Hand strap vs Neck strap?

[Ratpack]

I have the D50 with the nice Nikon neck strap, but I was thinking about changing it to a hand strap for our upcoming trip to WDW. I figure since I will be carrying it in a camera bag, I could get away with it. But I would really like to know what you experts think as this will be the first time at WDW with the DSLR and not a point and shoot.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I never liked handstrap. I prefer battery/vertical grip. I'm not a neckstrap person either... but there is no battery grip for D50

 

[YEKCIM]

Handstrap, even for P&S, makes me nervous. I feel that my cam is a lot more secure if it is on a strap around my neck.

~YEKCIM

 

[WillCAD]

I have an extra long neck strap, which I always place around both my neck and one shoulder (which is more comfortable than just carrying it around my neck).

When I need to take the camera off my neck, I wrap the strap around my left hand a few times to keep it more secure.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Actually you must decide between:

Neckstrap

Wriststrap

Handstrap....

Neck straps, I hate things hanging on my neck. They itch and are hot and I get a neckache after four hours.

Wristrap, Never trusted them. They all seem so flimsy to expect them to carry any weight. Maybe point and shoot but never a SLR. And you have to close the loop or it feels like it will fall right off.

Now the hand strap is what I do use. Very sturdy 3/8 inch strap. I can carry my XT and 70-300 IS lens with one hand. Even with the strap loose enough for comfort I can just about relax my fingers and still be confident of the grip on the cam.

Another issue is, How many hands do you have free? DW and I are still the kids so I can carry the cam in one hand all day and get to money or park cards etc.. with the other.

B&H has the one I use:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...s&Q=&sku=194968&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

It says "LH" is that left hand? I don't know but it works fine on the right side of my XT. A small plate fastens to the bottom for the attachment point. I can change the CD card without moving the plate but to change the battery I have to only loosen the knob, swivel the plate, change the battery and retighten it.

Mikeeee

 

[Anewman]

I prefer neckstraps, but when shooting sports I tend to wrap it around my hand and wrist...

 

[handicap18]

I use a neck strap. Always have with my SLR's. I don't like the neck strap that came with the D50 though. After 2 days at Disney I bought the Mickey Mouse camera strap and found it more comfortable. It has just a little more give, is a tad wider and is also longer.

I will occassionally wrap the strap around my wrist/arm to take some pictures, but it mostly stays around my neck.

 

[0bli0]

my main body is generally held in my hand with the neck strap merely as catching device. my secondary body, when used, is generally on neck strap around right shoulder resting on my left rear.

i use OPTech pro straps as they are much more comfortable than the standard straps and you can disconnect the ends and use as a handle.

 

[Ratpack]

Thanks for the replies. I feel I may need to clarify something. If I am carrying the camera out then the neck strap is what I would use, but while at Disney, I will keep the camera in my Lowepro hip pack except when shooting. And since I will be taking it out and putting it back in so often, it just gets a little aggravating having to stuff the neck strap in each time. Now does that change anyone's opinion or thoughts? Thanks!

 

[handicap18]

I started off doing that on my last trip. But because I was taking so many pictures I didn't bother using the the hip pack after a while. I ended up leaving it in the room and keeping my other 2 lenses in my backpack. By the last day I was keeping 1 extra lens in my front pocket.

I had the camera around my neck almost the whole time. That is when not on rides, eating, when it was on a tripod, etc...

 

[0bli0]

Now does that change anyone's opinion or thoughts? Thanks!

not for me. i'll loop the neckstrap around my arm or put my hand through it when grabbing the camera. but i still prefer that over a hand strap. i find the handstraps way too restrictive for movement to portrait orientation. also i can disconnect the neck part if i'm using a bag where space is squeezy.

 

[PaulD]

With that much in and out of the bag I'd almost certainly drop it at some point. But hey, I'm a klutz. Some of the guys at work don't use neckstraps either. Of course they've all dropped their cameras and I haven't. My advice is don't tempt fate and use a neckstrap (unless you like to live on the edge like Kelly ).

I have an extra long neckstrap (OPTech) that I place over my neck and around my right arm when not in use. I think it's a good balance between protecting my gear (under my right elbow) and ease of use. I only put my camera away in the bag for rides and rain.

 

[spoon2003]

And since I will be taking it out and putting it back in so often, it just gets a little aggravating having to stuff the neck strap in each time. Now does that change anyone's opinion or thoughts? Thanks!

That's why I bought an op/tech pouch and strap. The strap is so much more comfortable, I wear it around my neck and shoulder. The op/tech pouch gives a little cushion against bumps while walking around and you're not dealing with another strap.

Sue from Boston

 

[fitzperry]

Thanks for the replies. I feel I may need to clarify something. If I am carrying the camera out then the neck strap is what I would use, but while at Disney, I will keep the camera in my Lowepro hip pack except when shooting. And since I will be taking it out and putting it back in so often, it just gets a little aggravating having to stuff the neck strap in each time. Now does that change anyone's opinion or thoughts? Thanks!

Are you sure you want to do that? As soon as I put my camera back in the bag, I see something I want to shoot. And stopping to take the camera out adds enough time that I typically don't do it. When I'm not using the camera, I usually just wear the neck strap across my chest (like a purse--does that make sense?), so it doesn't hurt my neck.

 

[MOmousefan]

I use both. A handstrap for the camcorder and wriststrap for the digital camera. They both fit in a small bag I carry on my shoulder. I have tried neck straps and they are not comfortable for me.

 

[We-Luv-Disney]

I also use both. While at WDW I used my optech neck strap, it gives good cushioning for my heavy camera lens combos. As of late I have been shooting lots of macros so I use my Canon hand strap, its much easier to handle the camera without the neck strap hanging down.

 

[WillCAD]

A couple of people in this thread mentions Op/Tech straps, so out of curiosity I went looking and found their web site.

While browsing, I found this nifty looking little rig:
http://optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=4&PRODUCT_SUB_ID=&CATEGORY_ID=4

It's called the Bino/Cam Harness. It looks odd, but it also looks comfy, so I started playing around with some of my spare camera straps, and managed to create a fair aproximation of the Bino/Cam harness.

It really does seem to be comfy. It takes the weight of the camera very well, and puts it all on the shoulders instead of the neck. It's got enough play in it to let the camera hang on my stomach the way a regular neck strap would, with enough play to get the camera to my eye in either portrait or landscape orientation comfortably.

The next time I go anywhere where I'll have to carry my camera around for several hours, I'm going to try my home-made version of the Bino/Cam. I think it will be even better than my old camera strap.

ETA: And I just realized why this whole thing feels so familiar - Robert Shaw (Quint) wore something very, very similar in Jaws, to hook onto his big fishing rod.

 

[Ratpack]

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions. I think I will stay with the neck strap for now as it helps with lens changes. Also, this is the first time at WDW witha DSLR so it may be more of a learning experience. Then I will know my "habits" for the next trip and can prepare better.

 

[MICKEY88]

replace the bag with a good photographers vest and you'll have the best setup for WDW