I'm a firm believer in doing what works for you.
I understand that how I live and work might not be the best for someone else.
However, there's one area in which I'm pretty adamant that how I do things is the best way for the vast majority of people.
That area is how I carry my camera...
I got rid of the flimsy shoulder strap that came with my camera the instant I unboxed my new rig. You should do the same!
Let me explain.
The Case Against Shoulder Straps
I'm not saying that camera shoulder straps are the most uncomfortable thing on earth, but they definitely don't provide the most comfortable experience.
Granted, there are some great aftermarket shoulder straps that are light-years ahead of those terrible, flimsy things that come with cameras.
But even still, there's only so far that a camera shoulder strap can go.
That is, you're carrying all the weight of your camera and lens on a very thin part of your shoulder or neck, and no amount of squishy padding is going to change that fact.
That means that using a single shoulder strap is going to eventually start to hurt.
That's especially true of the shoulder straps that come with cameras.
You'd think that as expensive as my Nikon D850 was that it would've had an upgraded strap, but that's just not how camera manufacturers work.
On top of the comfort issue (or discomfort, as it were) is the fact that when you're carrying your camera via a shoulder strap, your camera bounces around as you walk.
Not only is this not comfortable at all, but it also increases the risk of damage to your camera and lens.
Likewise, it's pretty easy for a shoulder strap to find its way off your shoulder, so if you're not careful, you could end up dropping your expensive gear.
Perhaps even worse, thieves can spot camera straps that say "CANON" or "NIKON" from a mile away, and those straps aren't going to give you any protection from a guy that can simply cut it and make off with your gear.
So, though I don't mean to create a doom-and-gloom scenario here, I think you can see why shoulder straps aren't exactly the best choice for carrying a camera.
Learn More:
- Top Camera Straps and Harnesses for 2018
- Get the Most Out of Your Camera Bag With These Essential Tips
How to Carry a Camera: A Camera Harness is So Much Better
I started carrying my cameras with a camera harness a couple of years ago, and I have to say that it was one of the better decisions I've made.
Let me make the case for a camera harness...
First, there is no comparison when it comes to comfort. Where a shoulder strap puts all the weight of your gear on one shoulder, a harness distributes that weight evenly across both shoulders and your back.
Having used a shoulder strap and a harness before, I can attest to the fact that the latter is much, much more comfortable.
As a consequence of being more comfortable, you feel like you can shoot for longer periods of time.
Where I might be ready to head home after a couple of hours of a shoulder strap digging into my shoulder, with a harness, I'm ready to rock for hours on end.
That means I can get more photos, more varied photos, and have a much better shot of getting the photos I want and need.
Another benefit of carrying your camera on a harness is that you can carry more than one camera.
I can sport my D850 on one side and my Sony a6300 on the other and have rapid access to both when I need them.
I tend to shoot landscapes, so it's nice to have a wide-angle lens on one body and a standard or telephoto lens on the other to get some variety in my shots.
There's the security issue to address as well.
Not only will a camera harness not slide off your shoulders like shoulder strap, but it'd also be tough for a thief to try to rip it off you.
That's particularly true of my Holdfast MoneyMaker, which is constructed of bridle leather, so it's strong, tough, and durable.
That brings me to another point...
My harness looks fantastic.
I mean, I didn't buy it for its looks, but having something that is so impeccably designed and beautiful to look at is a definite bonus.
Plus, as the years have gone by, my MoneyMaker has molded itself to my body so it fits like a glove. Talk about comfort!
Sure, the MoneyMaker costs more than a shoulder strap, but it has been worth its weight in gold over the years.
Learn More:
Final Thoughts
I get that not all photographers want or need a camera harness system.
But as I mentioned before, I fully believe that most photographers would benefit from having one, particularly if it was a MoneyMaker like the one I've used the last couple of years.
Again, these things are comfortable as all get out, provide you a safe way to carry your gear, allow you to carry more gear, and keep you out shooting for longer periods of time.
In my book, that makes the Holdfast MoneyMaker the ultimate to answer the question of how to carry a camera.