If you find yourself frequently wrapping the neck strap on your camera around your hand, it may be time to look for a hand strap.

Not every photographer likes carrying a camera around their neck. The neck strap that comes with a digital single lens reflex camera isn’t designed to be used safely in any other manner.

A hand strap can be an effective solution for carrying a DSLR. Many find keeping the weight of the camera supported with the hand and wrist more comfortable and less fatiguing than carrying it around the neck.

While a hand strap indeed reduces fatigue, it can be less than ideal if you shoot for many hours at a time.

A hand strap generally attaches to the tripod mounting hole and the neck strap anchor. It provides a tight and secure way to handle the camera, making the one-handed camera operation greatly simplified.

Some hand straps can be mounted for use with the left hand on most cameras. Others are designed only to be used with a camera that has a grip or built-in battery pack.

Before buying a hand strap

For the best fit, hand straps should be tried on with your camera before purchasing. They come in a variety of shapes and widths and some may fit better than others. If you have extremely large or small hands, don’t assume that a “one-size-fits-all” hand strap will fit.