When you buy your first camera, I'm guessing that you automatically think that you have to carry it with the strap that came with the camera.
I'm here to tell you that that's not the case at all...
In fact, there are plenty of ways to carry your new camera, some good, some bad.
In the interest of helping you avoid the discomfort and inconvenience that I experienced when I got my first camera, here's a couple of great ways to carry a camera and one way that you should avoid at all costs!
Good: Spider Holster SpiderLight Camera Holster
When you think about places on your body that are purpose-built for carrying things, the first thing that comes to mind should be your hips.
They're the beefiest part of our bodies and can easily carry quite a load, including a camera or two!
The added benefit of getting your camera off your shoulder or away from your neck is that you have improved freedom of movement as well. That makes it easier on you to move around and get the shot you want.
Spider Holster designed their SpiderLight Camera Holster with freedom of movement in mind.
By placing your mirrorless or lightweight camera on your hips, you get a much better carrying experience that keeps your neck, shoulders, and arms from getting fatigued.
What's more, carrying your camera on your hips is much safer than carrying it around your neck, where it can flop around as you walk and move about.
The neat thing about the SpiderLight Camera Holster is that it slips right onto your belt. Just attach the Spider plate to the bottom of your camera, and you've got a highly effective system for shooting like a pro!
As you can see in the GIF above, using the SpiderLight is easy, too.
Rather than getting your arms, hair, and head tangled up in a shoulder strap, you can simply quick-draw your camera whenever you need to shoot.
And don't think that the SpiderLight is big and bulky, either.
It's lightweight yet strong, and it won't get in your way as you move around. It's the best of all worlds!
The SpiderLight Camera Holster is incredibly durable for long-lasting performance and is designed to ergonomically fit on your hip.
The two-position metal lock means the camera is safe and securely attached to the holster, but remains easy for you to remove for a quick shot.
You can even add a tether for a sling strap for added safety or move the SpiderLight from your hip to your backpack with the SpiderLight Backpacker.
That means this rig is ideal for shooters of all skill levels that want a comfortable, safe way to carry their camera.
Learn More:
- Get the Specs and Pricing on the Spider Holster SpiderLight Camera Holster
- Shoot Like a Pro With These Incredible Camera Accessories
Good: Vanguard Alta Rise 45 Backpack
If you're going out for a day of shooting, the first thing you'll want is a good camera bag that will protect your gear, keep it organized, and give you space for extras like camera accessories, your phone, snacks, keys, and the like.
When I first started in photography, I just carried my gear in a regular backpack. That was a BIG mistake.
Everything knocks around as you walk because normal backpacks don't have padded compartments for everything.
That's why it's crucial to get a dedicated camera backpack like the Vanguard Alta Rise 45.
This bad boy will accommodate a large DSLR, 4-5 lenses, a flash, batteries and memory cards, and even a tripod. With a quick expansion zipper, you can add more space to fit a tablet or a laptop, too.
For quick access, there are side access points that allow you to grab your camera in a matter of seconds.
For comfort, the Alta Rise 45 has an ergonomic Air System back with harness, that way you can distribute the load more evenly across your shoulders, chest, back, and hips.
Perhaps the best feature is this bag's interior...
Not only is the bag well-padded all the way around to provide maximum protection to your gear, but it's also incredibly well organized with dedicated pockets for all your essentials.
That brightly colored interior is a nice touch, too, so you don't have to fumble around trying to find what you need.
The Alta Rise 45 even has an integrated rain cover, so if the weather turns south, you don't have to worry about your gear.
In other words, this backpack is the ultimate choice for adventurous photographers that want to carry a lot of gear, do so comfortably, all the while keeping their gear safe and sound!
Learn More:
Bad: Factory Camera Strap
The camera strap that comes with cameras is, in a word, terrible.
Not only is it completely uncomfortable to have a thin, flimsy strap cutting into your neck or shoulder, but they aren't durable, either.
Without much use, they can begin to deteriorate, making them even less safe for carrying your camera.
And just one look at the photographer above, and you can see how camera straps dangle, just waiting to get caught on something.
What's more, as I noted earlier, when you carry your camera using a traditional camera strap, the camera bounces around, banging you in your chest as you walk.
To avoid that, you can simply carry your camera over your shoulder, but then there's nothing stopping it from slipping off your shoulder (other than a thin anti-skid pad on the inside of the strap that doesn't work all that well).
So, factory camera straps are uncomfortable, don't last long, and aren't particularly safe for carrying your camera anyway.
Add to that the fact that would-be thieves are attracted to straps that say "CANON" or "NIKON" or "SONY in big, bright letters, and you have the makings for just about the worst possible way to carry your expensive gear!
Learn More:
- Head-to-Head: Traditional Shoulder Straps vs. Hand Straps
- Must-Have Accessories for Mirrorless Cameras
With that, you have two great ways to carry your camera gear in safety and comfort, and one way that you should avoid at all costs.
Though it's easy to just make do with the factory camera strap, trust me when I say that the upgrades I made to the way I carry my gear made a huge difference in my experiences as a photographer.
And you know what? Being able to carry my gear in comfort with the peace of mind that my gear is safe also helped me become a better photographer.
That's not a bad deal if you ask me!