Handstrap or wrist strap or what? I need something!

WilliamC

WilliamC

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When I'm out and about with my 7D + 70-300L, usually standing around waiting for the Red Kites/ducks/aeroplanes, I have a dreadful habit of just holding my camera by the grip dangling down by my side BUT it's obviously at considerable risk of being dropped!

I use a (wonderful) TP branded Optech strap for slinging it over my shoulder when walking off elsewhere but prefer the camera in my hand and ready to go when awaiting the shot. I don't want a sling type strap because I just don't like them, wrapping the Optech round my wrist is OK but it never feels totally secure like that so I need (I think) either a hand strap or a wrist strap for the 7D?

I've been looking into them and the Canon ones seem to be designed for gripped bodies only (I don't use a battery grip) and the 3rd party ones seem to have question marks about how much weight they can take. I want to keep the Optech on there but just need something more secure when dangling the camera so does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations?

TIA
 
what about the Qstrap bundle shown here http://www.qstrap.co.uk/bundle.html would mean you can connect shoulder strap or sling for walkabout, then unhitch it and use the handstrap when you are poised to take photos!

Have ordered one for myself should be able to tell you about the quality and fit etc at tomorow or saturday!
 
That does look quite interesting milspec48, please let me know what you think when you get it. I'm open to any ideas quite honestly, dangling c.£2k on three fingers and a bit of thumb can be quite worrying!
 
The Canon hand strap E1 requires a grip but the E2 hand strap has an attachment that fits into the tripod thread at the base of the camera. You can still attach a neck strap if needed.
 
6950rpm said:
The Canon hand strap E1 requires a grip but the E2 hand strap has an attachment that fits into the tripod thread at the base of the camera. You can still attach a neck strap if needed.
Click to expand...

Aha, thanks Tim, I didn't know about the E2. Whenever I searched it was always the E1 that popped up. I'll await the feedback on the Qstrap mentioned above and then look into the E2. Thanks for the help!
 
I also prefer not using a neck strap so I bought an OpTech SLR wrist strap. It's pretty decent as expected from OpTech.

Bought it from ebay for about 8 quid or so.
 
I use the q-strap system with the upgraded hand strap. Love it. I keep my tripod mount on my 300/4 and the d-loop on the bottom of the camera. I click the shoulder strap caribeaner into whichever one I need and normally leave the hand strap off now. I used to use the nikon strap and wrap it around my hand when out and about like your describing. Since I got the q-strap, I find that it is super fast to take pictures with it hanging at my side since the caribeaner just slides right up the strap. There is no need to slide the strap around your body- just lift the camera.

That said, I do like the wrist/hand strap at times. If I'm not using the 300/4 or walking for a period of time, I'll just put the hand strap on and leave the shoulder strap in the car/home. It is great for doing exactly what you suggest- hand through the strap, extra strap around your wrist (just in case), and go.

Thanks,
Rick
 
I recently purchased a Herringbone Hand Strap and have been very pleased with it. The leather is really soft and supple making it a pleasure to use.

HerringboneHandStrap.jpg
 
Thanks fellas! More options to look at and, Sam, that one does look rather nice but I assume you can't keep the neck strap attached at the same time?
 
Hi WilliamC,

The hand strap comes with a neck strap piece that you can thread on when installing the hand strap to the camera, so yes, you still can retain a neck strap. I chose not to do this on mine as my end goal was to get rid of the OEM neck strap and replace with a Black Rapid sling strap, this combination of hand and sling strap works really well for me as a practical, comfier and tangle free solution.

One point to note is that there are 2 versions of this hand strap, one includes a camera plate adaptor for non-gripped bodies, and the other is for gripped/pro bodies which don't require the additional plate.

Hope that helps a bit.

Cheers
Sam
 
casts_by_fly said:
I use the q-strap system with the upgraded hand strap. Love it.
Click to expand...
I have the q-strap with hand strap too. I also noticed that I had a habit as the OP said of having my camera just danging from my hand so the hand strap is useful and I can unclip the sling strap when I want.
 
Will the Q-Strap hand strap fit a gripped Canon 60D?

Was looking at the Black Rapid but it is indeed pricey.

If it doesn't, does anyone have any Canon E1 alternatives/copys?
 
Thanks for all the ideas folks, I think I'm going to go with the E2 and see how I get on with it. At only £20 on Amazon it wouldn't be a huge issue if I've made a mistake and can then have a rethink. Cheers.
 
I'm looking at a carryspeed neck strap..you can also get a wrist strap to go with it aswell..that's what I think I'm getting..wrist strap looks really nice aswell
 
Well I've just fitted the E2 handstrap with the usual shananigans - the way it comes configured isn't the way you need it but you don't discover that until you battle to fit it once. Undo it all again, reconfigure, battle to fit it again and it's the wrong way round... etc etc.

Anyway, tis easy to have the hand and neck strap connected at the same time (once you work out the above!). I can also have my QR plate on which is a plus. The camera feels much more secure dangling on my 3 fingers and thumb and I reckon you'd have to try and drop it to do so. It feels very strange at first as it puts my hand in a a slightly unusual position (for me) which limits access to the control wheel but I have no doubt I'll get used to it. Proper road test tomorrow!

Thanks again for the help.
 
I got the handstrap from Q-strap but don't like it so I'll be sending it back.

I have just fitted the single Q with a back up cord.


IMAG0629 by Dougster8000, on Flickr
 
What about the Safari Trekking Harness? My husband (7D) and I both use this and find it's great. It also comes with straps for binoculars.
 
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