Do you know how to hold SLR camera correctly?
While this topic might seem like an exercise in ridiculousness for many, it is actually necessary for those just venturing into the realm of the DSLR. Most people are familiar with the point-and-shoot variety of camera, and when they upgrade to a bigger, heavier, and pricier DSLR, they hold it in the same fashion as their old camera. Here are a few tips that will help you along the way.
The Strap
While most of the time, it seems that the strap is only worthy anything when walking from point A to point B, it is actually a very important piece for your DSLR. Many people think that the strap only gets in their way and causes a great deal of hassle. However, it can save you big time if you use it. The first suggestion would be to put the strap over your head when shooting. This way, if you lose grip and accidentally drop your camera, you don’t have a huge repair bill.
If you find this too limiting, then you can simply wrap your shooting hand, for most the right hand, through the strap one or two times. If something happens causing you to lose your grip, the strap around your hand will keep it from falling to its doom.
Use both Hands
Most people, when beginning with a DSLR, use their right hand to support the weight of the camera and their left hand to focus. In doing this, they are depending totally upon a single point of contact to keep their camera safe. Whenever possible use your left hand to support the camera as well. Place it under the camera body and the lens simultaneously. This will spread the weight of the camera over both arms, allowing you to shoot longer and steadier as well as help keep the camera safe should one hand slip.
As you progress in your photography, you will find ways to hold your camera that work for you. Just keep in mind that you want to keep your equipment safe and your shots steady and you will be a long way ahead of the game. Keep in mind that you will likely be purchasing add-on’s for your camera. Extra battery packs that attach to the bottom of the camera add a lot of additional weight and thus needs more support. Something like a flash bracket, to support an external flash, will also change the way you hold your camera. Make sure you take the time to familiarize yourself with how the new equipment will interact with your camera before getting out in the field or in the studio. Remember, no one ever plans to fail, they simply fail to plan.
There are 6 comments on this post.
Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feedi liked the small but important points you thought of sharing about holding the camera correctly. could you also please explain how to use the dslr camera for the first time users. thanks
@sadia tausif
Hello.
That’s an awesome topic suggestion. Please come back in few days, I will write that article for you.
Thanks for the tips! I usually wrap the strip over right hand, but never thought about hand placement when shooting.
I think I got the hand placement down and always used the shoulder/neck strap to ensure I don’t accidentally lose/drop my camera….that wrist strap is a bit uncomfortable for me.
thx
Good day Sandro, good points you have here, I always have the strap around my neck. What the “use both hands” are concerned, it is not so easy to handle a camera like you described if you are left handed. I wish the manufacturers of cameras will think about people that is left handed. Luckily I have learned myself to hold the camera as you have described.
Alet » have you seen a car for left handed people?
it’s the same kind of a thing, I’m a lefty myself, and it took no time to get used to it.