Do any of you NOT use your neck strap??

Camera's out of the bag, strap's around my neck. I'm notr using the camera, it's back in the bag. Situations like this excepted:

Jon wrote in post #9837026
Camera's out of the bag, strap's around my neck. I'm notr using the camera, it's back in the bag. Situations like this excepted:

Gear belongs to me, Woolburr, mtnphotographer, gfiorillo and ISO Boz

drools @_@

I use a combo of E-1 hand grip and R-strap

anhtimmy wrote in post #9838140
drools @_@

I use a combo of E-1 hand grip and R-strap

Yeah, we needed a group photo. Off the top of my head, two DRsomethings, a 5D, a1D3, an SX1m, an A630 and (not shown) another DRsomething and an SX110. A 17-85, a 24-70, a 70-200 2.8 IS and 2x 100 m macros.

Currently, I use UpStraps. Their new quicklock system allows me to switch the strap from camera body to long lens in a second. It doesn't matter which side of the rubber pad is up, it grips the same--like glue. Hangs on the shoulder and doesn't slip. How good is it, it's available through the online store for the National Press Photographers Association.

Since I am a belt and suspenders kind of guy, I also have an E-1 handstrap on all my cameras. Generally as I raise a camera up I twist the strap around whichever arm it is next to and use it to brace for the shot--my right hand in the E-1. I can't remember ever having a strap fall in front of my lens.

The one exception is when I take a camera somewhere that is known for thievery, then I fit the camera I take with a PacSafe strap that has cut-proof wires through it.

Wish I could say that all that precaution has kept me from dropping a camera but, sad to say, in 42 years of shooting I've dropped a camera four times. Once in 1968, twice in 2007 and once a couple of weeks ago. Carelessness on my part everytime.

Seems to be advancing with age.

RDKirk wrote in post #9838767
Seems to be advancing with age.

You bet! The two in '07 were tripping on uneven pavement in Europe and the camera hitting the concrete as a result of my falling--the strap working as a sling to increase the momentum of the camera.

This last one was a first. A couple of times in the past I've had a lens on a camera that I didn't firmly lock in place and the lens would suddenly pop off at an inconvenient time or place. But this time I had the camera mounted on a long lens and the lens was strapped and around my neck--the camera had not been locked into place, or I had inadvertently pushed the release button--not sure which--and off comes the camera falling to the concrete. That's another thing--why does it always happen over concrete?

The other thing is that my incidents have proved to me that camera equipment is usually pretty tough. My 7D has a little scrape mark but otherwise continues to work as before. The plastic XTi kept clicking in '07 and the one in 1968--that was a Hasselblad. The magazine popped off the body, as did the lens, but all continued to work just fine. Heck, that 'Blad is probably still working somewhere today. I should add that in recent years I put Kirk or RRS L-backets on all my cameras and it seems to help rebuff hard knocks.

I replaced the canon strap with an optech pro, most of the time I unclip the neoprene neck bit and attach the 2 short bits together, handy for holding, wrapping round wrist and when in a crowd I use a velcro wristband and feed the shortened strap through that for security.

If I am hanging around casually taking pics I put the neoprene part back on and hang it round my neck or off my shoulder. When I am out walking (cant really call my strolling hiking, but that sort of thing, or on my mountain bike) I take the neoprene neck bit off again, attach the small straps and carry the camera in a lowpro slingshot (100 or 200 depending how much kit I want with me) and just take the cam out to use it and put it back if walking on or riding on sort of thing..

Currently I don't use a strap on my gripped 50D.. I'd prefer to, but the Canon one is just too damn uncomfortable and seems to be always getting in the way. Any suggestions?

Abyssgh0st wrote in post #9845463
Currently I don't use a strap on my gripped 50D.. I'd prefer to, but the Canon one is just too damn uncomfortable and seems to be always getting in the way. Any suggestions?

Different strap.

Just using my E1 hand strap at the moment

Abyssgh0st wrote in post #9845463
Currently I don't use a strap on my gripped 50D.. I'd prefer to, but the Canon one is just too damn uncomfortable and seems to be always getting in the way. Any suggestions?

The rare times I do have one on I put on the free strap that SmugMug was giving away. IT is pretty comfortable. And is long enough to wear like a R strap.

19 year pro. Have never used a neckstrap for all the reasons you mentioned. In fact, I can't seem to understand why anyone likes 'em? But, each to their own I suppose...

To me, they're bulky, clunky, in the way and frankly as dangerous to the camera as they are safe. How many times have you (or someone you know) snagged a strap and the camera get drug along with it. Off the table, etc. and bang! Because of the very strap meant to 'save' it.

So for me, I do like the E-1 handstraps and I have never, to my knowledge, dropped a camera. (Drop my p&s's all the time, though, but never a professional camera) So, yeah. You're not alone.

Anyone want to buy some Canon neckstraps?

i like to just grip mine

my neck strap is usually just wrapped around my hand

i take it off when im using a tripod and its windy, but other than that, i keep it on