BigEd Users, Hand strap or neck strap?

[kafene]

I have the stock neck strap that came w/ my 10D and I've been fine with it. Am I missing out by not getting the hand strap?

I'm curious to see what you guys with the BG-ED grip are using.

kafene.

[iwatkins]

I have Big-Ed on my 10D along with the E1 hand strap. Wouldn't live without it.

I did have the neck strap fitted for a while, but I never hang cameras around my neck. I just used it so I had something to wrap around my arm as security against dropping it.

Now I have the hand strap, I carry the camera in my hand all the time while shooting. The strap makes this easy an comfortable with all but the largest lenses. Camera goes back in its bag when I'm not shooting.

Recommended.

Cheers

Ian

[neil_r]

They are a real pain if you are swapping between cameras. I usually carry one and have the other hanging on my shoulder, not round my neck.

Neil

[maderito]

A photography buff once told me that REAL photographers never carry their cameras with a strap around their neck. Unfortunately, I had no choice until I got the 10D followed by Big ED and then the hand strap. Next I threw away the neck strap and joined the ranks. :D

[PacAce]

I have Big-Ed on my 10D along with the E1 hand strap. Wouldn't live without it.

I did have the neck strap fitted for a while, but I never hang cameras around my neck. I just used it so I had something to wrap around my arm as security against dropping it.

Now I have the hand strap, I carry the camera in my hand all the time while shooting. The strap makes this easy an comfortable with all but the largest lenses. Camera goes back in its bag when I'm not shooting.

Recommended.

Cheers

Ian

Can the wrist strap be used with the camera in both the landscape and the portrait positions without having to adjust anything?

[kafene]

A photography buff once told me that REAL photographers never carry their cameras with a strap around their neck. Unfortunately, I had no choice until I got the 10D followed by Big ED and then the hand strap. Next I threw away the neck strap and joined the ranks. :D

Well damn.. I'd better get one, then! :lol:

kafene.

[kafene]

I have Big-Ed on my 10D along with the E1 hand strap. Wouldn't live without it.

I did have the neck strap fitted for a while, but I never hang cameras around my neck. I just used it so I had something to wrap around my arm as security against dropping it.

Now I have the hand strap, I carry the camera in my hand all the time while shooting. The strap makes this easy an comfortable with all but the largest lenses. Camera goes back in its bag when I'm not shooting.

Recommended.

Cheers

Ian

Does the Canon E1 hand strap get in the way of putting in and taking out the Compact Flash cards?

kafene.

[RichardtheSane]

OK, I went through the same debate and came out with a unique answer. Hand strap AND neck strap.

I have my neck strap cunningly fitted to the same points as the handstrap giving the benefits of handstrap and another short strap for hanging the camera off my shoulder while walking.

If you want I can take a few shots of how it works :D

[sparty314]

This thread reminds me of a question I wanted to ask....

I have the BG-ED3 grip and I love it. I recently got the hand strap for the grip and I am trying to use it. However, I find that I can't comfortably use the main dial (on top of the camera) with my index finger without over-straining my wrist.

Does anyone else have this problem? I don't have exceptionally large hands, so I almost think that maybe I don't have the strap on correctly. It just seems like when it is tight enough to feel secure, I am unable to bend my index finger out and away from the camera far enough to operate all of the controls.

[maderito]

This thread reminds me of a question I wanted to ask....

I have the BG-ED3 grip and I love it. I recently got the hand strap for the grip and I am trying to use it. However, I find that I can't comfortably use the main dial (on top of the camera) with my index finger without over-straining my wrist.

Does anyone else have this problem? I don't have exceptionally large hands, so I almost think that maybe I don't have the strap on correctly. It just seems like when it is tight enough to feel secure, I am unable to bend my index finger out and away from the camera far enough to operate all of the controls.

I have small hands but had same problem until I loosened the strap. It's not as snug and secure, but it works and I've gotten used to the overall feel during shooting and while carrying.

The distance from the shutter button and the main dial is about 3/4". I'll guess you have to lengthen your strap by less than that...

[motophoto]

OK, I went through the same debate and came out with a unique answer. Hand strap AND neck strap.

I have my neck strap cunningly fitted to the same points as the handstrap giving the benefits of handstrap and another short strap for hanging the camera off my shoulder while walking.

If you want I can take a few shots of how it works :D

That is kind of like wearing a belt, AND suspenders!

actually that is how i have my straps set-up but i have a neck strap with a quick release

i find that when i am out in the field this is a great setup because there are times when i am just standing around taking up space, and its nice being able to "shoulder" my camera when not in use.

[sjprg]

If I'm on the street or in a crowd, I want the neck strap, even if I do look like a tourist. The camera is never hung by the strap, I carry it, its just there for safty. The extra security may save your camera when some knukle head bumps you. I have a quick release neck strap as mostly my camera stays on a monopod which doubles as a walking stick.

[Belmondo]

When I carry the 10D with the BG-ED3 on it, I usually have the 24-70 f/2.8L or one of the larger lenses on the camera. The comibination is simply too heavy to hang around my neck, and it becomes uncomfortable after just a couple minutes. The hand strap allows a secure but relaxed grip on the camera, and is much less tiring. Also, I've never been a believer that all the bouncing a camera does when hanging around your neck is good for it.

On the other hand, I do have a 10D without the battery grip, and I do use the necks strap on that, but that's my backup camera, and the hand strpa doesn't fit without a battery grip. If I could come up with sufficient justification, I'd probably put a battery grip and hand strap on it, too.

FWIW

Tom

[maderito]

An addendum to my previous post on this thread:

I do most of my outdoor shooting on family day trips (thinly disguised photography excursions). I bring photo equipment with me stored in my photography bag. The bag stays in the car.

I carry the 10D+lens using Big Ed and the hand strap (without neck strap), but . . .

I also carry a smallish canvas backpack to put away the camera/lens when I'm not actively looking for shots.

With the camera on my hand, I occasionally have to cradle it, like a baby, to relieve fatigue or to navigate through small shops with items on display more expensive than the 10D+lens.

Why do I feel like I'm confessing the intimate details of my life :?

[TimNYC]

A photography buff once told me that REAL photographers never carry their cameras with a strap around their neck. Unfortunately, I had no choice until I got the 10D followed by Big ED and then the hand strap. Next I threw away the neck strap and joined the ranks. :D

Woody, apparently none of your buds are professional sports photographers. Have you ever looked at a game and seen any PROfessional photographer with a hand strap?

[maderito]

A photography buff once told me that REAL photographers never carry their cameras with a strap around their neck. Unfortunately, I had no choice until I got the 10D followed by Big ED and then the hand strap. Next I threw away the neck strap and joined the ranks. :D

Woody, apparently none of your buds are professional sports photographers. Have you ever looked at a game and seen any PROfessional photographer with a hand strap?

TimNYC,

I agree. The folks I'm talking about ("photography buffs") think they're pros - but the distance between someone who earns a living with a camera and the rest of us is huge. The only real pros I see consistently are sitting on the sidelines of sports events, and they seem to be always looking at the replay of their shots on their LCDs ("did I get it?").

This shot is from an unknown source and was shown previously on this Forum:

http://display.lifepics.com/imgdisp.asp?filespec=%60foxhx2cuxmwdogx%5D9%3C%3D8 %3B9dOjeOrmlf589%3D98%3F%3A2tso%0B51%3A%3F%3B4%133 82517

Aside from the obvious - (Canon glass) - these guys do have neck straps on their cameras.

[OviV]

I just got the grip for my DRebel and I am looking to get the hand strap. However, I mostly do nature photography while bicycling and I usually carry my camera with the neck strap across my body to save time. I need to get a basket for my bike but I have been resisting that since it will make me look like a tourist with a rental bike. ;)

Ovi

[jazt]

....

If you want I can take a few shots of how it works :D

Richard, I'd like to see how you did that, could you get a picture of the setup for us?

[John_T]

Hmmm. All my stuff is OP/TECH USA.

http://www.optechusa.com/

Anybody got a link for Big Ed?

[RichardtheSane]

OK, heres a couple of pictures and also I'll try to explain because it may not be clear.
First thing I did was remove the nylon webbing that is used to fasten the handstrap on, but I kept the plastic grip thing (technical term there)
I looped my neckstrap through the handstrap loops on the camera, and set it to what is nearly the shortest lenght.
The spare nylon tht was left was then used to fasten the handstrap between each end on the neck strap.
This is really hard to describe, hope the pictures tell a better story, or at least point you in the right direction!

http://www.richardlindley.co.uk/images/handstrap3.jpg

http://www.richardlindley.co.uk/images/handstrap2.jpg

http://www.richardlindley.co.uk/images/handstrap1.jpg

Damn, you can still see the junk in the background :(

[iwatkins]

Nice Job Richard,

I can see what you have done, but I couldn't explain it in words either. :lol:

Cheers

Ian

[RichardtheSane]

Impossible to explain, but a damn useful setup :D

[BCdives]

Richard thats brilliant, but I can see it now, Canon will come out with an OEM Neck/Hand strap configuration and make millions, call the patent office quick!

Good thinking!

BC

[RichardtheSane]

Glad you like the idea :)

Now the real reasoning behing the idea - so I could sneak the 10D into a rock gig without ruining the line of my jacket (thus giving the game away!)
10D slung under one arm with no lens just body cap
100mm F2.8 macro in the other pocket - they were none the wiser :D

Anyone is welcome to try it, and I promise I won't hit you with royalties :D

[Tom W]

Damn, you can still see the junk in the background :(

All I saw was a big white lens with a little camera attached to it. :D

[Tom W]

I'd never seen a hand strap until Richard-the Sane's pictures. It may be useful, particularly if you have the option of using both.

I've always used a neck-strap, although if I'm dealing with a crowd, I will wear the strap over my head and across the opposite shoulder, much like Spock used to wear his tricorder. In that situation, I also cupped the camera in my hand as I worked through the crowd. In fact, I usually have my hand holding the camera regardless of how I have the neck strap situated.