Neckstraps: a Precaution, or a Menace?

I use a long Domke strap and sling the camera around me like a messenger bag. I mover the camera behind me when walking and it doesn't hang over my neck, as to me it's an uncomfortable position. When I want to shoot, I swing the camera around and it's still around my neck. Having it around my neck has prevented a few mishaps. It's never been a menace to me.

NSWESP wrote in post #5366145
No they will just cut it or take your hand with it

Nah, the crims aren't that hardcore in melbourne. It's just the concept of a deterrent. There's nothing you can do apart from keep your cam constantly locked in a safety deposit box if someone is serious about stealing it.

ICee wrote in post #5366390
I've just got one of the black rapid straps and me first thoughts are positive. I do a lot of sports photography and use a 300 f2.8 on a monopod and this strap make it easy too change to the 70-200 as you don't get tangled with straps.

I think these things are a great idea. I want to get one but the clip looks a little lightweight to me. I emailed them about a month ago to ask if there is an option to "beef it up" a little. They said they're working on doing that and the new clip will be available soon. What are your thoughts on this ICee? Do you think that clip is heavy duty enough to handle a heavy body & lens?

I actually went back to that website earlier today to see if there is any update noted on their website. I'll buy one as soon as they do that.

I always have the neck strap on my camera and if it is not around my neck then it is wrapped around my wrist. I have snagged the neck strap when the camera was mounted on a tripod and I jerked the tripod off balance but it didn't fall over.

I don't remember ever having dropped a camera unless it was when I used a disposable. I am generally pretty careful with my cameras but who knows I may drop my camera for the first time today. If I do it will be because I don't have the neck strap around my neck or wrist.

I've never had the neck strap save me from dropping the camera.... I have had a few close calls when I've snagged the strap while picking up the camera and almost had it pulled out of my hands.

I've learned to pay close attention to the strap when I handle my camera so it is no longer a problem.

Like others, I also use my strap as a shoulder strap rather than a neck strap. I don't like the camera bouncing on my chest when I walk.. The shoulder method makes carrying the camera more comfortable when I have a heavy lens attached.

Strawberry Fields wrote in post #5365982
How often have you actually lost your grip on the camera, only to have the neckstrap save the day?

How often has your day been ruined because the neckstrap got snagged onto something, and caused an accident?

I have a working theory that the neckstrap actually causes more accidents than it prevents...

i would say your "working theory" doesn't work.

I never put the strap around my neck, sometimes over my shoulder. And I can't think of a time my hand ever fumbled the camera or actually dropped it, however, the strap did catch on a steel bar once when I was shooting the hull of a boat, pulled out of my hand and dinged my Sigma 105 Macro lens on the area the lens cap goes on, and the threads got smooshed so you can't screw on a filter now.

Strawberry Fields wrote in post #5365982
How often have you actually lost your grip on the camera, only to have the neckstrap save the day?

How often has your day been ruined because the neckstrap got snagged onto something, and caused an accident?

I have a working theory that the neckstrap actually causes more accidents than it prevents...

my neckstrap always goes around my neck when i grab my camera. always.

ed rader

I use both handstrap and neckstrap...

I will never shoot with a single camera. I guess that this is because I cut my photographic teeth with prime lenses and IMO a multiple camera system is the only efficient way to shoot with prime lenses. I think it is ridiculous to be switching lenses in the field in the middle of a shoot and also think that using one of those relatively slow-focusing, small aperture, mediocre IQ, zooms with the extensively wide focal range limits the capability of any photographer.

I want relatively instantaneous focus, a wide zoom range, decent apertures and, above all, top-notch IQ when I am shooting. My lens duo of choice is the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS and 70-200mm f/4L IS lenses on two bodies. I am willing to pay the price in extra weight. There is no real problem regarding extra cost. I use a 30D and a 350D in this system - the two cameras are worth less than a 40D.

I will always have these two lenses on dedicated cameras and will carry the camera with the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens around my neck on an Optech Reporter Strap and will have the 70-200mm f/4L IS lens in a holster case at my left hip. I have a hand strap on the camera with the long lens and will not use an OEM hood with this lens because the OEM hood is far to big and bulky and restricts easy removal from the holster case for shooting. My wife has sewn Velcro tabs on the left shoulder of the vest and I can fit the Velcro belt tab of the holster over the waist adjustment strap of the vest. That way, the holster case doesn't swing around when I run. Speaking about running or climbing. I have an OPTECH Stabilizer Strap which fits around my chest that has a neoprene pad with a lens hole. Slipping this pad over my camera will secure it to my chest and not let it swing. It slows down the use of the camera a bit but, I will only use this type of security when I am doing manuevers which could cause the camera/lens to be damaged if it was not secured tightly to my chest.

Instead of the OEM hood, I use a round screw-in hood which is a LOT MORE COMPACT (the OEM hoods for the 70-200mm series lenses are designed for full frame cameras and are overkill with 1.6x format gear), will shade the lens equally if not better, will facilitate the use of a CPL and will protect the lens from impact damage as well (if not a heck of a lot better) than the OEM hood. As an example, I fell to the concrete one day while shooting with a 30D and an L lens around my neck. The screw-in hood took the impact of the fall and broke but, it saved the lens. I don't know if the OEM hood could have done as well - but, would certainly not have done any better. Instead of a Canon lens cap, I use an OPTECH Hood hat to protect my lens. It is easy and quick to remove and place in my pocket.

I will often shoot with other configurations with my several lenses depending upon the needs of the shooting day. I have replaced my Tamrac Holster Case with a Think Tank Holster Case because the Think Tank has a zipper extension which will accommodate a longer lens.

When I shoot with my 70-200mm f/4L IS lens and my 300mm f/4L IS lenses on two cameras; I will have the shorter lens around my neck on the strap and the longer lens in the case with hand strap.

If I have my 300mm or 400mm lenses on a tripod, I will hang the holster case from the hook at the bottom of the tripod center column. With the 70-200mm lens configured like I described above - it is easy to reach into the holster remove the camera/lens and start shooting hand held. Hanging the holster keeps me from holding the weight of the camera/lens when I am shooting with the tripod mounted camera/lens and also keeps the holster safe from being tripped over or ripped off by a thief.

It is very quick to flip open the holster, insert my hand into the hand-strap, withdraw the camera, rip off the Hood Hat and start shooting. It takes a heck of a lot less time to do it than it does to describe doing it. AND - it is one heck of a lot faster than trying to switch lenses in the field.

Here are links to my equipment:

Reporter Strap:
http://www.optechusa.c​om …UCT_SUB_ID=&CAT​EGORY_ID=4
U use this strap because I occasionally will carry a third camera and lens. Three cameras used to be my standard load before I got the 17-5mm f/2.8 IS and was able to cut down to two cameras and lenses most of the time.

Hood Hat:
http://www.optechusa.c​om …UCT_SUB_ID=&CAT​EGORY_ID=6

Think Tank Case:
http://www.thinktankph​oto.com/ttp_product_Dg​tlHlstr.php

Hand strap:
http://cgi.ebay.com …ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcm​dZViewItem
I don't like the type of hand strap which secures to the wrist because it is not as fast to use when removing the camera from the holster.

Round screw-in hood:
http://cgi.ebay.com …ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcm​dZViewItem

Stabilizer:
http://www.optechusa.c​om …UCT_SUB_ID=&CAT​EGORY_ID=4

Ephemeral wrote in post #5366303
I like the hands-free nature of having a neck strap.

Same here, camera comes out, strap goes over my head, no chance I can drop my camera. If you have a neck strap on your camera but don't use it, and just hold your camera in your hand with the strap flying around, you're asking for trouble. Its much too easy to snag something with the strap and have it ripped out of your hand.

Why not just hire a babe to stand next to you and hold the other camera? For what you spend on accessories, you could hire two.

Sometimes it's around my wrist, but a lot o times I have it hanging by my side for just walking around. Hardly does it just hang in front of me

now here's an accident waiting to happen:

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I only use a neck strap when I am walking some where like the zoo or Disneyland but only when my kids are there because I always need 3 free hands to wrangle them. So 2 free and my camera hanging is the best I can do.

I will shoot with 2 bodies for the first time this weekend and I will be using 2 straps.

The last time I went to the San Diego Wild Animal Park I had my 40D, 70-200 f2.8 with a pouch on my belt that fit the lens, and a 300 f2.8 hanging from my neck. So the only time I had to deal with strap is with it hanging from the lens mounts.

40+ years of photographic background, several times straps have been the reason why a camera did not hit the ground, and no events where it ever caused an accident or mear-accident. But I rarely use the strap as a neck strap, but use it mostly as a shoulder strap while walking about, and if I am shooting the strap gets looped around my arm a couple of times.