The Camera Gear that Changed my Life (the humble wrist strap)

We all have some piece of photo gear that changed the way we work. Chris Niccolls tells us what product rocked his world: the camera wrist strap. Watch to find out why.
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[@RhawiDantas]

1:46 Chris's neighbours: "Honey, that guy is throwing cameras on the street again. Shall we call the cops? Again?"

[@MrChomiq]

- 911 what is your emergency? - Hi, my neighbor is throwing a camera around the block, I'm afraid for its life - What brand is it? - Hold on, let me check... It's a Pentax! - Sir, this line is for emergency only, please hang up now.

[@CS90]

@@MrChomiq The cops would probably come and arrest the Pentax. Just because.

[@dunnobutwayne]

@@CS90 the pentax probably still works

[@CS90]

@@dunnobutwayne It probably doesn't but I'm guessing it didn't before Chris tossed it around. Haha

[@dunnobutwayne]

@@CS90 you would be surprised of their durability

[@kn7x802]

I’d never appreciated this little gadget until I destroyed my tv while playing Wii Sports.

[@min_nari]

i use wii's original strap on my camera

[@mattslaboratory5996]

It's amazing how entertaining it is to watch things getting dropped or thrown -- especially cameras. Also nice to see Jordan sporting a Camera Conspiracies shirt. Good show guys.

[@kian8382]

No disclaimer saying "no photography gear harmed in the making of this video?"

[@OmegaBlueGroup]

After listening to you, Chris, I decided 55 years of neck straps was enough. I bought a SpiderPro wrist strap for 50% off from B&H. Just spent yesterday hiking and it really was a revolution. My camera was always on, always ready, I shot ten times what I normally do, and came up with all kind of keepers. Thanks for steering an old guy to a new and better way!

[@zacredacted2137]

I hate you for making me watch you drop that camera.

[@pebble888]

I’m going to say for me it was Flickr of the mid-2000s. Digital photography was just taking hold. Amazing community. Experimental, creative and largely supportive with a genuine mix of very experienced photographers and newbies.

[@ChristianThueringer]

Always a joy to watch you guys

[@AaronLaye]

So refreshing to see a non clickbait title these days. Great video!

[@awksedgreep]

I think I switched to wrist straps on your recommendation some years ago. Thanks for that. They've been working great. Footage looks great in this one.

[@OnTheLeftHandSide]

1:40 Linus likes this.

[@j.b.7133]

yes the staged guy who drops stuff would also like a staged dropped thing. bravo.

[@robthis766]

You guys are great. Keep up the good work and sense of humour.

[@eggyjones]

timely indeed, after 21 years as a full time photographer I bought my first wrist strap for my X100v, Peak design cuff! Ill never look back....unless something is behind me!

[@soonho96]

Wait I just also got the X100V and the Cuff. Are we the same person

[@aseerawsaf9330]

I had to check if it was a Digital Rev Video when he threw that camera.

[@JosephFerricags]

The Gear that had the greatest impact on my photography was the Nikon FM2, a totally mechanical film camera that was built like a tank - I sold my Minolta Dynax 9000 (remember that) to buy it and it taught me more about photgraphy than any course, article or video - because it made youu think and do everything for yourself, or suffer the consequences, remember this was a film camera. If Sony, Nikon, Canon or any of the current photography leaders made a a camera with great autofocus but just with apature, shtter speed, ISO and White Balance controls (maybe with the other stuff as additional options) I'd buy it.

[@BasicFilmmaker]

LOL! Camera throw, One day we need to do a wrist-strap camera throw Olympics. :)

[@dpreview]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oam0qJh5iqyAm7s Beat you to it!

[@BasicFilmmaker]

DPReview LMAO!!👍

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Ziggi Mon you first. 😁

[@bodudas8346]

Genius video -- exactly what I needed..... a good laugh and a good strap. - thanks for the recommendation.

[@DetroitVideoDiaries]

Dude you guys make my day

[@rusinsr]

I never even realized there was an alternative to the stock neck-strap I've been using for over a year. Thank you, Chis!

[@onthemoverealestatephotogr9655]

The D70 was also my first DSLR. Loved it!

[@iKETOURAGE]

I clutched my invisible pearls when I saw you drop that camera

[@chippy511]

Yes I love having a wrist strap too totally agree I have never put a branded strap supplied with camera on. Keep well Chris Jordan thanks for the vids luv em👍😉

[@ibrahimkhaled7811]

I Agreeeeee , the PD Cuff is just amazing

[@cpnock]

A Tamron Adaptall 80-200mm lens for my 21st birthday. I had a SLR and 50mm (standard lens back when everything was in black & white). I have wide angle lenses and move them about the bottom of the camera bag once in a while, but nearly always go for the telephoto.

[@trekOCLVone]

I found the Peak Design Cuff on amazon. Gordy took a little more digging. :) Thanks for your input. I too don't like neck straps all the time.

[@WehlerDealer]

as someone who recently started doing concert photography and uses a Peak Design Slide strap, you've convinced me to buy a wrist strap. Less to mess with, and in crowds I don't keep the camera down by my hip anyway. Thanks!

[@SusanSlattery]

Peak Design Clutch. Used it on my D5. Now it's on my A7R4. Works for everything. Changed my life

[@Mir1189]

For me I would say it was M.Zuiko 12-40mm F2.8. First proper standard zoom lens i purchased 5 years ago. Even when i had to take a hiatus for some time last year i took some really nice photos on my OM-D M10 (original one), it inspired me to finally complete my digital kit and not just improve my techniques, but also to have proper tools to achieve the photos i wanted to take.

[@Ch0uchy]

oh yeah, Peak D. make me happy to, with their Capture Clips! When you are on a hike your can fix your camera to your bag and have easy access to it. Hapiness for me

[@miguelosvaldo]

tears for broken gear lol I love the cuff, really changed my use of the camera and I feel it secure.

[@highlander200107]

The Peak Cuff is my go to, so easy to switch between all my cameras. I have never liked traditional neck straps, my grandmother modified a thinner neck strap for me 30+ years ago to be a wrist strap, it was a domke gripper.

[@weilyan]

I had a Nikon D50 as my first DSLR, I used a Canon AE1 for a College photo class, and a digital canon powershot 8MP camera when digital was starting. But I would have to say that what really got me into photography was the discovery of DigitalRev (with Kai and Lok editions) since it's the moment in my life that i wanted to improve my knowledge of cameras and photography.

[@Retnee]

Brilliant. Funny, entertaining, and for someone who never thought about it but hates neck strapes... insightful too. Cheers!

[@robertgretter9452]

I started using the strap on the left side even though I'm right handed. That way my right hand is free and whenever I want to take a photo I just brace the camera with my left hand and trigger the shutter release with my right index finger like usual.

[@CS90]

For me, it was my D7200. It wasn't my first camera, that's the D3100, but it's the first one to really let me spread my photographic wings and explore my interest in photography. The D3100 was a good tool for learning the basics but I quickly felt like it was holding me back. Most of my best/favorite images were taken with my D7200 and it's a piece of equipment that I'll never get rid of.

[@TheCoomer]

Yes! The strap has made me not worry about dropping the camera. It was a wonderful feeling and now every camera has to have one

[@devilxnuxify]

Me too, my Sony A7 III has been attached to a slightly modified Nintendo WiiMote wrist strap since I got it out of the box. Wrist strap made my day all day everyday.

[@joeframo3347]

Hey Chris I found you and Jordan by accident scrolling through KZbin awesome you guys are awesome man love you guys I learned a bunch of stuff watching your videos 💖🤚👍

[@aghielahmadi2539]

For me it was Sony nex 5n... when I bought that little camera I carried it out everywhere with me,and it was a great experience to practice every day and night...it was a game changer for me...in that time I had a Canon 7d,but it was big and heavy...so,that little thing make a very big change in my every day practice...

[@gsansoucie]

I agree with the wrist strap. I can remember my first neck strap for my OM-10, after about two days, I was wrapping it around my wrist and just carried it that way for decades. I got into the Peak Designs approach about five years ago, I bought about six sets of their quick releases and put them on all my cameras, including my OM-10 that I still have today. I even used in on my Leica M5. I have one Peak Designs wrist strap and one neck strap. When I use the neck strap (like yesterday) I find myself wrapping it around my wrist anyway. The only thing I didn’t agree with in your video is your comment about you being so old ;-)

[@acanuck1679]

Brilliant--I just saw this and, yes, I've been using Peak Design wrist straps for years. Haven't been able to find a Gordy strap.

[@rjh-co5qn]

It's my Gordy's wrist strap as well. I have three. One on each body - all different in color leather and all with the additional wide band. I modified them slightly to work with the Peak Design attachment system. I also bought the Peak Design strap, the Upstrap and others - they get a lot of use sitting in my photo junk drawer.

[@stevenwaldstein2249]

Thanks for the video. Big fan of Gordy and the PD cuff is nice and I use it as well. But these are my solution for mirrorless mostly when not using a grip. For my DSLR I went with the Canon E-1 Hand strap that worked with gripped Canon bodies. Slipped my hand in and could hold the camera that way all day long. Have recently found the Barber Shop Tight Contour Camera Hand Straps that are very nice indeed but also very expensive but all leather. Will use a strap on occasion but those are all sling straps that attach with a Quick Detach (QD) connection to an Arca-Swiss bracket or plate. Don't have to remove the wrist straps to use them.

[@JFW5358]

I gave up neck straps some years ago and now use the Peak Design wrist strap, which is excellent.

[@Sarielify]

ofc my first dslr, nikon d3100, and fell in love again on the d750

[@Titan4sfcp]

Wow, I used to make my own wrist straps too! Only I used some twine and duct tape. The duct tape slowly conformed to the shape of my wrist so it was fairly comfortable, but it was also very sticky!

[@diegomev]

The game changing for me was when I placed the strap on the other side. Holding the camera with the strap on my left hand and having the right hand free to click and shoot just did more sense for me as a right handed person.

[@rosasgonzales9524]

makes sense, I shld consider this when I get my strap, thanks for sharing Diego

[@venom5809]

I love my Peak Design wrist strap, use it 99% of the time, I also have the Slide neck strap but I never use it, it is wonderful though, much better than the neck straps you get with the cameras. Fun fact with the PD wrist strap, it has a magnet in it so when it's not attached to the camera you can flip the dangling end around and it will snap onto the part on your wrist and make a bracelet until you need to use it again.

[@mariotheotaku]

ONA's Kyoto camera wrist strap is probably my favorite one that I use.

[@nishanthramakrishnan3362]

Switched from Canon 700d to Fujifilim XT-20. Thats the first time i loved photography and started taking more pics

[@MichaelLaing71]

I have a Gordy wrist strap and it is just too small for me. For photography I still use the Optech sling system, which gives me a variety of options. Probably the thing that changed my photography the most was a Nikon SB800 flash. I spent years learning lighting and it is the thing that still fascinates and perplexes me the most about photogrpahy.

[@artmaltman]

Yes!!! I use a Joby wrist strap that cinches itself automatically. Life changing.

[@VALERYAN581]

thx ,I made one now, from a thick leather strap that I no longer used and a lace from kevlar salomon boot, And is perfect for my d810

[@mjones410]

the Lubitel 166b. I bought it as a prop when shooting digital and then it lured me back to shooting film :)

[@cccycling5835]

Cameras & photography is what changed my life. I was a lowly portrait/landscape painter in Art School, ready to drop out and join the Air Force (which I honestly should have done), when another painter friend of mine suggested that I pick up photography, which I had never thought about before. I went from laborious oil and acrylic painting to the amazing world that is button pressing! It was mind blowing, especially since I was already an artist-in-a-rut. I still have my original photo school camera, a Nikon D5000, working after 100,000’s of actuations, traveled the world three times in 10 years. Second runner up would be Adobe Lightroom, which had just come out in 2010, I believe.

[@coffeecuparcade]

Funny enough, 10 years or so ago I discovered the Gordys Wrist Strap. I now have one for every one of my cameras. Best way to go

[@joec.1030]

Wrist straps are great!📷✌🏻

[@bird271828]

My most favorite gear was my father's Leica M3 that he bought in late 1950's.

[@ByteReview]

I hate neck straps too and for a while I was using a Nintendo Wiimote strap as a wrist strap, until I invested in the Peak design cuff then never looked back!

[@KPGuitarStudios]

Jordan, I love the Camera Conspiracies shirt! Kasey's awesome

[@ladykay8]

My preference in wrist straps has been optech, for about 15 years, they are neoprene, and have a quick release. I hate neck straps too. B&H has some nice ones without a quick release, and I'm thinking about trying one.

[@jacobh5817]

My Olympus OM-1. I bought in 1976. Had to work all summer for it. Still have it and it still works great. As for straps: Peak Design are the best. Tried many other straps (neck and wrist), but you can’t beat PD...

[@zoegillman6692]

I love gordy’s wrist strap too ..but my extra fav is “the zoe” by gordyscamerastraps which is both neck and wrist strap in one

[@andrewkift6746]

Having some money changed my photographic life. Being able to buy all the good s£!t you guys constantly tease us with in your reviews 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Definitely money.

[@lutfymairizalputra288]

Hahaha they got you

[@loldart]

I would say the peak design system as a whole change my work flow. Propad+belt+lenses kit= swapping lenses fast and using primes more. I would also say 6L sling bag to keep my camera safe when i was in Italy early February 2020.

[@Indrakusuma_a]

I've been wanting to ask about which wrist strap Chris has been using, and this video shows up today. 1:38 Linus would be proud

[@kefkafloyd]

Been using a Minolta hand strap forever on my A-mount cameras. Not a wrist strap, and it kind of works best with a vertical grip (unless you always have an L-plate or tripod plate attached) but I find them to be the best option. When I use my telephotos, I use an R-strap.

[@RAnder4370]

Making the transition from my Minolta SRT 101 to a Nikon F2 and motor drive made all the difference as a kid shooting sports.

[@MahmudovProTips]

this episode reminds me on a DigitalRev Tv from years ago with Kai W

[@Halfhoff]

I love the Peak Designs Clutch.

[@jamesryan1939]

I thought I was the only one, I use the peak design and love it.

[@alicehawks6424]

Peak Design straps with anchor link system. I can change from neck strap to wrist strap, long day shooting in nature to street photography, and take it off quickly when on a tripod and the breeze is blowing.

[@grahamhobbs3501]

wrapping the neck strap round my wrist has always worked for me:)

[@timzheng3326]

Ricoh GR! I still use the mk1 to this day - will probably be upgrading to the mk3, but will also likely keep the mk1 around anyway!

[@asnowboards1]

I totally understand! I have always deeply disliked the neckstraps, but for me I found the sling straps (currently the black rapid cross shot because it is fairly discreet in black). It also had the greatest impact for me as I always have my camera out and ready when I am walking through cities or hiking. Nice vids as always :)

[@gordontannahill1293]

Couldn't agree more. As a Gordon, I needed to have a Gordy wrist strap on my xt20 and never looked back.

[@jan-hendrikbussmann4644]

You have such a stunning winter there in Canada. Although it is not Christmas, maybe a fireplace video would be in order?

[@oneeyedphotographer]

TS-E 24. I thought a lot before I bought on (used), it confirmed my hypothesis. Because of thar one, I bought the rest of the TS-E lenses, then upgraded to the TS-E 24 Mark II. Those are my lenses of choice for landscape photography, and the TS-E 17 is a cracker portrait lens.

[@bird271828]

I keep on dreaming about the new Canon tilt shift 50mm F2.8. But it's $2000😮😱

[@jrrd997]

oh god, every time he drops the camera I can feel it in my gut.

[@-grey]

I put a large keyring on the lug, post my middle finger through it and it hands pretty well with leverage.

[@MrChomiq]

That was a Pentax DSLR, shots fired!

[@rcpanorama]

I use the Cuff Peak Design wrist strap most of the time, except for street photography where I use the Slide Lite Camera strap to shoot from the hip. Does anyone remembers that leather hand strap that was attached with a metallic plate to the bottom of the camera, in the 90's for my Canon 40D, good old days.

[@KyleClements]

D70 was my first DSLR too! And I share your dislike of neck straps. I found the older Peak design wrist strap with the black plastic strap adjuster frustrating, but the new one (shown in this video, with the grey metal slidey thing) is a big improvement. I'm going to have to look into the one you've recommended. Also, you many not have noticed this in the edit, but if you look really closely, for a split second, it almost looks like you might have dropped your camera...

[@PTYC933]

I love the wriststraps too. I ditched my first dslr strap when they hurt around my neck. I like wrist straps so much I’m using one one my phone, one on my bluetooth speaker, if I can do one for my wallet I would too.

[@daveeverett9341]

Perfectly happy with PD Leash for all my cameras, RX100 and up.... Digital Photography changed my life in 1990 - Logitech Fotoman!

[@mangeshdhore]

Well, neck straps are good, I use them when using zoom. Just build a small tension and they help stabilizing the image. Try it out!

[@ValhallaTactical]

2:21 Chris you should look up Nikon AH-4. Had one since 1992 when I bought my F90. For a big DSLR, I would pick that over my Peak Design hand strap any day.

[@butinsho]

For me it’s Sony’s autofocus technology. It’s makes it easier taking pictures of my 2 year old. That realtime eye af is really nice.

[@BigRedJphoto]

Wrist straps for the win, used them for years,

[@markaustin614]

Peak all the way!! And I agree with Chris, I forget lenses but never the wrist strap!! Nice uplifting video once again...Thanks!!! (and I hate neck straps too!!!)

[@alanhuntley55]

Chris is old? That's funny! The camera that changed my photography is my Deardorff 8x10. I liked shooting that format so much I didn't use anything else for a period of about 15 years.

[@hidekigomi]

Fun. I’m slow, I didn’t realize what the board between you guys was for until very last... thought it was mimicking a confessional!

[@AllThingsFilm1]

This video gave me hope. Even though I haven't had a wrist strap in a long time, I appreciate it. To be honest, I find it scary when I see photographers/videographers walk around with their cameras and ONLY their hand holding on to their camera. When I don't want to walk around with a tripod, I do use a camera strap regardless of the awkwardness. I recently ordered the Universal Camera Strap from KUVRD. (Delivery delayed due to pandemic.) Bur, after seeing this video, I'm going to order a camera strap right now! As a film maker, the gear that made a big difference to me were the two C-stands I bought. I don't know if that qualifies as "gear" per say, but these C-stands can serve so many purposes that I wonder how I went for so long without them. Thanks for your videos. I always enjoy your content.

[@2cats1guy]

A: my first camera was also a D70 (s) B: I completely agree the wrist/hand strap is my top life changing camera gear.

[@matthewwells1606]

Wrist strap + sling bag = bliss.

[@Wabajak13]

I use a thinner neck strap and wrap it around my wrist a few times so that I have the option of both.

[@zoegillman6692]

Wabajak13 I posted in my comment about using the “zoe” strap by gordys which is a combination wrist and neck

[@Ulrich.Bierwisch]

I still use the old Panasonic-GF1 neck strap this way on the GH5. It's thin and soft. Today's neck straps are wide to allow a huge printed name on them so my trusty old GF1 strap has 10 years of service on the GF1, GH3 and the GH5.

[@DerSystematiker]

Funny. I bought the Peak Design Slide last week and I like the release machanism. I will get more for all my cameras and I considered getting the wrist strap... just because. I ordered it be 30 seconds after this video was over.

[@ErebosGR]

Thoughts on paracord wrist straps? For me, they strike the best combination of low-cost, ease-of-use and high-durability.

[@Smaug1]

Digital cameras in general. It was so nice to be able to just buy the gear and shoot away with no further expenditures after that. (GAS aside) Domke Gripper neck strap. I see Chris has one and treats it work disdain. This strap, I can use as a neck strap, shoulder strap (cross shoulder or one shoulder, since it doesn't slip off) or twist it a few times and it makes an OK wrist strap as well.

[@maxnits9556]

Love my Gordy's on a6000.