Fujifilm has just released a video featuring the very talented and knowledgeable Bert Stephani, detailing his experience with the Fujifilm XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR.
Bert has numerous Simplr straps, but the one that cameos in this video is his Castor Gray F1.
There’s been a ton of excitement around the new Fujinon 33mm lens — and nobody’s better equipped to give impressions than Charlene Winfred — who’s spent years with the “original” Fujinon XF35mmF1.4 R practically glued to her camera.
Alongside the new and old lenses, are some appropriately-matched new and old Simplr straps (Charlene’s been testing our stuff since the prototyping stages) — and we’re just happy to be along for the ride.
If you were to ask us which photographer we most closely associate with Fuji’s magical XF35mmF1.4 R, it would be Charlene Winfred.
So it’s only fitting that Fujifilm themselves chose to feature her in their new promo video for this (not at all new) lens. In a world where newer is virtually always equated with better — it’s great to see talented photographers singing the praises of X-Series “O.G.” glass.
Charlene’s got a few Simplr straps, but this one happens to be an F1 (in stealthy castor gray).
If you’re aware of Fuji’s team of professional X Photographers, you’re probably acquainted with Charlene Winfred. You might also be familiar with her famously battered Fujinon XF35mmF1.4. It’s been attached to every Fuji she’s ever owned. For as many times as she’s written about her gear and lenses, this will be the first time she’s discussed the lens with which she’s become synonymous.
Read about her journey with that lens on Fujilove.com, and if you’d like to know more about Charlene’s work, do that here.
Attached to her go-to rig is what we’d consider to be our go-to camera strap — our F1 Sling-Style Camera Strap. It’s nice when things just work.
Charlene Winfred is a talented photographer and capable wordsmith. If you know her work, you’ll know much of it relies on a famously battered Fujinon 35mm f/1.4. In this article at Fujilove.com, Charlene discusses her adjustment to a much wider perspective, namely the Fujinon 18mm f/2. Look closely at that fine looking X-T3 and you’ll see our telltale orange logo (it’s a castor gray Simplr F1).
We’ve made it no secret that, although our straps work well on virtually all mirrorless cameras, we’ve got a particular affinity for Fujifilm cameras. So, we were pretty excited to be reviewed by fujixpassion.com.
Here’s a snippet:
“As soon as I took out the M1a Mirrorless Camera Strap from the packaging, the first thing that stands out is the build quality. Although it’s a very simple piece (as the name implies), everything on this strap denotes a high standard of quality, from the materials chosen to the manufacturing itself. The nylon strap is thin, light and soft.”
Patrick La Roque is a photographer, writer, speaker, and member of the Kage Collective.
He’s a remarkable visual storyteller, who’s work could equally evoke calm or frenzy, warmth or solitude.
Here’s a little of what Patrick thinks about his M1a & M1w:
“…Basically, these are products that don’t flash or glitter, that don’t call attention to themselves at all. Everything about them is understated and subtle. But they’re beautifully crafted and ready-made for mirrorless systems. …As much as I still love the feel of my leather straps, I can’t dismiss how much lighter and easier to work with these are. Just quickly being able to vary the length with little friction, to remove them altogether if they’re in the way…it all adds up.”
Flemming Bo Jensen is a music photographer … More specifically, he’s known for his uncanny ability to capture the concertgoer experience at live music venues. Whether small, huge, beautiful or chaotic — Flemming distills it into gorgeous still images.
Flemming reviews his dueling M1a camera straps:
What I like about the Simplr M1a strap…
This strap is long! Fully extended, it is 142cm. This is really nice, it is the longest camera strap I have used. I am a tall Scandinavian techno viking with long arms (sorry, this is like an intro to an online dating profile). Not only can I comfortably wear my camera across my body with this strap, the strap is long enough I can just pick up the camera and shoot without taking the strap off my body first. The nylon is smooth to slide easily around my body, so nothing gets entangled. No strap I have used could do this, it is an awesome way to work. Only when I have to shoot overhead, arms raised over my head (watch Dual Vision and you shall see it in action) do I still have to un-attach the strap from my body.(This may be the weirdest paragraph I have ever written, it is hard to describe this stuff!)
It is simple, non flashy, flexible and light weight. It is just a strap. Simple as that. Minimal and very light weight. Never gets in the way. Very supple too. Not pretty but heck, it’s a strap.
The quick-release connectors. I don’t shoot a lot of video, but it is still nice when I need to that I can unclick the strap in 2 seconds. The quick-release connectors used to get in my way until I attached the strap directly to the camera strap loops.
Easily adjustable length. From 91cm to 142cm. I now pretty much shoot with the strap going across my body all the time, but sometimes I am shooting action packed gigs where I know I will constantly swap between camera to my eye and camera over my head. Then I just shorten the strap completely and wrap it once around my right hand and the camera is securely attached now to carry all the time, and the strap is not in the way.
Flemming is an official Fujifilm ambassador, an official Red Bull Photographer, 1/2 of worldwide media makers Roaming Frame, member of Gonzales Photo agency and author of the ebook Get In The Loop.
Fujifilm Global just released this video featuring the Roaming Frame dynamic duo of Charlene Winfred and Flemming Bo Jensen — plus their dueling X-Pro2 and X-T2 cameras. It’s a fun but informative piece talking about the differences between these two cameras, and the photographers that use them. Watch closely and you’ll see they both prefer the same camera strap — our Simplr M1a Mirrorless Camera Strap.
Charlene Winfred is a nomad photographer, videographer, writer, Fujifilm X-series ambassador and half the production team of Roaming Frame.
Charlene’s approach to equipment epitomizes what we’re about here at Simplr: No muss. No fuss. Things should just work, work well, and keep working … without too much thought.
She even came up with a couple of new ideas for her M1a Mirrorless Camera Strap — including lashing extra weight to a tripod (and one more that we hope she’ll never need to make use of).
“The Simplr promise is, well, simple. Their straps are strong, functional, and aesthetically understated. All the qualities I like in equipment, in general.
Things I really like about my strap:
- It’s long. I can wear my camera slung across my body, which is SUPER. Never had a strap I could do this with.
- It weighs nothing. This is always a boon.
- Because it’s made of nylon, it’s also extremely supple and very comfortable to use.
- It’s super convenient for video because the main strap snaps off, and the connectors are so light, they make no difference hanging there on the little X-E3, whether it’s on a gimbal or tripod.
- The main strap, when disconnected, is useful as a general tie down.
As advertised, this thing just works with no fuss. Like the camera, it doesn’t get in the way, and you don’t have to fiddle with it. Attach it, forget about it and go shoot. If you need a tourniquet, it’s there for you.”
Found on: most Canon; entry- and mid-level Nikon; Fujifilm X-H2(S), X-E4, GFX 50S (connect strap to Fuji-supplied attachment clips), X-T100, X-A Series; vintage Rolleiflex. Also known as slotted or rectangular mount.
Compatible with: flat mount F1
Found on: any camera that came with triangular or round split rings (remove them); most Fujifilm; pro-level Nikon; Leica; Olympus; Sony; most vintage 35mm cameras; Also known as round or ring mount.
Compatible with: lug mount F1 & F1ultralight