How to Attach Your Camera Strap the Right Way

You just forked out big bucks to get your camera, and you want to see what the machine can do! Quickly throw on the camera strap, attach the lens and you’re ready to go, right?

Wrong! Incorrectly fastening your camera strap could end up in a fatal camera mishap, and probably a few (or many) tears. Lauren of Photography Concentrate shows us the right way to attach a camera strap while giving us a few other tips:

Many of us have been feeding the strap backwards into the plastic fasteners. Although this seems secure enough, with a strong enough tug, the strap could slide right out.

The Correct Way to Put on Your Camera Strap

1. The plastic fastener should be right side up. As Lauren points out, it has two plastic strips with the strap fabric in the middle.

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2. Feed the strap from the outside-in, through the camera’s tether points.

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3. Create some slack by pulling the strap upwards in the middle of the plastic fastener. It should create a large loop.

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4. Feed the end of the strap through the retainer piece and up the back of the plastic fastener.

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5. Pull both ends tightly to fix down the strap in the fastener.

6. Voila! A secure strap to keep you and your camera happy!

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Here’s another tip: most large camera companies provide straps with little folds in the end. These folds mimic the bends they will have when correctly inserted in the camera tether points and plastic fastener.

Be sure to find a strap that is comfortable for you. The standard issue straps work great but are sometimes very stiff. Try using a neoprene strap for heavier cameras, or longer days photographing. It will provide softness and a little extra give. You may also want to consider a hand strap which may help reduce tension. Or, use both for optimal camera holding ability!

And for those of you who had it right all along, give yourself a pat on the back for your extra good logic skills.

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