Camera straps are a crucial accessory for your kit, yet they tend to be neglected or forgotten when upgrading your gear. As a photographer, the first thing I do upon unboxing a new camera is remove the cheap and uncomfortable kit neck strap and replace it with my preferred sling strap. Despite spending thousands on the new camera, the neck strap supplied with it is usually the cheapest item in the box, second only to the cardboard packaging.

Pros and cons of the kit strap?

Keeping the strap that comes with your camera can be a good idea for a few reasons. First off, it does a great job of keeping your camera safe and secure. Plus, you might like the branding or model information on the strap. Lastly, it’s more budget-friendly to stick with the original strap instead of buying a new one.

However, while it is functional, it’s also most uncomfortable, especially with the weight hanging around your neck. As for the brand name on the strap, that’s a matter of personal choice – aesthetic-wise, they’re ugly, made from cheap plastic, and I’m not a fan. Yes, the sling straps can be expensive, but some are also reasonably priced, and what price do you put on comfort? If you are like many photographers and me, you probably also suffer from GAS (gear acquisition syndrome). Just think of all the camera bags you bought, looking for the perfect bag. A good strap is just as important.

Which strap?

When choosing a camera strap, photographers have many options: Neck straps, wrist straps, shoulder straps, harness straps, hand grips and camera clips.

Let’s bite the bullet and dispense with the neck strap right now. It’s the most uncomfortable way to carry your camera. Position-wise, a shoulder strap across the body and shoulder is more comfortable than hanging it around your neck. Your shoulders can disperse the weight better, and you won’t have a stiff and sore neck at the end of the day. Trust me, it happened. I carried my Canon 7D Mk II with a 100-400 attached all day at the zoo. That night, I could barely move my neck. So, that same night, I went online and bought a sling strap for my camera. Problem solved.

Another option is the wrist strap – and while this may be okay for lighter point-and-shoot cameras, for a mirrorless or DSLR, it’s too heavy to carry on the hand all day. There are also camera clips on the market now, but my preference, especially for women, is still a sling strap.

Camera Strap Options

Having decided you will get a new sling strap to do your camera justice – the next decision is which one?   The market is filled with many companies making camera straps, but if we cull it down to sling straps, the leading companies we are left with are Black Rapid, Peak Design and Joby.

I initially used a Joby side strap before switching to Black Rapid. Both straps attach to the camera’s base, but I found it inconvenient that the Joby strap took up the tripod plate and had to be removed to attach the tripod. Furthermore, the Joby strap became unusable when I used an L bracket on my camera. I also experimented with a generic version from eBay, which I do not recommend, and a hand strap. Ultimately, I opted for the Peak Design strap, which I have been using for more than five years now.

Benefits of a Sling Strap

1. Cross-Body Design: Wearing the sling strap diagonally across the torso can evenly distribute the camera’s weight. This reduces strain on the neck and shoulders, unlike traditional neck straps.
2. Quick Access: Positioning the camera at the hip or lower back and sliding it along the strap can be quickly brought up to the shooting position..
3. Comfort and Ergonomics: Padded sling straps are designed to enhance comfort when carrying heavy gear for extended periods of time..
4. Versatility: There are camera sling straps available that can be used with different camera systems. They come with adjustable features, which allow them to fit various body sizes and cater to different shooting styles.
5. Tripod Compatibility: Certain sling straps have the option to connect to tripods or come with quick-release mechanisms, allowing for seamless transitions between sling strap and tripod usage.
6. Freedom of Movement: A sling strap is preferable to neck straps as it offers a more natural range of motion and is particularly beneficial for photographers who are frequently on the go. Neck straps may cause an obstruction at times, whereas a sling strap provides greater flexibility.
7. Durability: Sling straps are often made from high-quality materials to withstand the demands of professional photographers and outdoor shooting conditions.

Peak Design

The Peak Design Slide is my sling strap and a hands-down winner for me. It attaches to the camera via the strap loops with its unique dongle system or to the bottom of the camera with a mounting plate. The strap is made of sturdy, internally padded webbing. The strap loops are the way to go if you use an L bracket. You can lengthen or shorten the strap with the webbing glides. Peak Design also has narrower Lite slide straps for lighter or smaller cameras. The Slide comes in four colours. RRP $130

Black Rapid

The best-selling of the black rapid range are the RS-4 and the Breathe Sport. The difference between them is that the sport is more comfortable, but the tradeoff is extra weight. Another one from Black Rapid is the Sport X QD. With this one – you can attach the strap to an L bracket – but you need a QD-compatible L bracket. All of the Really Right Stuff plates are QD compatible. Black Rapid also makes a dual strap sling strap for those who carry two cameras.

Breathe Sport RRP $124

Joby

The Joby Ultrafit approaches things a little differently and makes one strap for women and one for men. The difference is that the women’s strap has a slight ‘S’ bend, and the pivot ring is smaller. It attaches to the camera via the pivot ring at the bottom of the camera.

Joby Ultrafit RRP from $30

Choosing the right sling straps for your camera is crucial. It needs to be compatible with your camera model and meet your individual requirements. With so many brands and models available, you can select one that matches your photography style and provides maximum comfort and protection for your equipment.