Light vs. Hefty Cameras and Strap or No Strap - What's Your Preference?

[miha]

I’ve been thinking about camera preferences and would like to hear your thoughts on a couple of things.

- Light vs. hefty cameras: Some people prefer lightweight cameras because they’re easy to carry around and feel less bulky. Others like the more substantial, heavier feel of a camera, which can provide better ergonomics and a sense of durability. Do you prefer a camera that’s light and easy to handle, or do you enjoy the heft and solid build of a heavier one?

- Strap or no strap: When it comes to carrying your camera, do you always use a strap for safety and comfort, or do you prefer to go without one for a more minimal look and feel? If you do use a strap, do you prefer a neck strap, a shoulder strap, or maybe a wrist strap? Or are you someone who just carries the camera by hand, enjoying the freedom of not being tied down?

 

[Besk]

For medium format (except TLR) and smaller it is always a hand strap. This is to ensure that the camera doesn't get dropped. Press type cameras have a strap also on the side.

 

[Chan Tran]

I only have 35mm and I want heavy cameras. At times I want small cameras but I don't want light cameras. When I carry he camera outside I always use strap. Short and wear it high against my chest. Not on the side.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I always use a tripod. So no strap is necessary.

 

[Willy T]

Strap/ leash/tether depending on form/size, always. I am so clumsy that my prehensility has been called into question.

 

[Alan9940]

Since I shoot mostly LF and Pentax 67, my cameras tend to the heavy side by default. I wouldn't say I prefer them, rather it is what it is. When handholding (which isn't often), I prefer a neck strap, but I don't want any strap on the camera when working from a tripod. I do shoot Leica M occasionally and have a very nice thin leather strap on that camera, but anything else is wide(ish) straps like the Peak Slide.

 

[mpeterson]

My cameras are a mix of heavy (MF) and light (Nikon). No strap for the MF gear, as it’s always on a tripod. I have both hand- and neck-straps for my Nikons, but prefer the neck straps. I generally don’t actually wear them on my neck or shoulder, but wrap them around my hand. Just feels more secure than a hand strap. Plus, on occasion I need both hands to do something like change a lens or set up a tripod, so I can toss it around my neck as a parking place for a moment or two.

 

[Paul Howell]

I have light and heavy 35mms, Nikon F4, Minolta 9 are heavy, the Minolta 9 is made of stainless steel, at the end of the day I know I've carrying it. Midrange I have Konica T, T4 with motor winder, along with Minolta 700 with winder, 800si with grip, on the light ligh side Minolta 600 and Minolta 5. Very light a set of point and shoots. Unless I need weather sealing or other advanced features I generally take the 800. I use a strap unless I will on a tripod.

 

[MattKing]

Neck straps on every camera - light (Olympus OM - both film and digital) right through Mamiya RB67/Koni Omega (formerly) or Mamiya C330 and Mamiya 645 currently.
I'm essentially a 1 + a bit handed photographer - mostly just the left hand - so I need something to safely take the weight of the camera when that left hand is otherwise occupied.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The Hasselblad 503 CX fits well in my left hand and I always use a wide strap for it. I also use a wide neck strap for my Nikons.

 

[Chan Tran]

Any way I never use strap wider than 3/4".

 

[AnselMortensen]

My preference is a Nikon F/F2/F3HP/N90s or Nikkormat FT3 with a neoprene-type strap if I'm walking around.
The car camera wears no strap.

 

[1957ExaktaVarexIIa]

Strap: always. It's more comfortable for I use to carry around two cameras, one for colour film and one for black-and-white.

I love heavy cameras (Canon New F-1, Exakta Varex, Leicaflex SL, Contax RTS II) and heavy lenses (Carl Zeiss C/Y, Leitz).
Except for when I'm travelling by train: My lightweight gear consists of two Zeiss Ikon Contax bodies with four lenses 35-135 mm.

 

[Laurent]

I like hefty for SLRs, and in this case a strap is always there, usually on my shoulder. At the moment, Canon F1, EF are my favourites

The Leica M4 and Rolleiflex also have a strap that's always there, and usually again on my shoulder.

The Leica III has a hand-strap and regularly sits in my pockets when they are big enough.

 

[GregY]

Unless it's LF, it has a strap on it....with the exception of my Voigtlander Perkeo ll which has no lugs.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I use 1" or 1.5" neck straps for my 35mm and MF cameras.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I always use a tripod. So no strap is necessary.

I'd also mention that I do use neck straps for my meter and my loupes and my micro 4/3 camera that I use as a director;s viewfinder and sometime meter. The shooting camera stays secure on the tripod.

 

[wiltw]

For small pocketable cameras, both a wrist strap so I don't lose hold of its small size while shooting, and a thin neck strap for when I do not wish to pocket it and want both my hands free.
For 135 format or medium format SLR, a slightly stretchy, not too bulky shoulder/neck strap, that comes off the shoulder/neck and gets a wrap around the wrist while actively shooting.
And a thin neck strap for handheld meters.

I prefer my film SLRs small and light...Olympus OM system. But I shoot professionally with medium format SLR (Bronica ETRSi system) , which is inherently bulky and heavy.
Since I have not adopted digital mirrorless, I am saddled with the weight and bulk of digital SLRs.

Oh, my large format is a very bulky and weighty metal frame monorail camera.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

All non-LF cameras are on a neck strap...including the RB, when I'm not using a tripod...

 

[250swb]

If I'm not using a tripod I like a heavier camera like a Nikon F2 because it's easier to hold steady, unless it is a very easy to hold camera that fills the hand like a Leica M. The ones I don't like are those small P&S that feel like and resemble a bar of soap, which is why I also find using my iPhone to make a photograph irritating.

 

[miha]

I'm a bit ambivalent about my camera setup, depending on the situation. For still life photography, I really prefer my 4x5 monorail, sitting on a tripod. I enjoy the time to pause, wait, and contemplate before taking the shot. It gives me the space to really think about my composition.

But for events, I like having a heavier camera with a big flash and a fast zoom. It keeps me focused and reminds me of my role in capturing the moment.

On the other hand, when I'm just walking around, I enjoy using my Olympus XA. It's small, light, and perfect for casual shooting. But in general, I really dislike camera straps.

 

[BHuij]

If I'm actually backpacking any kind of distance, I'll sacrifice some quality-of-life and usability for weight savings (so I'll bring the Olympus XA and OM-1 kit, or maybe even the Elan II and 28-105mm). If I'm not, give me my chunky FTb and a bag full of fast primes.

As for straps, I have a few straps I like that I set up with a quick-detach, so I can easily clip them onto any of my 35mm cameras. I'll wear them around my neck or a shoulder if I'm shooting handheld, but if it gets locked down to a tripod (slower film, narrower aperture, whatever) then I will usually take the strap off. It gets in the way.

If I'm shooting medium format or up, those cameras never get shot without a tripod anyway, so no strap.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I always use a tripod. So no strap is necessary.

I rarely carry a tripod but when I need a tripod I use a carbon fiber tripod that can handle heavier camera and lens than I am using to have greater vibration free stability.

 

[Arthurwg]

I have light (Leica IIIF and M6) to heavy (Mamiya RB67) and several in between. All have straps. I use the Leicas for travel and ease of carry, and I admit that I can hardly carry the RB67 at all. Indeed, with the left-hand grip it really is over the top. I'm thinking of going to the gym to rectify this. But my favorite camera is my Hasselblad, which seem the perfect combination size, weight, performance and ease of operation.

 

[dpurdy]

Never use straps, I use camera bags with strap over my shoulder and chest. Camera straps just get in the way. I have great fear of walking around holding a camera with a strap on because that strap is likely to hook onto something like a door knob and yank the camera out of my hand.. Been there done that. Straps in the bottom drawer.