Review of the Hyperion Camera Straps For Street Photography
Introduction
Every street photographer devotes time and attention to choosing the perfect camera for street photography. Choosing the right kit is an essential part of the enjoyment of street photography. If one makes the wrong choice, it will most probably ruin the overall experience for him/her. However there are other things a street photographer should invest some research time into. Such as camera accessories.
Accessories play an important part in one’s comfort. So today, I am going to review one of those accessories, the camera strap. In my opinion, the most important thing in a street photographer’s arsenal after the camera (and lens). It plays a very important role in the overall experience and especially during long street photography sessions that last well over 4-5 hours. At least that is how I feel.
The Hyperion Camera Straps For Street Photography
Before I start I would like to repeat what I always say when I write a post like this, which is that this review is from a completely personal point of view. Neither myself nor any of the other Streethunters.net Editors are a camera expert or a camera accessories expert. We are not pro camera gurus or have any affiliation with any particular camera or camera accessory brand. All gear that we have reviewed we have used extensively in the streets. In this post you will be reading my personal opinion about the Hyperion Camera Straps For Street Photography, so if you are interested read on.
After you have read this post if you feel that there is something I have missed, or something that you would have liked me to include, please feel free to make your suggestions in the comments at the bottom of the page. During this review I will discuss the Hyperion Camera Straps build quality, design & comfort, ease of use and value.
Build Quality
I will start this review by examining the build quality of the Hyperion Camera straps. The camera straps come in 3 different types (materials). Mountain climbing rope, faux PU leather and real leather. Hyperion Camera Straps was kind enough to send me 4 different straps to test, one black one with black binding, one black-olive one with brown binding, one grey wrist trap with burgundy binding and one black real leather strap with dark grey binding. All four pieces I received feel sturdy, very well built and look great!
Mountain climbing rope camera and wrist straps
The mountain rope camera straps are made out of very good quality rope with a tight braiding. There are no loose threads or sloppy strands of fibre sticking out. They are thick and feel professionally built.
Real leather camera straps
Thinner than the mountain climbing ropes, the real leather camera straps are also very well made. From what I can tell they are braided with thick leather straps into a strong final leather rope. Top notch quality.
Since I didn’t receive a PU leather version strap, I can’t really say anything about those so I will exclude them from my rating.
Binding material
I can’t tell what the binding is made of, probably some thinner type of rope or heavy thread. I am not very good with distinguishing these things and I couldn’t find any more info on the Hyperion Camera Straps website, so I will just say that whatever it is made of, it is also of very good quality. I don’t see those bindings ever getting loose. They are solid and it is obvious the camera strap manufacturer is meticulous.
Rating: 9
Design & Comfort
I will split this section of the review into two parts again. I will review the mountain rope camera straps and wrist straps separate to the leather straps. The mountain rope wrist straps are identical to the mountain rope camera straps in design and comfort since they are made out of the same materials.
Mountain climbing rope camera and wrist straps
The straps design is simple yet beautiful, varying from single solid colour straps to ones with 2 or more colours (e.g. camo camera strap). The way the manufacturer uses the slim binding material to secure the metal keyring loop used to attach the straps with the camera, looks excellent. The craftsmanship is terrific, at least in the straps I have received. Both the camera straps and the wrist straps feel very comfortable when worn. I use a Fujifilm X-Pro1 95% of the time and since I have started using my black-olive camera strap I feel as if it weighs much less than what it felt like before when I was using the Fujifilm default strap. I can shoot for hours and hours without noticing the camera around my neck. The reason for this, I think, is because the strap itself is soft to the touch and quite thick. This way it kind of lies gently on the back of my neck and feels great. The wrist strap feels the same. Soft and comfy. Just perfect if you are into wrist straps.
Real leather camera straps
The leather straps design is also pleasing to the eye like the mountain rope camera straps, however they are thinner and they are not so soft to the touch. I tried the black leather strap one afternoon and I found myself holding my camera with my hand after about 1 hour of walking around. I was holding it trying to avoid letting its weight pull on the leather strap that would then put pressure on my neck. I didn’t enjoy the experience as much as I enjoyed the other camera strap made of mountain climbing rope and for this reason I didn’t use the leather strap again. In my opinion it either needs to become thicker or it has to be reinforced with some sort of cushioning. I understand that this will increase the manufacturing cost, so I can see why it is this way, but on the other hand, a leather camera strap can be a more luxurious option and could justifiably be offered for more. Anyway, this is something for Hyperion Camera Straps to think about.
A great feature of both types of straps is the fact that they are customisable and offer an infinite number of possible colour combinations. This is a really cool feature that will affect my rating of this part of the review in a positive way.
However because I am reviewing both the mountain climbing rope camera straps and the leather camera straps the rating for the Design & Comfort section will derive from both these types of straps. If I had reviewed only the mountain climbing rope camera straps, I would have rated this part of the review with a 9 but due to the fact that I didn’t find the leather strap all that comfortable, I have rated it with a 7.
Rating: 7
Ease of use
There is not a lot to say for how easy these camera straps are to use. You just use your nail or a sharp object to slightly part the medium sized metal keyring loops and gently slide them onto your cameras strap mounts on either side. In a matter of a few seconds, you will have attached your new Hyperion Camera Strap and you will be ready for action! For all you Fujifilm camera owners out there, there will be no more 5-10 minute long rituals to attach your default camera straps! I will not rate the “ease of use” with a 10, incase someone finds using these keyring loops hard.
Rating: 9
Value
The straps come at a very logical and convenient price ranging from €15 (or 13 GBP or 17 USD) to €23 (or 20 GBP or 26 USD) depending on the type of camera strap material you choose, the length of the strap and the binding material. Each strap is shipped FREE of charge world wide. Their shipping isn’t the fastest available, but as I said it is free and that makes it worth the wait. In comparison to other high quality camera straps, I would say that the Hyperion Camera Straps are valued just great and for that, they will get a lovely 10 for value!
Rating: 10
Conclusion
The Hyperion Camera Straps are a good choice if you are looking for a high quality, good looking, comfortable camera strap at a good value for money for your street photography camera. Visit the Hyperion Camera Straps official website and take a look around. I would definitely recommend you add at least one of these camera straps to your “arsenal”.
If you want to know more about these straps, just ask me in the comments. Also, if you feel that I haven’t touched upon something that I should have, please let me know.
Stay Sharp & Keep Shooting!
Based on your experience, which material felt more comfortable on your neck or across your chest?
Hello Elliot,
Thank you for your question. The mountain climbing rope felt much more comfortable around both my neck and chest.
Stay Sharp & Keep Shooting!
Just buy some rope, hot glue and two keyring and you’re done.
Most product reviews are conducted after a few weeks of use at most, when the products are still new. After six months, if you are still using these straps, how are they holding up? Any wear, or any other noticeable defects?
Good reviews, by the way. Thanks.
Good point Rudy! Thanks for your comment and sorry for my late reply.
The straps are holding out great. They only have very minor (less than expected) signs of wear, no defects. I would still recommend the mountain rope version.
I purchased a Hyperion camera strap for a rangefinder I own, but never received the strap. Paid the 15 euros and got payment confirmation. After a month with nothing, emailed, and was told that my order was on the way. At a month and a half of not having received, I sent another email, to which I got no response whatsoever. Finally at two months I gave up and requested a refund through PayPal. Very poor customer service from Hyperion.
Thanks for sharing your experience with our Readers. Maybe Hyperion Camera Straps will see your comment and get in touch.
I had the very same experience. I’ve waited for a month, wrote an email. I got a reply that the product is getting posted in a week time. Half month later still nothing. Getting a paypal refund right now.
Thanks for the review! Question: does the metal ring touch the body of the camera? Are there options to order to prevent it from touching, that you know of?
Thanks!
The metal rings do not touch my X-Pro1, but I can’t say about other camera brands / models. As for the other options, you will have to contact Hyperion directly, since I do not know of any myself.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and taking the time to read the review!
Stay Sharp & Keep Shooting!
Don’t buy. Guy’s a fraud, takes your money, never sends the items.
Metod I don’t agree. There are plenty of satisfied customers. I looked into this when I was doing the review. Maybe your item got lost in the post. Have you contacted them for a refund?
I was wondering the same thing. Five weeks had gone by and nothing. I contacted him and he thought maybe the shipment had got lost, and said he would reship it. Two days later I finally received the two straps I had ordered. One is a red/black rope type, the other black leather braid. They are both good quality, and quite nice. The prices are very good as well. Slow shipping yes, but I’m happy with the product. I’ll probably buy another one.
It didn’t get lost, it was sent only after I opened a claim on paypal. I can understand production problems. Not lies that something was sent when it clearly wasn’t.
Nowadays it takes more than a product to define quality. It takes customer service and delivery. They fail on both.
I have been waiting 6 weeks
Sent 12 e mails and no reply to any
Do not deal with this incompetent outfit
Greetings,
I’m curious if the large circular metal rings on the tips of the Hyperion strap occasionally hits the area within the radius of the camera lugs which perhaps caused minor scratches? Thank you.
Hello and thank you for your comment. I have been using my Hyperion strap for years and I haven’t noticed anything like that. I suppose it depends on the use and on the camera.
Stay Sharp & Keep Shooting!