How to Carry a Camera Without a Bag
- How To Carry a Camera
- Strap, Harness, Belt
- Final Thoughts on How To Carry a Camera
- Recommended Photography Gear
- Which Type of Leather Camera Strap Is Best?
- Essential Camera Accessories
- Essential Portrait Photography Gear
- What is the Best Travel Camera Bag?
- This Camera Belt Makes Carrying Gear a Breeze
- What to Look for In a Good Camera Strap
Sometimes, we don’t want or need to carry anything other than a camera when we’re out shooting. Even in our studio, we might hand-hold the camera instead of placing it on a tripod or some other type of mount.
How to carry a camera without a bag is the subject of today. I have several ideas I’ve personally tested, and I’m sure one or more of these will be a good solution for your needs of how to carry a camera.
Table of Contents:
How To Carry a Camera
The question of how to carry a camera seems like it should be relatively simple, doesn’t it? But most cameras don’t actually come with a strap attached, though most have a thin strap, usually with the camera brand on it, in the box as a brand new camera.
If you’ve ever been to a brick-and-mortar camera store, you will notice that the display cameras won't have a strap attached to them. So, you’re holding the camera without anything but your hands preventing the camera from dropping.
That allows a shopper to get a feel of how the camera feels, how it handles, and how heavy it may be. Also, since there are several methods for how to carry a camera, not having a strap on display models means that you’re only evaluating the camera and not someone’s favorite method.
Photographers shooting primarily in a studio may not have a strap attached to their cameras at all. If you never hand hold your camera, a strap or some other system for how to carry a camera may be more of a bother than anything else.
I shoot in a studio and the field, and I capture still images and video footage, and I can tell you that I like to have some form of strap or harness even when in the studio. So, what choices are there for how to carry a camera?
Learn More:
Strap, Harness, Belt
Almost every camera of the modern era (or since the first 35mm cameras came out in the early 20th century) has had a place to mount a strap. Eye bolts with metal rings or a slot of a certain width are on the camera and let you thread a strap through them or attach a clip.
Camera straps are common and have a very long history. They loop through the attachment points and are generally worn over the shoulder or around one’s neck, though some are designed as wrist straps.
Camera belts use a tripod mount attachment clip which then fits into the belt. A camera belt may also use the camera strap mounting points to add a clip or connector.
A camera harness usually attaches to a camera's tripod mount, but some use the camera strap lugs. A harness is similar to a sling; some carry two or three cameras.
I’ll link to some YouTube videos that help explain the concepts from the premium leather goods manufacturer HoldFast Gear. Here is their YouTube Channel with their entire video catalog with all sorts of great photographic solutions and details on how to carry a camera.
HF Classic Strap
The HF Classic Strap comes in two widths, a skinny ½” version and a wider 1” version, which narrows down to ½” on the ends for easily threading through the camera lug mounts or attachment rings.
They are not adjustable, being one solid piece of fine leather for simplicity and comfort. This classic strap is made in 38”, 42”, 46”, 49”, and 52” lengths. Soft and supple yet incredibly strong, these are perfect for smaller mirrorless or rangefinder-style camera bodies.
Here is the video covering the HF Classic Strap:
Tanker Belt
The Tanker Belt is the best belt for how to carry a camera, indeed for all sorts of camera gear. It pretty much eliminates needing a bag for holding a moderate amount of pouches and clips along with your camera. I like to use one of these for in-studio product shots or on location for environmental portraits and events.
Available in Small, Medium, or Large, the secret to what makes the Tanker perfect for camera gear is the dual belt system. A smaller inner belt slides and sags with weight and movement, while the broader inner belt stays comfortably around the waist without dragging your pants down.
Check out this video describing the Tanker Belt:
MoneyMaker Camera Harness
The MoneyMaker Camera Harness is the product that first brought HoldFast Gear to my attention. I consider it one of the best camera strap solutions on the market today.
This is a sling or holster-style camera strap, and it comes in original and skinny versions and a solo or single camera version. You’ll want to read the linked articles about this beautiful strap. The MoneyMaker attaches to the camera's tripod mount, giving you unfettered access to the camera super quickly.
Here is one video extolling its virtues:
Final Thoughts on How To Carry a Camera
All of the HoldFast strap options are talked about in this video:
Besides these solutions for how to carry a camera without a bag, take a look at all of the fabulous bags and pouches from HoldFast, along with fun lifestyle leather goods.
