A hand grip camera strap probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of photography. Although, having a comfortable and reliable grip is just as important as knowing how to use your camera. Owning a quality hand grip camera strap will benefit even those with the most ergonomic camera. However, with hundreds of different hand grip straps on the market, how would anyone know what the best strap for their camera is? In this article, we’ll be looking at the best hand grip camera straps for photographers.
What is a Hand Grip Camera Strap?
When you purchase a brand new camera, a neck strap is generally included. However, a hand grip camera strap is usually an add-on accessory. A hand grip camera strap is similar to a neck strap, but for your hand. A hand grip strap is much shorter than a neck strap. It is designed to have around your hand or wrist while you’re shooting. This functions as a way to make holding the camera more comfortable, as well as preventing you from dropping the camera.
Who Should Use a Hand Grip Camera Strap?
Really, just about any photographer could find great use out of a hand grip camera strap. However, photographers that are shooting longer days will find the best use. The best hand grip straps are designed in such a way that makes holding your camera more comfortable — especially over a long period of time.
Photographers worried about dropping their camera and damaging their gear will also love using a hand grip strap. It gives you the peace of mind that you can’t drop your camera while using it. Lastly, the strap is a lighter and more compact way of holding your camera compared to a traditional neck strap.
How to Choose a Hand Grip Camera Strap
Adjustability
The right hand grip camera strap will be easily adjustable to your hand. Most straps can be adjusted. Although, find one that is easy to adjust yet firm on your hand so it doesn’t slip while you’re shooting.
Material
The material of your hand grip camera strap is very important. Obviously, different materials come with pros and cons. Fabric may be the most comfortable and breathable, but leather is waterproof and might be more durable. Hand grip camera straps are made of all different kinds of materials, so be sure to pick up the material that is right for you.
Comfort
Material will have a large effect on the comfort, but so will the shape, and padding, if any. Check to see what kind of padding is included to help make the strap more comfortable, especially for those long days of shooting.
Size
Hand grip camera straps come in all sizes. Some are larger and more robust and are best suited for larger DSLR cameras. Other straps are smaller and designed for lightweight mirrorless or point-and-shoot cameras. Make sure to keep your camera size in mind so you can get a camera strap that fits the size of your camera.
Function
Lastly, you should consider how the hand grip camera strap functions. Some straps are meant to fit around your hand, securing the camera and giving you a better grip while shooting. Other straps go around your wrist and are only meant to prevent you from dropping the camera. Depending on what kind of photographer you are, you may want to have the added comfort that some straps give you, or you may just want to have the piece of mind that your camera can’t fall out of your hands.
Best Hand Grip Camera Straps
Peak Design CL-3 Clutch Camera Hand Strap
When quick connection or adjustment matters, look no further than the Peak Design CL-3 Clutch Camera Hand Strap. This hand strap is fully compatible with the wide range of other Peak Design straps and clips. The strap tightens up just below the bottom knuckle and allows for a more comfortable side grip of the camera.
Gitzo Century Leather Camera Hand Strap for Mirrorless/DSLR
Made of genuine Italian leather, the Gitzo Century Leather Camera Hand Strap is the perfect grip for the photographer that wants to switch between handheld and tripod shooting frequently. The strap connects with a tripod mount. This makes it easy to remove your hand and set your camera on a tripod.
Ricoh GS-2 Leather Hand Strap with GR Logo
The Ricoh GS-2 is a simple leather hand strap designed to protect the camera from falling. This is one of the smaller hand straps on this list, but works great for photographers who don’t need the extra hand support and just want to have a small strap around their wrist to protect the camera. The Ricoh GS-2 is made for digital compact cameras.
Canon Hand Strap E2 For Eos DSLR Cameras
The Canon E2 connects via screw into the tripod socket. The other end threads through the camera eyelet. Once connected, you can fully adjust the tightness. This hand strap sits just below your knuckles and is designed to ease comfort over the course of a prolonged shooting session.
Pentax DSLR Leather Hand Strap
For photographers that want the most support, the Pentax Leather Hand Strap is the way to go. This strap gives support around your wrist and hand, allowing for the most comfort during a shoot. Designed for photographers who want to keep their camera in hand but don’t want to deal with the fatigue of constantly holding the camera, this is the perfect strap for the DSLR shooter who wants the most support.
SmallRig Black Mamba Hand Strap
The SmallRig Black Mamba is made of a breathable, sweat-absorbent microfiber lining and soft foam cushion that provides maximum comfort and support while shooting. Not only will this strap help protect your camera from a fall, but it also helps make long days of shooting less fatiguing. The quick release ensures that you can quickly and easily remove the strap when you don’t want it on the camera.
Other Types of Camera Straps
Neck Strap
The most traditional kind of camera strap is the neck strap. This is simply a strap that is longer and designed to go around your neck while you’re shooting. Oftentimes, neck straps come with your camera upon purchase, but buying an aftermarket neck strap can give you more features and adjustable neck straps.
Sling Strap/Shoulder Strap
This is like a neck strap, but even longer. A sling or shoulder strap is usually adjustable and designed to allow the camera to hang from your shoulder. These are commonly used for photographers on the go who want quick and easy access to their camera without the added burden of having their camera around the neck.
Wrist Strap
Very similar to a hand strap, but a wrist strap just goes around the wrist. These are usually easy to adjust and remove from your wrist, and are popular for photographers who don’t need the added support of a hand strap, but still want the protection of having the camera connected and safe from a fall.
Double Camera Strap/Harness
There are many different types of camera harness systems, but most of them go over the shoulders and clip together, and then allow for the camera to slide in tight to your chest or hips. These are very popular among photographers who want to be hands-free, or spend long days shooting where they might need quick camera access at any point in time.
Waist Belt
This is similar to a harness, but around your waist. These camera straps often have space for an extra lens or camera body, and can be very popular among wedding and portrait photographers who need to switch lenses or cameras in a hurry.
Picking up the right camera strap isn’t easy, but hopefully this guide will help you determine exactly the right kind of camera strap for you. Depending on the type of photography you do, you may find a certain kind of strap to work better than others. Having multiple different straps can be advantageous as well, since you can choose the right strap for each situation. Many of the straps mentioned in this guide can be paired with other kinds of straps. Ultimately, deciding on the best camera strap totally depends on the kind of photography you do, as well as the needs you have for your camera strap.
