Neck or Wrist?

ColColt · Dec 1, 2015

Tossing up the possibility for another strap for my Leica M2 whether a neck or wrist strap would word best for security and ease of quick shooting. I've never used a wrist strap and didn't want to spend what they want for one but I'm just looking for an easy way to be able to hold on to the camera as well as not have to worry about the straps sticking up preventing good and quick focus or actuating the shutter button. What do yo think? Just looking for opinions.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/982997-REG/leica_18776_leather_carrying_strap_for.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...kCFRc9gQodbgoG3g&Q=&ap=y&m=Y&is=REG&A=details

Sirius Glass · Dec 1, 2015

I do not use wrist straps because it is too easy to bang the camera against something. With a neck strap you can 1) carry it in front of you, 2) to one side either in the elbow crook or not, or 3) behind your back. Each of which are protective places.

Richard S. (rich815) · Dec 1, 2015

markbarendt · Dec 1, 2015

Depends:

I really like a wrist strap when I'm doing just camera work, more of a safety strap than anything.

If anything else is going on that will require my hands, then having something to hold the camera hands free is important. For me that's not necessarily a strap; maybe a bag.

bdial · Dec 1, 2015

If you don't get one of those enormously wide neck straps, you can use them either way. Around your neck, or put your hand and wrist through the loop, then a couple of winds and you have a wrist strap.

The classic thin leather straps work very well for this, but flexible webbing straps that aren't too wide work well too.

CropDusterMan · Dec 1, 2015

I'm a fan of the Domke neck strap with the swivels...well made and goes nice on a Leica.

Gerald C Koch · Dec 1, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
I do not use wrist straps because it is too easy to bang the camera against something. With a neck strap you can 1) carry it in front of you, 2) to one side either in the elbow crook or not, or 3) behind your back. Each of which are protective places.

+1

ColColt · Dec 1, 2015

I got rather interested in the wrist strap after viewing a video of the "Master"(HCB) walking about Paris with one around his wrist and thought, well, if it's good enough for him maybe I should try one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60o8UHyiCS4

Theo Sulphate · Dec 1, 2015

In contemporary photo mags they show a strap that holds the camera tight against your upper chest, hands-free. When you want to use the camera, you can easily just lift it up to your eye.

Ken Nadvornick · Dec 1, 2015

Definitely wrist. I use one with each hand camera, including the Crown. Adds peace of mind for accidental drops, while not inhibiting quick action. Neck straps feel confining to me. Almost claustrophobic.

Having the tool in my hand at all times just seems more natural.

Ken

Sirius Glass · Dec 1, 2015

Ken Nadvornick said:
Definitely wrist. I use one with each hand camera, including the Crown. Adds peace of mind for accidental drops, while not inhibiting quick action. Neck straps feel confining to me. Almost claustrophobic.

Having the tool in my hand at all times just seems more natural.

Ken

I agree that a wrist strap for a 4"x5" press camera such as a Speed Graphic, Crown Graphic or Linhof camera.

Patrick Robert James · Dec 1, 2015

Lots of people use a regular thin strap as a wrist strap. You don't need to get a Leica strap either.

My favorite way to carry smaller cameras (including my Leicas) is to use a climbing sling and an o-ring. Once you try it you may never go back to regular straps. And they don't cost $80. I attach the strap to the eyelet on the viewfinder side. It is easy to slide the camera around behind you or put it up to your eye. You can also bend over without the camera crashing into something in front of you. I have been using these forever.

http://www.rei.com/product/755451/metolius-18mm-nylon-sling

Alan Gales · Dec 1, 2015

I used to shoot a lot of fast pitch softball when my daughter used to pitch. Normally, I like a neck strap, but for shooting sports I preferred the wrist strap. I own an UP Strap neck and wrist strap. I can quickly detach one and attach the other.

Maris · Dec 1, 2015

ColColt said:
I got rather interested in the wrist strap after viewing a video of the "Master"(HCB) walking about Paris with one around his wrist and thought, well, if it's good enough for him maybe I should try one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60o8UHyiCS4

The video doesn't show the dark side of HCB's camera strap. It's reported that when faced with a promising but inexpressive subject in the street HCB would fling his Leica directly at the face of the person. But cunningly the distance was slightly more than the length of the camera strap one end of which remained in HCB's tight grasp. The resulting look of shock or surprise might make a nice negative.

ColColt · Dec 1, 2015

I've never heard of that and have to doubt the source.

thuggins · Dec 1, 2015

Definately a wrist strap. I've never understood how anyone who cares about their equipment can let it dangle around their neck, slamming in to everything and everybody they walk by.

Wrap the strap two or three times around your wrist and hold the camera on the right side (where they put the grip on modern cameras). Cradle the camera with the left side against your chest. I've carried cameras like this for 30 years and never had a scratch on one. It you're not going to be shooting for a while slip the camera in a belt pouch.

Sirius Glass · Dec 1, 2015

Crown and Speed Graphics has the hand strap on the left side and I am left handed.

narsuitus · Dec 2, 2015

I use both.

I use wrist straps when I am shooting with just one camera.

I use neck straps when I am shooting with two or three cameras.

I find it relatively easy and inexpensive to make do-it-yourself neck straps and wrist straps for my cameras by purchasing 7 meters of suede leather from a craft store and cutting it to my specifications. A simple square knot is all that is needed to close the loop.

Suede Camera Straps by Narsuitus, on Flickr

Poisson Du Jour · Dec 2, 2015

For my Fuji X-30, I have an Eddycam leather neck strap .

But all working photographers are different! For my Sekonic L758B, versatility is key, so it has both a self-cinching wrist strap and an Eagle Creek quick release lanyard. The versatility of this arrangement for the ever-busy meter is fantastic, but when it comes to a camera, I would not be content (nor feel safe with) a wrist-strap. My Olympus XA is retrofitted with the aforementioned Eagle Creek secure lanyard too.

One may surmise that "there is no difference between using a small camera and an L758B" — but the devil is in the detail of technique! So considering what to attach to a camera is a very individual thing that is best walked through by getting both a wrist strap and a neckstrap and spending time using one then the other. Make a personal, individual decision from that. I have seen through my own experimentation that fitting a wrist strap and a neck strap to a camera unnecessarily complicates its use, additional to creating an entanglement hazard. Still many people do not fit a strap of any sort to their cameras. Good for them. Whatever works best at an individual level.

MattKing · Dec 2, 2015

Neck strap long enough to go diagonally across the body.

blockend · Dec 2, 2015

If I'm taking photographs nothing is quicker than a camera in my hand. If I'm not, it goes into a shoulder bag. A neck strap seems the worst combination, it announces you have a camera, it's tiring on the neck and it restricts the positions you can take the picture from.

My cameras that have long straps are the thin leather type that can double up as a wrist strap.

georg16nik · Dec 2, 2015

Wrist might do if you are walking down the coffee shop and environment is safely boring.
Neck strap for the M2 + hand support is a good bet.
For everything else... a (tactical) chest vest or X-strap of some sort is IMHO the best fit.

ColColt · Dec 2, 2015

That's the craziest contraption I've seen...not for me.

Xmas · Dec 2, 2015

A length of nylon cordage is pretty effective.

With a wrist strap you can carry the camera behind back...

CropDusterMan · Dec 2, 2015

georg16nik said:
Wrist might do if you are walking down the coffee shop and environment is safely boring.
Neck strap for the M2 + hand support is a good bet.
For everything else... a (tactical) chest vest or X-strap of some sort is IMHO the best fit.

I have to be honest...those are pretty dorky....although she looks good with one.

Neck or Wrist?

ColColt

Sirius Glass

Richard S. (rich815)

markbarendt

bdial

CropDusterMan

Gerald C Koch

ColColt

Theo Sulphate

Ken Nadvornick

Sirius Glass

Patrick Robert James

Alan Gales

Maris

ColColt

thuggins

Sirius Glass

narsuitus

Poisson Du Jour

MattKing

Moderator

blockend

georg16nik

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ColColt

Xmas

CropDusterMan

Neck or Wrist?

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