With or without? (part 1)
camera accessories - the strap
There are camera accessories that I love and I like to use and there’s others that do nothing for me. Today I would like to find out people’s opinions about camera strap. You can leave a comment and/or answer the poll at the end (valid for one week).
Let’s specify something from the start: we all know there’s more than one type of strap - when I say “the strap”, I specifically refer to shoulder/neck strap.
The strap can be very useful but can also be a pain: to big, inconvenient, etc.
I started digital photography with a big, bulky camera and for that reason I love the strap: the camera is easier to carry around and the risk of dropping it is practically zero. With the strap around my neck (my favourite way to carry one camera) it is very easy to pick it up fast when I need it. All good until I got another camera. Now the strap became something essential, extremely useful. Armed with two cameras (at least one if not both with big lenses) I took on events: rugby matches, weddings, christenings, you name it. Also this was the time when I changed from around the neck to on the shoulder (a 300mm f/2.8 lens is not only heavy but also expensive and I couldn’t afford to drop it! The lens is so precious that it comes with its own strap). I don’t know how is it for you but for me on the shoulder means strap on the left shoulder, camera on the right hip and viceversa.
All good to this point but what happens if I carry with me a small camera? In this case, I don’t like the strap at all, I find it inconvenient. Some of the SLR film cameras have the hooks for strap connection but I do prefer to carry the camera in my bag or in my hand, never used the strap on them even though I have the straps. Also there’s the case of the old film cameras that don’t have the hooks; yes, there is a reason for that: the cameras come with a beautiful leather case that is attached on the bottom plate on the same screw as the tripod. Yes, the leather cases are beautiful, a work of art on their own but I found them again inconvinient.
How about you, what is your relationship with camera strap?
I rotate between a neck strap, a wrist strap, and a clip on my backpack strap.
I hate neck straps. They seem to get in my way and hamper my freedom of movement. The only exception was when I was doing weddings with more than one camera because it was necessary to carry the cameras around without an assistant.
Even with large camera setups (e.g. 1DX + 24-105ISL or 5D + 100-400ISL) I don't use neck straps. I just carry the camera in my hand by the lens.
When I get a new camera, the first thing I do is remove the original strap and replace it with a wrist strap. Wrist straps are good enough for safety and they don't tie the camera to my upper body.