Think Tank Photo Camera Strap V2.0 Review

I typically carry my camera in one of two ways: in my hand or slung over my shoulder. When the camera is in my hand I wrap the strap around my wrist — it’s a way to securely hold the camera without needing to keep a tight grip on it. Think Tank Photo’s Camera Strap V2.0 works very well for my use.

The Camera Strap V2.0 is made of a soft and flexible material so it easily wraps around my wrist or squishes into the camera bag. (Other straps from the camera manufacturer’s are a bit stiff and a coarse material.) Think Tank Photo’s strap is on the narrow side (one inch), as compared to many other straps that are typically closer to two inches wide. The narrower width makes it easy to wrap around my wrist, however when slung over my shoulder (or much less frequently, around my neck) it doesn’t displace the camera weight as well. So, especially when worn around my neck, the strap does “cut in” more than other straps. The other big advantage to Camera Strap V2.0 is that the non-slip material is on both sides of the strap, so no matter how the strap is slung or wrapped, it’s going to grip. The non-slip material is also very flexible and soft itself so it doesn’t feel scratchy against my skin. Also, after about a year of use, it’s held up well.

One thing that concerns me about Camera Strap V2.0 is that it uses metal rings. I’m most concerned that the metal rings could ding a glass element, or perhaps cause a scratch or paint chip area on the camera. I’m careful with my gear and have not had any such problem yet, but it seems to me that a plastic ring would be a much safer option (though I have no data to back that up). Or, perhaps better, no ring at all is necessary — just sew the strap together. The rings seem like they would be a great idea to let the strap and camera hang more easily, but in practice the strap is so flexible that I doubt the rings are actually used as pivot points. Also, no rings would mean even less bulk.

I usually don’t object to leaving a strap on the camera; I don’t often feel like it gets in the way (especially when I’m happy with it). There are some times I’d like to take it off, though, and so a quick release option would be nice. Of course, a QR would add bulk to the strap and the lack of bulk is something I like.

If you prefer to carry your camera the same way I do (mostly in-hand, sometimes over your shoulder), I highly recommend the Think Tank Photo Camera Strap V2.0. If you prefer to put your camera around your neck, the narrow strap width probably makes this a poor choice for you.