BigEd Users, Hand strap or neck strap?

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.

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

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

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.

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

maderito wrote:
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.

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

kafene.

CF cards.

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

kafene.

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

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...

RichardtheSane wrote:
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

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.

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.

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

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

maderito wrote:
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.

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?