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The camera is one of the greatest inventions of all time. And nowadays, it comes in different versions and with various add-on features that are so cool you just need to have a camera with you wherever you go. But it can be quite bothersome to carry one around all day long, especially if you don’t want to put it away knowing you might miss out on a great shot. This is among the reasons why most cameras come with a strap. So, basic knowledge on how to attach camera straps is needed.
Almost everyone you know probably has a smartphone, and almost every smartphone has a camera in it. That means many people got a camera within arm’s reach at any time of the day. Modern camera phones had come a long way from when the first camera phones came out.
Pictures taken by a camera phone are crisp and sharp, and they have vibrant colors and higher resolutions compared to earlier models. In some ways or features, camera phones are surely giving regular cameras a run for their money. However, they are not quite at par yet. The cameras in camera phones are almost there, but there’s still quite a few things that regular cameras are better at.
A regular camera is, for all intents and purposes, simply a camera. It is meant to capture images. Meanwhile, a camera phone coexists with the phone’s primary functions such as making calls and sending and receiving messages. The camera, along with these other features, would serve secondary purposes only.
Because the camera in a smartphone is just an add-on feature, the development of a regular camera is far superior simply because they are focused on a single feature–to capture images. Meanwhile, a camera phone has to develop calling and messaging features first. Regular cameras were developed to capture images in a manner that camera phones of today are not yet capable of. And they also have interchangeable lenses, something which camera phones have yet to do.
There are many types of regular cameras nowadays. Most are digital cameras, but some still use film. The popular ones are compact cameras which are referred to as point-and-shoot cameras, DSLRs, and mirrorless cameras. These cameras don’t come cheap.
The DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are generally considered the professional cameras and are more expensive. They also come with pricey lenses and accessories, like camera stabilizers, that are not exactly easy on the wallet. Together, they rack up quite the price tag. These are also the ones whose straps are a bit tricky to put on the camera.
Now, these are devices that you hold and operate with your hands. And the risk of dropping them is real! You lose your grip for a second, and your gear goes crashing onto the ground. A strap prevents that from happening. The strap that goes with your camera is usually a neck strap. There are other straps available on the market, for the meantime, we’ll focus on the one that comes straight out of the box.
A compact camera’s strap is simple enough to comprehend–you loop it in the strap mount, pull the other end through the loop, and you’re set. But with DSLRs and mirror cameras, it can be a bit more challenging than that. Look at how the strap goes around some buckle; do you feel dumbfounded just by seeing them? If you’re screaming “Yes!” in your head, then you might need some help putting it on the camera. Read on to learn how to attach camera strap on your gear.
First, figure out the parts. The strap usually has a wide portion made from leather, which is the middle part. The ends are made of synthetic material, which is narrower, and would have plastic strap keeper and metal buckles that act as mechanisms that secure your strap. The leather portion usually has the brand name of the camera printed on it.
Locate the strap mounts on the camera. They are usually at the opposite ends of the camera, on the upper sides, close to the edge. DSLRs and mirrorless cameras would have them here, but some models may place them at other parts. Most of the time, the color would be silver but can be made into black to blend in with the color of the camera.
Lay out the strap flat to make sure that it doesn’t twist and loop around itself before you tie it to the camera. Making sure that it is in the proper positioning ensures that there will be no knots formed that will make it uncomfortable for you to put the strap over your neck or shoulders.
Take one end of the strap, make sure that you maintain the positioning, and slip it through the strap mount going in from the outside. Pull it through and loop back once you’ve had the proper length. Slip the end through the strap keeper. Loosen the strap at the buckle to make room for the end of the strap. Slip the end through one hole, and loop out through the next hole. Pull the straps to tighten the parts that go through the buckle.
After doing the same for the other end, give the strap a gentle tug to make sure that they don’t slide past through. The contraptions should make the strap rub against each other tightly enough to hold in place.
If you feel that the standard strap won’t work for you, then there are plenty of other types. Some attach to the tripod mount instead of the usual strap mounts. These straps are usually the ones that you can sling around your shoulders. You can also opt for straps that secure the camera to your hand. These are the best bets for cameras that aren’t too heavy to be secured on to your hand for extended periods.
If straps aren’t your thing, then you can also bring a bag with you. Get the ones that have features that allow you to take out and put in the camera with ease.
