[NecroticSoldier]

Is the function of a hand strap supposed to keep your hand on the camera... tightly? or just loosely have your hand on it... and you can sorta easily take it out and put it in? (that seems to be the case for mine and not sure if it's right.)

[writeb]

My experience has been the latter. (Loosely fitted).
What ultimately matters is what's most comfortable and useful for you.

[Blue]

I personally use one just as a safety devise so I don't drop it etc hence I got one more suitable for that use.

[Canada_Rockies]

Is the function of a hand strap supposed to keep your hand on the camera... tightly? or just loosely have your hand on it... and you can sorta easily take it out and put it in? (that seems to be the case for mine and not sure if it's right.)

I use the Pentax hand strap, and just spent a few days out with it. My personal preference is for tight. It keeps all my fingers near the buttons I want to use. The Pentax strap uses a device to snug it up that allows you to not tighten it, or tighten it whatever amount you want. I've even used mine in a hurry by by-passing the "inside" section of the strap and relying on my grip on the grip to hold the camera. Whatever works for you. Even when very, very tight it comes undone in a second or two. I only have one digital camera, so I cannot show you how the strap works, but I'll describe this particular arrangement.

1. The strap has a short piece that attaches it to the right side neck strap mount.
2. There is then a reasonably ergonomic large piece of leather leading down to the piece that screws into the tripod mount on the base of the camera, or in my case, the D-BG2 battery grip. This is the part on the back of your hand when the strap is on.
3. The third piece is about 1/2" wide nylon similar to the material in a neck strap, and loops into one of those friction multi slot thingies. You put your hand between this and the leather.
4. This piece is tightened by pulling on a tab and secured by sticking it to a Velcro pad on the back of the leather part.
5. The whole thing is released by removing the long piece from the velcro and pulling a small tab that releases the long strap, making for a big hole to withdraw your hand through.

I even used this Saturday with gloves on. This is a bit of a tight fit (my gloves are usable down to about -10 C (14 F) and are, obviously, lined.

The in case of emergency, such as my wife is bent over picking up something, and I am directly behind her and far enough that she cannot kick me, I just stick my hand between the thin strap and the camera body.

[NecroticSoldier]

I use the Pentax hand strap, and just spent a few days out with it. My personal preference is for tight. It keeps all my fingers near the buttons I want to use. The Pentax strap uses a device to snug it up that allows you to not tighten it, or tighten it whatever amount you want. I've even used mine in a hurry by by-passing the "inside" section of the strap and relying on my grip on the grip to hold the camera. Whatever works for you. Even when very, very tight it comes undone in a second or two. I only have one digital camera, so I cannot show you how the strap works, but I'll describe this particular arrangement.

1. The strap has a short piece that attaches it to the right side neck strap mount.
2. There is then a reasonably ergonomic large piece of leather leading down to the piece that screws into the tripod mount on the base of the camera, or in my case, the D-BG2 battery grip. This is the part on the back of your hand when the strap is on.
3. The third piece is about 1/2" wide nylon similar to the material in a neck strap, and loops into one of those friction multi slot thingies. You put your hand between this and the leather.
4. This piece is tightened by pulling on a tab and secured by sticking it to a Velcro pad on the back of the leather part.
5. The whole thing is released by removing the long piece from the velcro and pulling a small tab that releases the long strap, making for a big hole to withdraw your hand through.

I even used this Saturday with gloves on. This is a bit of a tight fit (my gloves are usable down to about -10 C (14 F) and are, obviously, lined.

The in case of emergency, such as my wife is bent over picking up something, and I am directly behind her and far enough that she cannot kick me, I just stick my hand between the thin strap and the camera body.

This has been useful, thank you. I think I am using it properly now.

Yes, emergencies can happen, and in such cases, this technique mentioned above must be used.

[Ira]

Forget the hand strap, don't drop the camera, and just get out there and shoot.

[dhulsmeyer]

I just bought the Pentax handstrap and it is a piece of crap. I broke it while installing it on the camera. The nylon straps are so much bigger than the lugs on the camera body that I pulled one of the tabs of pulling it through. There are no instructions for the thing. I can't believe Pentax would allow their name to be put on this garbage.

[DeliaRana]

I prefer the handstrap. When I am shooting I usually have it loosely around my hand. When I am just walking around with my camera I tighten it up.
I hate neck straps and before I bought the handstrap I was always carrying my camera.

[GerryL]

I use mine loose but not too loose that it would easily slip my grip.
It's like holding a bird..too tight and it would die..too loose and it would fly away.
It should be comfortable and easy for the digits to switch from the buttons that need to be reached or pressed.