Do you leave your camera strap attached?

[neilcreek]

Sometimes I find my camera strap can get annoying, especially if I'm using my tripod, or if I'm shooting in the studio. Other times it's invaluable and lets me have a free hand, say for example on a bushwalk.

Do you ever take off your camera strap? If so, how often? Leave comments in the thread on your strap use habits.

[BWardy]

I think for me it's the fear of dropping my camera that makes me want to keep the strap on.
I also find it easier to carry the camera with the strap... Most of the photography I've done has been while out walking... So rather than have my camera in my bag, I prefer to have it handy. You never know if the moment for a brilliant photo will be a brief one that passes you by...

[Chrissy]

When I received my new Canon a few months ago, one of the first things I did was put the strap on and haven't taken it off since. Just like as B Wardy I was also worried about dropping it ... it was like having a new born baby and I still treat it as such.

I recall it took me about 10 to 15 minutes to get the strap on ... underlooping it back into the same little area and remember thinking to myself 'man ... what a pain in the #%**' and decided then and there ... this strap will be staying on forever. 

I tend to wear it like a great big permanent necklace now, hanging it around my neck whenever I'm out and about .. even when I'm in the car and especially when I'm out in our garden.

I don't find it to be too much of a hassle while I'm using the tripod but would probably take them off if it were just a case of one click and their off or on.

[BWardy]

I found this interesting article (link below) on the 'net on a different type of camera strap attachment. The writer of the article makes an interesting point about how most camera strap attachments can be a little inconveniently placed.

http://gizmodo.com/5061580/the-diy-quick+draw-camera-strap-that-puts-all-other-straps-to-shame

Not so handy for those of us who attach and detach the camera with a tripod... But some people may like the idea...

[neilcreek]

It's a little easier for me to decide, as I've added my own "quick release" system to my strap. I just canibalised a couple of those keyhole shaped springs from lanyards and put them on the end of the traps. It's not pretty, it sounds rattly and it's still a little tricky to get on and off, but it's a whole lot better than rethreading the strap.

The funny thing is, now that it's easy to take it on and off, I'm finding that I'm using it with the strap off more than on now. Two reasons I think that I'm doing it more now than I might have before: I'm a lot more comfortable with my camera - I don't "baby" it anymore. It's just another tool. Also, I am using and loving the battery grip so much that I leave it on the camera all the time. This has a substantially enlarged finger groove than the nouoriously hard to hold 350D, so it feels a lot more secure in my hands.

Why not try a few shoots without your strap and see if you actually miss it!

[Daniel N.]

I have bought the "Lowepro Transporter" strap that actually comes with side release buckles that make it easy to remove when it gets along the way on a tripod.
Made my Life much easier (since it also has memory card pouches ON the strap).