Toronto Photography Meetup Group

I need a camera strap for my T1i and I don't have (or want) a battery grip. My neck strap has to go. It covers the eye piece all the time and I'm annoyed to death with it.

Anyone use a hand strap that has an adapter on it so I can attach the strap to the bottom of my camera? Whats better, neoprene or leather? Looking for recommendations. Thanks...

All depends on YOUR preferences.

Personally I use a "Hakuba Grip PH" due to the fact I've torn tendons in my right hand:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/194967-REG/Hakuba_KGP_01.html

There's also one that wraps only around the back of the hand, rather than locking around the wrist like the one above:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/194968-REG/Hakuba_KGP_02.html

With both of these, they attach to the right strap point, and the other half to the tripod socket.

Thanks for the examples. I'm not sure which style would be better for me but Im going to go over to a camera store tomorrow and check them out.

I use a hand strap sometimes but find if you are holding a camera with a heavier lens it becomes a bit cumbersome very quickly so be warned. I use the matin leather hand straps. The sell them at Vistek for about $30. I find they work great, my hand doesn't sweat at all, and they are very soft and comfortable. I have not tried the neoprene ones at all however and if you end up with one I would love to know how they are.

Devil's advocate: R-Strap?

I resisted spending the $80 or so on an R-Strap for the longest time. Ended up picking one up at Henry's two weeks ago, best decision ever, I love it. It's expensive, but it's worth it if you like to carry your camera on your side as opposed to around your neck.

I end up with a $10 carabiner connecting to my tripod quick release plate on the camera and one of my old bag strap. I feel the same.

Handstraps IMHO seem like a good thing until you try to reach certain camera controls and then they just become annoying so maybe hotwire is right and R-Straps are the way to go.

I think I still have one lying around if I haven't given it away yet.

I was in the same boat. Resisted spending the money on the R-Strap thinking it was a gimick and I could make something like it. Procrastinated and then decided to buy it and was very pleased with it.

I've got a wrist immobilizer (for some minor RSI) made of Neoprene and it gets sweaty and uncomfortable. I avoid it for something more breatheable.

And just to be on-topic, I use Tamrac straps -- a silver flame version, as well as two 'suede' ones (the suedes are longer). I need to get another one for my latest purchase :S
It's not a particular endorsement. I typically don't have sweating issues, and the non-slip properties work well. I am, however, locked in to their quick-release system. If only they sold those seperately.

I should mention that in addition to the hand strap I also have a traditional strap on my camera that has the quick release clips so I can get rid of the strap when I just want to shoot with the hand strap (OK, the ends of the camera strap flap around a bit, but they don't get in the way of my lens).

What quick release plate are you using? For example, if it's a Manfrotto QR plate like an RC2, I have firsthand experience of the D-ring failing. It was never designed for this use.

Another vote for R-Strap.

I own the RS-4, RS-7 and DR-1. It's handy and I love them, if you choose to go with one, make sure to pick up the new revisions with the FR-3 fastener - it's one piece as oppose to the old one where it was 2 pieces and prone to breakage

What about the Spider Holster? I've seen a few wedding photographers using that as an alternative to the Rstrap.

I have one like shown in this link and had the same experience as Ryan:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/194968-REG/Hakuba_KGP_02.html
On a consumer sized DSLR it does not work well. It holds my hand too close to the body and and makes it hard to reach some of the controls, especially the 4 way controller on the back. It seems like it would work much better on a pro-sized body with a battery grip where my thumb would fall more naturally on the back controls.

r-straps are great. saves your neck. i swear by them :0

Which strap is this, Mike? I've been getting more comfortable with my R-strap, and find the neck straps I still have on the camera are getting in the way.

I was looking for R straps on ebay and came across this advert. Looks like a good product.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :MESELX:IT

I use a Roots strap from Henry's...it has little "pillows" for comfort:


You can see the quick release snaps so I can remove the strap when I don't want it in the way.

+1 for an R-Strap.

My version

Not sure why yours covers the eyepiece all the time. I like the neck strap but found mosut of them ungainly....

Bought this one:

http://www.vistek.ca/store/ProPhotoTenb ... ckred.aspx

Very comfortable and a good bounce so the shock of it pulling on your neck is gone. Also has the air bubbles on the neck. A great buy for 21 bucks.

They apparantly make shoulder straps for laptops bags that could be adapted to Rstrap.

R straps are NOT a gimic - buy one.

I despise the R-Strap.

It comes too close the the front of my neck.

I'm an R strap convert but one thing I don't like about it is if I've got a speedlight attached I have to be careful if I kneel down or the flash gets a beating on the ground. Not a problem if you only shoot with a single body.

Try the Brad strap with it.

I just bought something called the Ezee Strap. Haven't had an opportunity to try it out in the field; but it looks like it'll be good. It's made somewhere in the 905 area.

http://www.ezeecamerastraps.com/index.php

Looks "ok" for landscape pix but what about portrait??

You dont take portraits.

Hadn't even thought of that I'll let you know in the next day or two.

Well, it worked fine for me doing a portrait shot. You just have to watch where the strap is when you turn the camera.