How do you deal with your strap when in Portrait orientation?

[TMR Design]

Maybe it's just me but as much as I like using a strap (Black POTN, and I do like it) and like the safety of having it I have to say that I'm not liking it when I rotate the camera to portrait orientation. No matter what I do it gets in the way and I don't want to have to do any extra thinking about my hand position just to flip the camera. I want to be able to raise the camera up in either orientation and just shoot without first making an adjustment.

Any ideas? Is this why people use a hand grip? is there some trick I'm missing?

[Dante King]

do you have a grip? If so left top of camera is one attachment point and bottom right on grip is another. Camera is much more comfortable to carry and IMHO makes PO easier.

[PacAce]

If you want to be able to switch from landscape to portrait and back very quickly, it's best to just leave you hands on the regular (horizontal) grip and shutter button. I do use the vertical grip and shutter button on occassion and I've never had the wrist strap get in the way other than I have to take my hand out of the strap to use the vertical grip and button. Is that what you were talking about?

[TMR Design]

What I am saying is this...
I have the strap attached and it's around my neck. I lift the camera to shoot in standard landscape orientation and the tension eases on the strap as I hold the camera up to my eye and it is pretty much out of the way. When I then turn the camera to portrait orientation the strap hangs over the back and just in general I find that since it is now hanging from the top of the camera instead of the side it gets in the way. It might just be a personal thing but I haven't found a way to comfortably do this without the strap flopping down.

[TMR Design]

do you have a grip? If so left top of camera is one attachment point and bottom right on grip is another. Camera is much more comfortable to carry and IMHO makes PO easier.

I don't have a grip. That's why I was wondering if this was a good solution or if it was what others did.

[joeseph]

If you're anything like my missus, you just let the strap dangle in front of the lens while you're shooting. :-) (sorry Dear!) *runs and hides*

[TMR Design]

If you're anything like my missus, you just let the strap dangle in front of the lens while you're shooting. :-) (sorry Dear!) *runs and hides*


LOLOL I don't know your wife but you probably should run and hide.
No I'm nothing like that. Just looking for a solution to a minor thing.

[SuzyView]

Just out of curiousity, do you put your right hand over the camera or under the camera to snap in the PO? I have never had a problem with the strap. I usually carry it cross shoulder with strap on the left shoulder.

[TMR Design]

I always rotate the camera counter-clockwise so the shutter is at the top.

[Miyagi-san]

i know exactly what you're talking about, i don't use a neck strap because of this....it always got in the way and bothered me when i shot anyway and i don't miss it. that's just me though.

i would suggest getting used to grabbing the camera with the strap on the right side between the camera and your hand, then it comes immediately down and probably won't get in the way?

i dunno, i stopped using one and don't miss it at all.

[TMR Design]

i know exactly what you're talking about, i don't use a neck strap because of this....it always got in the way and bothered me when i shot anyway and i don't miss it. that's just me though.

i would suggest getting used to grabbing the camera with the strap on the right side between the camera and your hand, then it comes immediately down and probably won't get in the way?

i dunno, i stopped using one and don't miss it at all.


I actually love holding the camera and shooting with no strap. I'm just safeguarding against the potential for dropping it because that would just kill me if I stupidly dropped or lost grip. I wish there was a convenient way to have the strap attached but totally remove it quickly when needed. I have the POTN and its great but even with the quick disconnect it leaves to 6" pieces dangling so it doesn't solve the problem. I 'd like to see someone design a quick disconnect that was at the camera or 1" of strap or connector and that's all. But I leave my strap on for safety and it's too inconvenient to put on and take off.

[ScottE]

I hold my camera so the strap runs over the back of my hand. That way the right hand holds the strap out of the way in either orientation. To get to this grip you reach through the stap before gripping the camear. You must hold your camera so the strap is over the thumb. For example, if your camera is hanging around your neck on the strap you must grab it from the side. If my camera is hanging around my neck I start to bring it to my eye with my left hand as a reach through the strap with my right hand and give a quick flick of my wrist to flip the strap around the back of my hand. I do this instinctively and the movement is harder to explain than to do. I don't remember ever thinking about this before.

[kevin_c]

I tend to run the strap over what is now effectively the top of the camera (being careful not to obstruct the shutter release button!) and my right hand on the bottom of the grip (now the side of the camera) stops the strap from flapping about - It is a pain though.

I did try using no strap but when walking around events etc. I need to sling it over my shoulder, especially if I have a second (film) body with me.

[peber]

What I am saying is this...
I have the strap attached and it's around my neck. I lift the camera to shoot in standard landscape orientation and the tension eases on the strap as I hold the camera up to my eye and it is pretty much out of the way. When I then turn the camera to portrait orientation the strap hangs over the back and just in general I find that since it is now hanging from the top of the camera instead of the side it gets in the way. It might just be a personal thing but I haven't found a way to comfortably do this without the strap flopping down.

Same problem here and I do have the grip on my 30D. I have the POTN strap and if I am not careful when I lift the camera to portrait position the strap falls right over the back; I've missed several shots this way...

/P

[PacAce]

What I am saying is this...
I have the strap attached and it's around my neck. I lift the camera to shoot in standard landscape orientation and the tension eases on the strap as I hold the camera up to my eye and it is pretty much out of the way. When I then turn the camera to portrait orientation the strap hangs over the back and just in general I find that since it is now hanging from the top of the camera instead of the side it gets in the way. It might just be a personal thing but I haven't found a way to comfortably do this without the strap flopping down.

OK, I get you now. I have the same problem myself. What I do to "fix" that is to use my thumb to hold the strap out of the way so it doesn't fall over the viewfinder window. The only problem doing this in your case is that you don't have a wrist strap so I'm not sure how easy it'll be for you to have a good grip on your camera while the thumb is pointed upwards holding the strap. :confused:

[TMR Design]

Same problem here and I do have the grip on my 30D. I have the POTN strap and if I am not careful when I lift the camera to portrait position the strap falls right over the back; I've missed several shots this way...

/P

Exactly. Obviously if you can think about your hand positions before you lift the camera then you can have the strap over your hand but if you raise the camera without thinking it flops over the back instead of draoping forward over your hand.
It's not that big a deal. I had originally just wondered if it was just me.

[Big WIll]

My strap always dangles in front of the eye piece when quickly changing between landscape and portrait, now i use my thumb to pull the strap away from it automatically when ever i change force of habit, i have a E1 strap attached aswell, this is very 'handy'! But IMO could do with a clip to easily take it off!

[johnnybfan]

I never use my strap around my neck. I wrap it around my wrist several times to snug the strap and steady my grip on the camera. I do have the battery grip and use my strap the same way horizontal or vertical. I learned this from a community ed class I took about 35 years ago and have used my straps this way ever since. It will work with P&S's and SLR's.

[Wilt]

I use the camera without the strap around my neck. It passes thru the space between my thumb and forefinger, draping over the back of my hand and passing in front of my arm. With the eyepiece up to my eye, I rotate the camera counterclockwise and the strap stays clear of the eyepiece and drapes across my wrist.

I had to wait until the camera was in my hand to write this up...it is so automatic for me that I don't normally have to think about it, so I could not describe it without going thru the automatic reflex of handling my camera!

[René Damkot]

I have a 'slim' canon strap (about 1" wide). Hate the wide ones.
Have it attached to the top right (as in: next to the release) and bottom of the 1D2. Works fine for me.
Don't carry it around my neck, but over my shoulder BTW.

[SuzyView]

I feel bad. I never have trouble and if I did, I never noticed. The strap's there and I have to have it around my body to secure it. One slip of the hand . . . . But I even put ID tags on the strap and it never has bothered me. I have the grip for my 20D that I use when I know I will be doing the portrait mode. That grip is wonderful for that.

[RichNY]

I have the same (Op/Tech) strap and find I like shooting with the shoulder pad removed and the two straps attached together around my wrist.

[cosworth]

I have quick release. I undo the top one if it bothers me. Since it's neporene, I can usually just put it around my shoulders and it's ok. Stops camer shake to boot.

[ironbelle]

I leave the strap on my camera. I don't wear it around my neck like a tourist. I put my arm throught the strap and the camera is around my body like a messenger back. When it's time to shoot, I pull the camera up make sure the strap is under my arm. The strap is adjusted so that when I pull the camera up, the strap tightens across my back and while I have my elbow in my chest to brace the camera, the strap under my arm also helps with keeping the camera stable. So I'm always shooting, the strap is out of the way yet still around my shoulders/chest to prevent it from falling.

[Mike K]

I have to say that I'm not liking it when I rotate the camera to portrait orientation. No matter what I do it gets in the way and I don't want to have to do any extra thinking about my hand position just to flip the camera. I want to be able to raise the camera up in either orientation and just shoot without first making an adjustment.

Any ideas? Is this why people use a hand grip? is there some trick I'm missing?

this is a very different approach, use a Arca Swiss compatible quick release plate that has lugs on both ends. The right side is used with a handstrap and the left side attaches the neck strap. When around your neck the camera hangs with grip side down. These QR plates are available from
http://www.imagetooling.com
http://www.camdapter.com/

the camdapter web site has a good picture of the double ended plate with the neck strap on the left and handstrap on the right. The image tooling is the same functionality and price, but a bit lighter in weight.
Thus when you hold the camera in protrait orientation with the grip end upwards, the neckstrap hangs downwards and does not interfere with camera functions.

Now you can shop for a AS style clamp for your tripod too.
Mike K

[RDY2SHO]

do you have a grip? If so left top of camera is one attachment point and bottom right on grip is another. Camera is much more comfortable to carry and IMHO makes PO easier.

I think that this is a good approach to fix this problem. I have a grip on my 30D and I have been using a Canon handstrap. I like shooting with the handstrap but then I put the camera to vertical position to shoot I am alway paranoid that I could drop it. I think Im going to try putting on the neckstrap this way and see how I like it. :D

[Woolburr]

I think that this is a good approach to fix this problem. I have a grip on my 30D and I have been using a Canon handstrap. I like shooting with the handstrap but then I put the camera to vertical position to shoot I am alway paranoid that I could drop it. I think Im going to try putting on the neckstrap this way and see how I like it. :D

Another option is to attach both of the neckstrap loops to the upper left attachment point and attach the grip normally...you can leave the strap around your neck and it will never get in the way. Looks like this.....
http://www.pbase.com/woolburr/image/60883119/medium.jpg

[RDY2SHO]

Hey.....I like that idea! I will try that............Thanks!:D

[Rellik]

Woolburr, great idea. I will try that too! I assume there are no issues with just using one attachment point? With a larger lens, there is considerable weight on it.

[Woolburr]

No issues at all...I have been using that configuration since back in film days...

[dave kadolph]

Thanks for posting that.

I'm going to give it a try too.

[jrsforums]

Another option is to attach both of the neckstrap loops to the upper left attachment point and attach the grip normally...you can leave the strap around your neck and it will never get in the way. Looks like this.....
http://www.pbase.com/woolburr/image/60883119/medium.jpg

I also use the left lug attachment....and find it good for portrait shoots, but also that it hangs much more naturally and controlably to the hip.

I do attach it a bit differently as shown in this post http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=4631328&postcount=5

[SkipD]

I also use the left lug attachment....and find it good for portrait shoots, but also that it hangs much more naturally and controlably to the hip.

I do attach it a bit differently as shown in this post http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=4631328&postcount=5
I certainly would not want to hang the entire weight of the camera and a lens like the 70-200 f/2.8L IS on only one of the camera's strap lugs. That would tend to overstress the lug in my opinion. At the very least, it is doubling the stress on the left lug over what it would be with a strap connected to both lugs.

[jrsforums]

I certainly would not want to hang the entire weight of the camera and a lens like the 70-200 f/2.8L IS on only one of the camera's strap lugs. That would tend to overstress the lug in my opinion. At the very least, it is doubling the stress on the left lug over what it would be with a strap connected to both lugs.

We all need to weigh our concerns and exposures.

It is not as if I am rough with my equipment. It's not like (imaging view of photographer with 3-5 body/lens combos hanging from his body) I am switching between different bodiews and letting the others drop down and swing away.

When I put the camera down to my side, I control it with my left hand....no "drop and snap". In addition, the Op/tech strap would soften any strain due to it's design. After trying many ways to carry my setup, this has been the best I have found (for me)

I am fairly confident that Canon has designed to lugs with lots of engineering "bandwidth"....after all they have to factor in all types of usage, some with lenses much heavier than the 70-200 2.8.

The person how introduced me to this has been using the method for years, with different manufacturers cameras. For many years with a 20D and 70/200 2.8 (or 24-70).

All that said, it does not mean that something could not happen....either because of fault or over stress of the lug....or some person bowling me over....or just plain carelessness on my part. That's why I have an "any fault" rider on my insurance for the expensive/important pieces of my setup....let's me sleep soundly at night....:lol:

[Woolburr]

I certainly would not want to hang the entire weight of the camera and a lens like the 70-200 f/2.8L IS on only one of the camera's strap lugs. That would tend to overstress the lug in my opinion. At the very least, it is doubling the stress on the left lug over what it would be with a strap connected to both lugs.

I don't have a problem carrying a 300 f/2.8 mounted on my Mk2n in this fashion...and I frequently hike with the 70-200 f/2.8L IS. I see no signs of stress and don't suspect impending failure to be an issue. I carried my F1 for 20+ years using only the left lug and never had even a hint of a problem...I believe the mounts are far stronger than they are being given credit for.

[Riff Raff]

That's a great idea. I recently got one of those Op/Tech loop straps, and had just about decided that it was only going to come out when specifically needed since it looked like it would get in the way so much. I'll try that instead.

[bsanderson]

I never put the strap around my neck. I wrap it around my wrist twice which gives me the equivalent of a hand grip. It also saves the camera if I drop it.

[jrsforums]

I never put the strap around my neck. I wrap it around my wrist twice which gives me the equivalent of a hand grip. It also saves the camera if I drop it.

If you *never* put it around your neck, you my want to consider a hand "strap" (not a "grip").

As you saw from my post of the left-lug-connected post, I have it snapped on a 1" split ring. The nice think about the snap connector and split rings is they can be easily disconnected.

I also have a split ring on the right side. When just around the house (or where I would *never* hang the camera from my shoulder), I just use a hand strap.

Below are two I use. The 1st is one specially made for me by Op/Tech USA. As I remember it was around $8.00

http://www.pbase.com/jrschwaller/image/84906393/large.jpg
(ooops....just realised the connectors were Op/Tech "utility loops" http://optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=48&PRODUCT_SUB_ID= (#7) I have since gone back to split rings which I find easier to use)

This is an old pix of the 2nd "creation", which is a Hakuba hand *strap* with an Ace hardware swivel snap attached http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/194759-REG/Hakuba_KST02BK_Hand_Strap_NP_Black_.html

http://www.pbase.com/jrschwaller/image/69231080/large.jpg

[TMR Design]

I see this thread has been brought back to life again. Cool.

Since posting this originally I haven't done anything about my strap but I have been in the habit of taking it completely off in the studio and I love it that way. I still hate straps. They just bother me and get in the way and I have having to give the strap any thought when I'm being creative and shooting. Ideally I still would like something that gave me small rings or d-rings on the camera's eyelets, and then a strap would just clip to those rings.

Some straps look close to that but never quite right so I haven't bothered to order and try anything. For now, as much as a pain as it may seem, I attach and remove my POTN strap depending on whether I am in the studio or going outdoors to shoot.

Ultimately I find that whether I'm in landscape or portrait orientation I prefer to hold my camera without a strap.

[jrsforums]

I see this thread has been brought back to life again. Cool.

Since posting this originally I haven't done anything about my strap but I have been in the habit of taking it completely off in the studio and I love it that way. I still hate straps. They just bother me and get in the way and I have having to give the strap any thought when I'm being creative and shooting. Ideally I still would like something that gave me small rings or d-rings on the camera's eyelets, and then a strap would just clip to those rings.

Some straps look close to that but never quite right so I haven't bothered to order and try anything. For now, as much as a pain as it may seem, I attach and remove my POTN strap depending on whether I am in the studio or going outdoors to shoot.

Ultimately I find that whether I'm in landscape or portrait orientation I prefer to hold my camera without a strap.

hi, Robert....

If you want easy connect/disconnect to split rings (which I do), just replace the POTN (Op/Tech) Pro loors with the swivel connectors http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/328123-REG/Op_Tech_USA_1301072_System_Connectors_Set_2_.html

If you want a left lug only connector, you can "sacrifice" one of the connectors for the swivel connector and attach the pro loops to it, which then snaps on to the split ring.

see pix at: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=4631328&postcount=5

[TMR Design]

Hey thanks John!!! That looks like exactly what I want to do. How do you spread the split ring to get it on the camera's eyelet without scratching the crap out of it or scraping the black paint off?

[bsanderson]

If you *never* put it around your neck, you my want to consider a hand "strap" (not a "grip").

I never put it around my neck when I'm shooting. If I'm not shooting, it's slung over my shoulder.

[jrsforums]

Hey thanks John!!! That looks like exactly what I want to do. How do you spread the split ring to get it on the camera's eyelet without scratching the crap out of it or scraping the black paint off?

I actually have a ~7/8" ring on the left lug and a 5/8" ring on the right (could easily use 5/8" on both).

The right side is the "hard" one and the small diameter of the 5/8 ring makes it fit a bit easier. Don't remember if I tried larger, but the angle would be tight.

I usually use a needle nose plier to spread the ring, catch in the lug, then use the needle nose to twist the ring around until it is all the way around. I have not put any gouges in my 20D (before) or 5D.

You will get some wearing of the black paint from movement, but not any more than you will, over time, of the Canon strap web rubbing.....which you won't see until you take it off. You will also, on the right side, get a little wear on the edges of the depression (which is why you need the smaller ring) the lug is in, but it is bearly noticeable. It is not much different that the wear on the hot shoe from putting the flash on and off....actually a lot less than that.

If you are really concern about the wear, Op/Tech has the "Utility loops" that I showed in the first pix of the hand strap (above). These work, but I prefer the rings. If you want to try them, you may need to get them directly from Op/Tech.

[NSWESP]

Another option is to attach both of the neckstrap loops to the upper left attachment point and attach the grip normally...you can leave the strap around your neck and it will never get in the way. Looks like this.....
http://www.pbase.com/woolburr/image/60883119/medium.jpg

Great idea but not tooo smart. Just spoke to my local canon service centre and he said the attachment points are only attached to the body with 2 small screws. He is going to speak with Canon Japan and see if there is any data on how much weight each point can take he said its a great idea but is not sure it is great from a service stand point. He also said never attach a neck strap that will place alot of weight on to the BG strap attachment as it is really weak and they have been known to snap off.

[Riff Raff]

I'm not going to be dangling it by the strap too much anyway, I was just looking for a way to have some level of safety from falls and such while still being able to shoot normally (including portrait position). Sounds fine for that.

[Woolburr]

Great idea but not tooo smart. Just spoke to my local canon service centre and he said the attachment points are only attached to the body with 2 small screws. He is going to speak with Canon Japan and see if there is any data on how much weight each point can take he said its a great idea but is not sure it is great from a service stand point. He also said never attach a neck strap that will place alot of weight on to the BG strap attachment as it is really weak and they have been known to snap off.

Sorry but I think your service center person needs to go back to school. Especially if he thinks the BG on a 1 series body is going to snap off if you attach anything to the strap anchor.:confused:

[NSWESP]

Sorry but I think your service center person needs to go back to school. Especially if he thinks the BG on a 1 series body is going to snap off if you attach anything to the strap anchor.:confused:

No the Battery Grip of normal non 1 Series bodies.

[Jon]

No the Battery Grip of normal non 1 Series bodies.
Well, except for the Digital Rebel line (300D, 350D, 400D), the body's metal; those "2 small screws" are set in the metal frame. And Canon would have to design them to be able to handle at least a 300 f/2.8 on the body; I don't think any metal bodied models are going to have problems with hanging everything off of one lug.

[Rellik]

I think NSWESP is referring to the lug that is on the underside of the battery grip. Battery grips are mostly plastic, so I would no doubt agree with him. But the lugs on the camera are much stronger as they are attached to the body's frame.

[Jon]

Doesn't really matter, does it? The BG is supposed to anchor the hand strap, which will also have to bear any weight that a lens is putting on the camera. Otherwise, there's not a lot of point in having a hand strap, is there?

[Woolburr]

There would be little point in putting attachment points on the camera if they can't support any weight. This nonsense has been around for at least 40 years. There was a parade of fools back in the 60s and 70s saying you shouldn't use a neck strap on SLRs because they weren't designed to actually hold anything and they would snap off as you walked. People have been safely and successfully carrying cameras by the strap for years and I suspect they will continue to do so long into the future.

If the strap lugs were as weak and breakage prone as some would have us believe, don't you suspect that they would have been removed from the cameras by now? If the design is that frail and flawed, there would be a stack of lawsuits 50 feet high by now....not to mention the 67 million threads here on POTN about the day my strap lug broke and smashed my 1Dsmk3 and 300 f/2.8.

[ironbelle]

OK, I get you now. I have the same problem myself. What I do to "fix" that is to use my thumb to hold the strap out of the way so it doesn't fall over the viewfinder window. The only problem doing this in your case is that you don't have a wrist strap so I'm not sure how easy it'll be for you to have a good grip on your camera while the thumb is pointed upwards holding the strap. :confused:

I was ready to type this. This is exactly what I do and I use the verticle shutter button with my index finger. The strap wrapped around my thumb helps brace the camera a little bit. Every little bit helps.