A Better Camera Strap
It’s an overlooked, but very important camera accessory – the camera strap. Digital SLRs all come with a flimsy, camera-branded strap. They work fine but you can do better – lots better. One of the most popular and functional camera strap upgrades is the Op/Tech USA Classic Camera Strap. The comfortable, stretchy neoprene material works as a shock absorber when the camera is around your neck. Op/Tech claims the strap “makes cameras… feel 50% lighter and 100% more comfortable.” Retail price is $20 and most people should be able to find them in their local camera store. No worries if you can’t find the Op/Tech strap in your area. Pelican also makes neoprene camera straps, and Tamrac and Lowepro also make excellent camera straps. Any of those will be an improvement over what came with your photographer’s digital SLR.
Op/Tech USA Web Site >>
For photographers who don’t like traditional neck straps or would like an alternative, check out Click Elite’s camera Wrist Strap (below) for only $20.
Clik Elite Web Site >>
For active point-and-shoot photographers there’s the new Black Rapid SnapR camera strap / case combo (below). It combines Black Rapid’s “revolutionary sling strap concept” with a padded case that will fit most compact, point-and-shoot cameras. It’s under $50 and protects your compact camera even while it’s out of the case. It really is a very cool product. Black Rapid’s SLR straps are also worth mentioning even though they cost a bit of $50. The RS-5 with built-in smartphone and memory card compartments is especially cool. If you’re looking for a gift for me, I’ll take one of those!
BlackRapid Web Site >>
Thanks to Sabine Dukes and Chris Pichado for suggesting camera straps for this guide.
Cheap Holiday Gifts For Photographers:
 Mini Tripods |
 Memory Cards |
 Pop-Up Flash Accessories/a> |
 Camera-Friendly Gloves |
 Memory Card Wallets |
 Micro-Fiber Cleaning Cloths |
 Holga Toy Camera |
 The Pod |
 Camera Strap |
 Gift Certificates |
More Holiday Shopping Guide Content:
Top Five Budget Digital SLRs
Top Five Budget Zoom Lenses
Outdoor & Underwater Camera Guide
Camera Accessories Buyer’s Guide
Digital Camera Guide For Regular Folks
Safe Online Digital Camera Shopping Guide
Hi, John…
Betsy Brill here, Professor Kobré’s wife and executive vice president of EVERYTHING at http://www.lightscoop.com.
Thanks for the write-up!
Thought you and your readers would want to know about a great SALE on the Lightscoop at Adorama, our EXCLUSIVE online reseller.
Happy holidays!
Now, that looks like the PERFECT camera accessory which I had been dreaming about. Reasonably priced too. Thanks very much John for posting this article!!!
This is a great idea John! Now I can just point my wife to this link for ideas while still keeping a tiny little bit of surprise in Christmas.
Man, this is great! I always carry my cleaning cloth in my linty linty pokets
Great list John. A couple of inexpensive ideas that come to mine are a good rocket blower and a hot shoe bubble level. Both very useful and inexpensive.
op-tech rain sleeve
http://optechusa.com/rainsleeve.html