Cameras can be expensive equipment and it is common sense to take care of these as best you can. The last thing you need to happen when you are carrying your camera is to drop it and a simple way to keep your camera safe is to attach a camera strap.
A camera strap can come in a variety of styles. The simplest of these is a wrist strap and many smaller cameras come with one of these included in the purchase price. This is a small fabric strip which as attached to a connector piece on the camera and loops around the wrist. If the camera slips from your grasp the fabric strip will hold it and stop it dropping to the ground.
For heavier camera equipment a wrist strap may not be appropriate and it may be that a shoulder camera strap is more effective. This is also generally made of fabric although is longer and may have some shoulder padding. This allows you to carry the camera slung over your shoulder.
Another type of strap for a camera is a neck loop. This is similar in style to a shoulder strap, although rather than being slung over the shoulder it is worn around the neck. This leaves your hands free, with the camera being in an easy position to be picked up to take a quick picture.
Whichever type of straps for cameras you are interested in there are a few different retailers where these can be found. Stores which sell camera equipment are good places to look and some of the larger electrical retailers such as Best Buy have a selection available. Specialist camera retailers such as Ritz Camera also have straps for cameras available, although for the widest selection available the internet is the best place to look. There are a number of specialist web retailers that have straps for cameras available. Some of these include OP/TECH USA, Black Rapid and Upstrap.
The cost of a camera strap will vary depending on the type you choose and the material used to manufacture it. A wrist strap can retail for $5 to $10. An example of this is the Opteka professional wrist grip strap which costs $10 to purchase. This is compatible with most makes of camera, is designed to wrap around the wrist and can be used to help stabilize the camera when shooting pictures.
More sophisticated camera strap equipment tends to be more expensive. The Upstrap large black pad quick release Kevlar web shoulder strap, for example, costs $57 to purchase. This is best for heavier cameras over 2 pounds in weight and has an extra wide pad for comfort. At the professional end of the strap market costs up to $100 can be charged for some equipment.
Taking care of your camera is a common sense thing to do and using a camera strap can help to avoid damage. They are simple but effective pieces of equipment and it pays to have at least a wrist strap on your camera. They are available from many outlets and can be an affordable camera accessory. For the convenience and peace of mind they provide it is worth investing in a strap to protect your camera.