Going Strapless

[KrazyPete]

I notice when I'm around other people with their cameras they almost always have a neck strap on theirs. I never really liked straps. They are sort of uncomfortable and seem to get in the way at odd times. I prefer to carry a Slingshot AW100 with my camera and a couple lenses in it. I carry the bag everywhere but I go strapless on the camera.

But I do feel like the odd man out sometimes. Everyone else is wearing their camera around their necks. Maybe I'm missing something? The only thing I know to do is ask you all? Are you strapping up or what?

 

[Master Mason]

I have a neck strap, but it is usually wrapped around my arm, I seldom put it around my neck.

 

[jann1033]

i'm paranoid about dropping my camera so i always have the strap around my neck or very rarely wrap the strap around my wrist. i do think it would be difficult to change lenses though without a strap of some kind, trying to juggle camera and lens, with a strap you can leave the lens around your neck and mess with the bag and lens

 

[AndrewWG]

Once you have dropped your first digital camera (as I have) you will use a strap. I watched the lens on my Canon A85 smash across some rocks one day and vowed that I would never use a wrist strap and would always use a neck strap with any other camera I got. Of course, leaving your new camera on the roof of the car and watching it bounce down the street wasn't something I had vowed against. DOH! Yep, did that too, but the camera survived!

Andy

 

[JR6ooo4]

I use a wrist strap. But it realy goes over the back of the hand not the wrist.

Mikeeee

 

[Zeagle]

I would feel naked without the camera strap. Sorta the same feeling as driving a car without a seatbelt. I use a lowepro strap that feels and works great. It has quick releases on either end for when I mount the camera to a tripod or monopod.

Jason

 

[photo_chick]

While I have an aversion to the neck strap image ... it reminds me of an old man with shorts and black socks on with those garter things holding his socks up.. I do use mine. I put it around my neck when I am shooting or wrap it well around my arm. I don't generally walk around with my camera hanging around my neck though.

 

[scottny]

i use a neck strap only out of fear of dropping it. I also carry around a bag with the lenses in it.

 

[deletedpenguin]

I have a neck strap, but it is usually wrapped around my arm, I seldom put it around my neck.

I used to use a Slingshot bag, and whenever I pulled it out, I just wrapped the strap around my hand. It was always easier. Now that I've graduated to a larger pack, I throw it around my neck as I usually keep the camera out for longer periods of time.

 

[jann1033]

While I have an aversion to the neck strap image ... it reminds me of an old man with shorts and black socks on with those garter things holding his socks up.. I do use mine. I put it around my neck when I am shooting or wrap it well around my arm. I don't generally walk around with my camera hanging around my neck though.

now see, adding an external flash to the gear is what does that for me

not long ago i saw an elderly woman all decked out for bird watching ( ie the "cute" like matchy matchy old lady "short set" with matching cap and color coordinated shoes, flip up sunglasses flipped up over her trifocals, beauty parlor hairdo, full makeup, might have even had a girdle on under the shorts, who knows )with one of those heavy duty chest strap contraptions holding her binoculars( that weigh what, 1/2 a lb?) so that forever ruined that kind of strap for me if i ever even vaguely considered it

 

[GrumpyOne]

Because I'm overseas so much, the image of "a photographer" for me are the herds of Japanese/Koreans I see on package tours. The ones where you get 50 in color coordinated t-shirts with the guide bellowing through a megaphone. So, I don't have the same aversion to a neckstrap. I know it musses the t-shirt a bit but I like the security of it being right there and not accidentally swinging into anything. Not that I'm a klutz though...

 

[tinksdad]

Jann, you crack me up!!

I use an Optech strap when we do those kinds of venues like WDW. I like the camera right there instead of having to get in and out of the backpack. It does feel "awkward" to have the 70-200mm f/2.8 sticking out of my chest but it does feel secure. The Optech strap is 100% more comfortable than the standard manufacture supplied strap.

This backpack that has a rotational belt bag from Think Tank looks VERY interesting to me. It comes with a strap that allows the camera to attach to the shoulder straps, not around your neck. Not cheap, but then again, what is???

 

[Shifletjl]

Just this weekend, I had an accident that makes me glad I was wearing my camera on a neck strap. While on our trip to San Diego, we visited the La Jolla childrens pool where sea lions have taken over the shore. I was walking across a jetty like wall to get a closer look, when I tripped and fell on the rocks. I am a bruised up mess, but my camera survived with just slight damage to the lens hood. Now, I must admit that this is not the first time I have taken a dive. Yes, my mother should have named me Grace.

I will always where my camera on a neck strap, I just can't trust myself.

 

[DueyDooDah]

I also wear the neckstrap but I find it very uncomfortable. It seems to hang too low. The attached tripod always drags on the ground. Sometimes I accidently trip over it. Maybe I should not have the legs extended. What do you think?

 

[jann1033]

I also wear the neckstrap but I find it very uncomfortable. It seems to hang too low. The attached tripod always drags on the ground. Sometimes I accidently trip over it. Maybe I should not have the legs extended. What do you think?

have you tried a lighter tripod?,,,maybe the extra weight is stooping your shoulders more than normally. might be a little more expensive but probably worth it in the long run

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I wear a neck strap. I don't want to put my camera away for fear of losing a shot; I will sometimes wrap the strap around my wrist, but I prefer it around my neck. .

 

[LMarge]

Gotta have my strap! On our last trip to Animal Kingdom, we were in line for Minnie Mouse over by the Lion King show. I had my camera out and took a quick shot of my dd with Minnie, then "popped" my slr into my bag because I didn't want this lens poking out the front of my chest. I didn't zip the bag all the way up - with my hand still on the bag, I spun around to get in the Photopass shot with Minnie and dd - only to hear my camera crash to the ground just as the photographer was snapping our picture!!! Everyone in line let out this gasp sound, I slowly picked up the camera(afraid I was going to be looking at glass all over the place!) and moved out of the line, Minnie stood there with this "oh no" look!!! The camera did continue to work, but about a month after we got home, it died - I think the fall - it landed face down on the end of the lens cap - crunched some of the connectors and it just locked up. So now I have an S2IS - and it stays around my neck happily on its strap!!! Moral of the story ---- HOLD ON TO THE CAMERA ANY WAY YOU CAN!!!

 

[pisco]

I am another "strapless" shooter. I have been doing this for years without anything like a close call. I use a shoulder bag with easy access to the camera from the top so I just keep it in the bag when I am not shooting.

Though I have been thinking about getting on of these hand straps just to add an extra measure of safety. Seems like a whole lot less to wrestle with that a neck strap when getting the camera in and out of the bag all day.

 

[handicap18]

While I do think the camera neck strap is a big pain in the butt, I still use it. I don't always have it around my neck as it is uncomfortable, but when its not in use it is around my neck. I am thinking about getting a new one that is longer so I can sometimes wear it in a sling fashion. A bit more comfortable that way. I'm leaning towards the Optec strap.

 

[jann1033]

i started carry my camera bag that way( rather than on my shoulder) and it does seem much more comfortable( across i mean)