Get a Grip

This is how I carry my Nikon V1. The Flipbac grip makes this already lightweight camera even easier to carry with a wrist strap. I covered the printing on the front of the camera with matte black tape to make the V1 look even more nondescript than it already is.

It was accepted wisdom at one time that if you carried a camera at all, you would use a neck strap to do it. A neck strap was and still is something that comes with every camera large enough to prevent being carried in a pocket or purse. There is good reason for this. A neck strap is undeniably convenient. You can sling the camera around your neck, over your shoulder, or across your body, leaving both hands free to do something other than carry your camera.

Neck straps have drawbacks, however. They cause the entire weight of your camera and lens to press down on your neck or shoulder, which can not only be uncomfortable, but often painful and harmful over time, especially when you're also carrying a camera bag with a shoulder strap. If you bend your body too quickly with a camera around your neck, said camera may swing like a pendulum and stop only when it strikes an inanimate object. If the strap doesn't have enough grip to it, it can slide off your shoulder, taking your camera along with it. Straps also have a disconcerting tendency to catch on objects such as doorknobs, tripods, and drawer pulls. If you're not careful or aware, this can cause the object, the camera, or both to crash to the floor.

I'm not saying these problems are epidemic, but they're common enough that a subset of photographers (me among them), prefers to carry their cameras with a wrist strap instead. A wrist strap takes the weight off of your neck and shoulder and transfers it to your right hand. Most reasonably fit people can comfortably carry two to five pounds of camera+lens in their right hand for extended periods of time. Yes, it means your hand is now occupied, but if you're actively shooting anyway, what's the problem? I carry a small shoulder bag or fanny pack  I can put the camera into when I need to free up my hands.

A properly designed wrist strap is not so thin that it cuts into your wrist yet not so wide that it becomes stiff or bulky. It can attach to your camera's tripod socket, quick-release tripod plate, or lens strap lug. I prefer the latter because the camera usually hangs and balances better that way. It's also more secure. When the strap is attached via the tripod socket, the camera will hang upside-down whenever you're not actually gripping it, and there's the risk that the mounting screw could come loose.

The best cameras for wrist-strap carry are those that have a built-in hand grip. Any grip is better than no grip at all. Without a grip you have to use finger pressure alone to hold onto the camera. This gets tiring, especially with larger, heavier cameras or those with smooth, low-friction coverings. With a grip, your camera has a comfortable "lip" for your fingertips to hang onto and more gripping surface for added security.

By coincidence, I can use the same Flipbac grip on my Nikon FM3A film camera. Even when I'm using it with a neck strap, the accessory grip allows for a much more secure and comfortable hold.

What do you if your camera has no such grip? One popular option is an accessory grip. Some camera manufacturers offer grips that mount onto the base of the camera. Other third party companies, such as Richard Franiac or Flipbac, offer grips with an adhesive backing that you can attach to a wide variety of cameras. As you can see from the accompanying photos, I was able to use the same Flipbac grip on my Nikon V1 and FM3A. The wrist strap, in case you're curious, was hand-made by Gordy's camera straps. Hey, with a name like Gordy, it has to be good.

Comments

[ralf_b]

I don't like neck straps too. It seems that their main function is marketing and advertising while they are mostly bad designed and not really comfortable.

[Mark Kinsman]

Very timely post as I've just started looking for a good wrist strap for the m43 kit. Now if Flipbac would expand their grips to the OMD and Fuji X-E1....

[Randy Lewis]

Great minds think alike. My V1 is outfitted with a Fotodiox Grip & Op/Tech wrist strap with the 10-30mm Lens. Fits my hand perfectly and can walk with it all day w/o noticing it's there. Also covered up the markings on the camera.
R. Lewis

[Lesley]

Bought a wrist strap today...I was going to make one but decided I wanted it for a hike tomorrow, but had to go to two camera stores to find one. Thanks for the reminder.

[Peter]

When I moved up from a Canon S95 P&S to my Oly m4/3 (E-PL3), I decided I liked the wrist strap better than the neck strap, too. The S95 is set up in the conventional way (right handed), but with the m4/3 camera, I put the strap on the left side. The m4/3, being a bit bigger, is slower to put away, and I need my right hand free to keep a hold of my 2 year old!

When I take a shot, I always have two hands on the camera, so this setup keeps the camera attached and my right hand free. Maybe when he gets older, I'll go back to the strap on the right lug.

[Dennis Mook]

Gordon,

I miss your blog! I understand the reasons you haven't been posting much lately, but you have a unique voice and I enjoy reading your opinions. Come back!

Also, I'm looking forward to reading part 2 of your EP-5 review. I have had the EM-5 for about 18 months and the light weight of the camera and small form of the lenses, coupled with the quality is ruining my thirst for large DSLRs.

[Alan]

If you hold the camera in your hand the weight is still transferred to your body through your neck ,shoulder, spine, hips, legs and feet. Sounds obvious but its important to be aware of this, anyone who has has any SI joint issues will be aware of how to load the body.

Ps love the blog!