5 Reasons to Use a Camera Strap

Photography Tips

While you may come across a multitude of photography tutorials that focus on lenses, cameras, and lighting, there is one significant piece of photography gear that often gets neglected and somehow slips by the photography forums–the camera strap! Even filters and bags manage to get a lot of press, but hardly anyone stops to think about what really holds their camera when their hands aren’t holding it.

“Second Camera” captured by PictureSocial member Ray Rich

So let’s take a look at the top five reasons why you should buy a good camera strap:

 1. Hands-free

A photographer subconsciously relies on this accessory, usually to hold his treasured possession securely when he decides to stay hands-free. A camera strap is a substitute for the hands and allows you to perform other tasks even when there is no surface to rest the camera upon. For instance, on a shooting campaign in the muddy areas of a wildlife sanctuary, you probably would not let your camera struggle with the dust and scratches by making it sit on the dirty terrains. That’s where straps make a dramatic entry!

2. Safety

While letting the camera slip out of your hands is a situation that often knocks on a photographer’s door, straps make sure that your equipment never falls and crashes into pieces. After spending a fortune on your precious camera, you probably wouldn’t mind giving away a few more bucks to ensure its safety.

3. Ergonomics

One of the top reasons why most professionals can never be spotted without a strap is that it can distribute the heavy weight of high-end cameras over the shoulders, chest, and back. Camera straps eliminate neck and hand pains and allow you to work for long hours. The default straps furnished by manufacturers let the camera hang by the neck, making it somewhat ineffective in distributing of weight. On the other hand, special straps like harnesses are specially designed to better suit the ergonomic needs of professional photographers.

4. Recognition

Imagine you are on a professional wedding shoot, carrying a simple DSLR in your hands. People do not recognize you as a professional and stand in your way while you are struggling for those perfect shots. Sounds familiar? A camera strap makes the crowd recognize your role and steer clear of your way. It is a kind of identity card that signals that you are a significant professional.

5. Stabilization

Camera straps are often used as stabilizers in various ways. Whether you wrap the strap around your wrist or have it pulled tightly over your triceps, they can be used as a tool to stabilize the camera when a tripod is not feasible.

So, no matter whether it dangles precariously from shoulders or it’s yoked around the neck, a strap often takes the role of a car seatbelt–keeping your camera safe from a crash!

 About the Author:
G Sonali is a regular writer, and she is currently writing on photography, camera accessories, and the outdoors.