SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

In the last 2 or 3 weeks I have read here on the Hog of at least 6 broken cameras/lenses. Some leaped to their death, still others drowned themselves! :lol:
Strangely, in none of those cases did I EVER hear the word STRAP mentioned.
I know many pros say they don't use a strap, for whatever reasons. Maybe it's just a COOLNESS factor, or maybe it actually has a purpose. Some use a wrist-strap, while others strap themselves into a 4 point harness(NASCAR style) and hang a camera from it.
This is not so much about the favorite strap you use, but why you use that strap at all. I assume that in the case of these recently broken cameras, NO strap was being used since it was never mentioned?

So, do you use a strap because you truly believe it will save your camera/lens, or it actually has? Or is the first thing you do is throw the strap away cause it just gets in the way?
Are straps just for beginners that don't know any better or just want to advertise?? :lol:
What about the times your camera has actually hit the ground? Strap or strapless??

I say if your camera is NOT tethered to you in some way, it WILL eventually hit the ground! It's not a matter of how, but WHEN!!
Hogs, what say you???????

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

I do not use a strap.
I used to in my film days.
It gets in the way.
It blows in the wind when on long exposure shots on the tripod creating motion blur.
It gets snagged on branches, buttons, zips and things.

In 30 plus years I have had 2 SLR cameras bite the dust.
One with a strap, one without a strap.
When I had the strap on, it cost me money.
When I dropped it off the tripod without the strap the damage was only minor cosmetic damage.
I use my hands now.
I hold the camera.
If I drop it, I've stuffed up.
My fault, my cost.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

[quote=SharpShooter] I say if your camera is NOT tethered to you in some way, it WILL eventually hit the ground! It's not a matter of how, but WHEN!!
Hogs, what say you?????? ? [quote]

Had to read this 3 times to make sure I could agree! :lol:
Absolutely, I always use a strap. Actually cannot say it has ever saved my camera from dropping yet, but the law of averages says at some point it will.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

[quote=lighthouse] It blows in the wind when on long exposure shots on the tripod creating motion blur. [quote]

What are you using for tripod legs, toothpicks??

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Strap, tangled around my wrist, not around the neck. I know where my hand is, I do not know where the camera is when around my neck and I bend for whatever reason.

Also, running with a camera over my neck? No way.

Never felt comfortable with wrist straps.

Camera dropped? Once a Canon AE-1, six feet fall. bounced off a rock, landed on water. Outside damage, none. Did not fire. Removed the batteries let it dry. Replaced the battery, worked like before, even the lens was not damaged.

Lens destroyed? A RB67 180mm, in a car accident. Camera landed from the front seat to the dashboard on the lens... Had it been with the strap around the back rest, it would not have happened. Stupid me.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

[quote=RWR][quote=lighthouse] It blows in the wind when on long exposure shots on the tripod creating motion blur.
No, but we do get wind here, real wind.
The strap blows in front of the lens while the shutter is open.
The strap gets snagged on a button or on anything, you bend over to get something from the camera bag and nearly pull the whole kit and caboodle arse up, the strap flaps around annoying the crap out of me, it just generally gets in the way.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Oh come on Lighthouse!
Wind? I thought No Bode was in Paradise.
How in the heck does the wind get in!! :lol:
SS

Sherman A1 Loc: St. Louis, MO

I use a strap, don't really care if I look "cool" or not. If the camera is out of the bag, the strap is either around my neck or wrapped around my hand.
:-D

jfn007 Loc: Close to the middle of nowhere.

I always have a camera strap on my cameras and while I am out shooting I loop it over my head. If i just sling it on my shoulder it seems to start sliding. I do a lot of shooting in interesting old cities and it is more difficult for a camera snatcher to take it and run. No one has ever snatched it and run so my preventative measure must be successful.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Dropped two cameras. One fell off a tripod (clamp was not secure, lost a Contax RTS II) and one fell out of my camera bag when I thought the top was zipped and it wasn't, only slightly dented a filter ring, no big deal.

I use two strap systems - the NASCAR rig (Cotton Carrier), when hiking or backpacking - so it gets used atleast once a week. And a double Black Rapid for dress up events - having the cameras with speedlights and brackets easily accessible without having 8 lbs x 2 hanging around my neck for 5-8 hours has its benefits.

I have never had a camera fall off a failed strap, btw.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

In nearly 50 years of carrying a camera I have dropped a camera., once :(
I was up a 6 foot or so ladder, in a factory, surrounded by heavy machinery.
Concrete floor.
Camera was a Leica m3 with a 50mm lens. Lens a write off, camera still here with me today. Needs a clean but still takes good pics. Even the light meter which is still clipped to the top, gives accurate readings.
That was about 45 years ago.
Only time I use a strap is to save me carrying the dam thing.
I have hunted in the bush and tops for weeks on end. Riden horses, walked beaches and towns, and when taking a pic, out off goes the strap.
In my opinion and experience, a strap has no role to play when taking a picture.
If it's strapped to your hand, and you fall, how on earth is a strap going to help? Your camera will just hit the ground before you instinctively try to break your fall, with the hand holding the camera.
If you are going to drop your camera, well, o I don't know.
Maybe just be careful or something

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

[quote=lighthouse]No, but we do get wind here, real wind.
The strap blows in front of the lens while the shutter is open.
The strap gets snagged on a button or on anything, you bend over to get something from the camera bag and nearly pull the whole kit and caboodle arse up, the strap flaps around annoying the crap out of me, it just generally gets in the way. [quote]

Certainly straps can be a pain in the grommet. They seem to never fail to catch on a knob or handle when removing the camera from the tripod. So there is something to be said for going strapless. (At the beach, especially :lol: )

Gitzo Loc: Indiana

I usually keep a strap in a bag for the very few situations that I need one, but about 98% of the time when I'm hand holding, I use one of several wrist straps. Much of what I do is done with the camera attached to my Arca-Swiss B1 BH, either on my Gitzo or else with the B1 attached to the top frame of my Clik Elite chest pack; even then, the wrist cuff goes around the ball head before I clamp the ell bracket to the the ball head clamp. Been dragging cameras around since 1950, haven't dropped one yet. I have taken a few pretty hard falls on talus rock and other hard surfaces, bit I have always been able to somehow protect the camera and lens from getting banged up.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I always use a strap.

I look at things in a risk/hassle type of way.

How much hassle is it vs what I stand to lose if something goes wrong?

In the case of a camera...breaking it would be expensive and time consuming to replace.

So...the hassle of a strap is worth it to me.

I use 1970's shoulder straps on mine ala James Woods in "Salvador"

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Off topic: When will stop torturing that poor dog?

:shock: :mrgreen: :lol: :lol: :lol:

(j/k)