Back in 1980, during Christmas break from college, I went ice skating with my friends on a lake in New Jersey.  I remember this time very well, because it was the moment I dropped my rangefinder camera onto the ice and it was destroyed.

The reason I dropped it was that I didn’t have a camera strap on it.  I didn’t own one.  Today, I see many people who must not have realized how important the camera strap is when they opened the box with their new camera.  It can be cumbersome, but I can tell you from experience that not using it can be a disaster.

Besides having a camera strap, you need to use it.  Hanging the camera around your neck is the safest place for it to be when you’re a tourist.  Second is maybe over the shoulder, but the worst thing is holding it without a strap.

There will be times when you might want to take a photo out of the car window.  Wrap the camera strap around your hand so that it stays in place and doesn’t slip or fall.

When you arrive at the restaurant and need to set it down, the safest spot is on the floor — it can’t fall from there.  Some folks even put the strap through their leg so no one can grab it and run.

If you place the camera on a table, ensure the strap does not dangle off the edge. I have seen way too many of these straps magically get hooked onto someone walking by, and then the camera hits the ground. Little kids love to explore, and having something within reach will be too tempting.

There are many types of camera straps, and I will recommend one that I prefer the most.  Domke makes it, and here is a link to it for you.  I appreciate the quick-release straps that can be easily removed for packing or when the camera is on a tripod.

Remember, the best insurance for your camera is preventive care on your part.