twice, one for each side. Remember that you will have to cut the extra strap to fit, leave some room for minor adjustments.
Step 9: now connect the eye bolt to the hook....
Step 10: ...and then everything to the camera.

All done :)

Step 3: Usage

Once you have finished assembly you can start using it. :)

For me, I like to leave the camera at the hip level, in a way that I can reach it without overextending my arm to grab it.

You can see on the pictures that the shoulder strap doesn't move, just the camera.

Step 4: Final Thoughts

This is it. It's simple, really easy to assemble and dirty cheap.

But if you have the money, go buy the original one at:http://www.blackrapid.com/ they spent a lot of R&D to "inspire" us make those great straps for ourselves. If you don't have the money, just make your own.

I don't have anything to do with Black Rapid, but I think it's only fair to give credit where it is due.

Hope you enjoy this instructables. I would like to see pictures if you decide to build our own.

Please don't forget to rate this instructables, thank you

Step 5: Upgrades

Since most of my things are working in progress, right after I finish this camera strap I found a better eye hook.

Note on the picture the the thread goes all the way to the hook. It makes possible to make the eye hook shorter, therefore more compact.