Customer Reviews

Hakuba Camera Grip

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Fits like a wrist support for bowlers (which is a good thing). I used to straddle the neck strap on my camera "sniper style" to give me a steady shot (which was really efficient). After buying this grip, I got an even more steady aim. The neck strap can work in conjunction with this grip (I chose to remove the neck strap off my D80 permanently). I think another major plus of this grip is that it really aids with portrait/vertical shots. Your camera is practically attached to your right hand firmly. It's probably not for everyone, but it sure has given me better steady aim than I used to have with just the neck strap.

Because of many years working with (and abusing) my hands and wrists, my once-strong grip, although still strong when I'm paying attention, has become undependable -- I now occasionally drop things without knowing it ... until whatever it is hits the ground. Obviously I was NOT interested in letting this happen to my Nikon D700.

The obvious solution was to use the supplied neck strap (or a different one). However, a neck strap can be a nuisance in some situations, and inconvenient to put on in others, so I looked into quite a few wrist straps and hand grips. The Habuka Camera Grip is the only one that fit my criteria -- comfortable in use and not interfering with camera operation, supportive enough to relieve tension on my hand when carrying the camera for greater timespans, and securely attached to me in the event my grip checks out on me unannounced.

Although one purchaser thinks the wrist strap portion is too difficult to remove quickly, I have NO problem in this regard. The wrist strap fastens with velcro and then an adjustable quick-release buckle straps over that and ensures the velcro won't open when accidentally caught on something. Releasing the wrist strap portion is a quick two-step process.

The upper portion of the strap connects to the right-side shoulder strap loop on the camera body. The strap then passes through a sturdy molded loop on the bottom mounting plate included with the strap. This nylon strap adjusts for a custom fit according to hand size, camera body, and personal preferences. The molded mounting plate attaches to the tripod mount with a screw; the screw even has a tripod screw mount on its outer side. I doubt I'll use this feature for my heavy camera (anything between the tripod head and the camera introduces risk for camera shake), but those with lighter cameras will surely welcome this feature. When removing the bottom mounting plate for direct tripod connection, the Habuka Camera Grip's large-headed screw dismounts easily and it's permanently attached to the bottom mounting plate so it can't escape.

The shoulder strap can still be used by leaving the left side attached to the camera body and threading the other strap end through another sturdy molded loop on the left side of the bottom mounting plate of the wrist strap; the camera then hangs vertically instead of horizontally, but really, this is not a functional issue, just a bit of a mental re-adjustment for those who've never had their camera hanging like that.

When picking up the camera to shoot in a hurry, I've found I can quickly tuck the wrist strap portion under the hand strap portion and just shoot like that -- no need to fuss with strapping it on. It's a bit tighter (assuming it's adjusted for use with the wrist strap fastened as intended) and less secure when the camera is held at one's side, but for quick use, it's a good option to have.

I haven't had the Habuka Camera Grip long enough to evaluate the actual durability, but my past experience in outdoor gear quality control and manufacturing tells me this is well-made and I am confident projecting that it will hold up admirably. The materials, stitching, and hardware are all top-quality. I have, however, used the grip enough to be amazed by its comfort level. Once I got it adjusted just right, I now find I forget my camera is attached securely to me ... and that's great because I got the camera to take photographs with, not worry about.

I've used this hand strap on my Canon Rebel XT the last few months and absolutely love it. It's comfortable and once I'm strapped in, I never worry about dropping my camera. Just be careful and use common sense when walking around a crowded place with your camera strapped to your hand. This came in really handy on my trips to NYC and overseas as it allowed me to hang my video camera around my neck while my Canon was ready to shoot at any time. Great product!

I've used this strap to take over 7000 photos in the past 4 months. By all means I felt very secure with it and walk around the street while holding it. I mainly use the hand part and only occasionally wrap the wrist around. It does take some effort to loosen the velcro because the velcro is strong, and it's fairly tricky doing this walking around because you need to pry it apart with both hands while trying not to drop the camera. It's better to wrap the wrist around while sitting and putting the camera on your lap. Because of that, I use the hand part most of the time. Also it's really cold in NYC so I tend to put the camera away as soon as I'm done.

If it's really cold, I suggest you get a cheap thin glove for your right hand and use your regular glove for your left. I didn't bother w/ "photo" gloves. I just got some $6 gloves at a street vendor. Yes, it looks weird and lobsided -- haha! After taking photos, the camera goes back into the bag and hands go back into my jacket pockets.

Some people mentioned that the strap can loosen a bit. After a few weeks of use, I noticed it as well (several cycles of loosen/tighten/loosen/tighten). One trick I did was to take the excess strap at the top, which drapes down over the index finger, and loop it back into the left side of the plastic clip. This locks the length and it never loosened again. It should work for anything w/ this type of attachment as well, ie backpack shoulder straps.

If I were to purchase either this (hand+wrist) or just a hand grip, I would still buy this one because it gives you the optionality of extra security when you desire. The flapping of the wrist section is barely noticeable, in view and in practice. However, please note that it does add another 1/4 inch in total lens+body+strap length, so please consider that if you are thinking of getting a fastpack/slingpack or a toploader. I was able to fit xsi + 17-55 is usm + reversed hood + filter + cap + this grip horizontally in fastpack 100 ... just right.

Some people also mentioned difficulty adjusting settings on the top of the right side of the camera. Agreed. The way I compensated and even improved the experience on my xsi is to place my right pinky/ring finger on the plastic tripod thread attachment of the strap ... rather than on the hand grip part of the camera. The first knuckle of the right ring finger is at the bottom of the camera's grip, which gives pitch support (airplane terminology). This is especially useful if you're hand gripping heavier lens (like 17-55 is usm or some zoom lens). This setup rotates the whole wrist downwards by about 10 degrees, which makes the top-right control section of the camera less crowded around your right index finger.

Hope this helps!

I have been using this grip on my D80 for about a month and absolutely love it. The grip itself is sturdy and comfortable, and with the wrist strap is attached there is no concern of losing control of the camera.

One of the earlier reviewers mentions that this is hard to put on and take off quickly, but this isn't a fault of the grip so much as picking the right tool for the job. If you take up and put down your camera every few minutes, then yes, get a standard grip. If you're shooting for extended periods, moving through crowds, or find yourself regularly looping your neck strap around your wrist for stability, this is the grip you want. I'm willing to spend five seconds securing the wrist strap so that I can shoot comfortably for half an hour or more. It's also entirely possible to simply use it as a hand strap and let the wrist portion hang free for quick shots.

The only downsides I have found to this grip is that it does effectively tie your hand to the camera, so scrambling over rocks and shaking hands becomes more complicated. Also, a moisture-wicking liner would be useful when shooting for extended periods in warm environments.

So, the short answer: If you need a simple, solid method for keeping your camera secure and ready to shoot, this is a fantastic option.

I have an average size man's hand and the strap that connects to the camera is too short. It barely fits through the buckle and keeps coming loose. Wrote to the company first about this but heard nothing back. Does not inspire confidence when using.

Absolutely great item and super service.
I just used both at the big swim meet event and loved them both .
The camera grip helped me to hold the camera steady and also relax when I did not have to shoot but in the same time have the camera right on my wrist.
Excellent buy,excellent place to buy from.Shipping and handling w/o any problems.I am giving you 5 star.
Thank you very much.

Professional Photographer
www.inmyviewnow.com

Got this Hakuba grip for my 5DMK2. I don't like using the neck strap cuz my setup is too heavy for my neck. This Hakuba grip is a great alternative. The wrist velcro strap works as a secondary safety backup. If someone accidentally knocks your hand and you lose grip of your camera, the velcro is a nice backup in saving your camera from hitting the floor.

There are 2 downside however.
1) the buckle that straps over the velcro comes loose very easily...it came off during a shoot and never to be seen again. I actually prefer using just the velcro strap only. So no big loss.
2) On the Hakuba grip, there is a bottom mounting plate for a tripod connection. If you try to dismount a connected tripod, the Hakuba mounting plate will screw lose along with your tripod, which makes it annoying when you don't want to unscrew the Hakuba grip. A quick release will solve this problem tho.

Overall, I'm glad I got this grip. I thinking of getting another one for my xsi.

Did not like this grip the Wrist wrap not easy to get on or off Buy hand Strap Instead of this one.

Hakuba had a good idea in mind. They wanted something that would contact the body in two points, to minimize failure.

They failed at that.

The problem is twofold.
First, the strap holding the grip to the body is short. Way too short. Even at the maximum length, my hand was pretty constricted and I could not access any of the top buttons for quick changes (Canon 50D). This is a bit infuriating, given that the strap needs several centimeters more length for it to be comfortably usable. Keep in mind my hands aren't particularly big (or small) - I wear size Medium latex gloves for lab work.

Second, the strap buckle closest to the camera is too loose. Even with the strap doubled back to increase the friction holding it from moving from the buckle (if that makes sense), the strap still slides out of the buckle. There has been at least one instance where the strap slipped and completely detached from the body, and my camera would have fallen to the ground if i did not have the wrist strap secured. This is all in the first week of use, and is pretty terrifying when it happens.

In all, I wouldn't say that I got a bad sample, as many may counter-argue. The design is simply flawed. The strap is too short, the buckle is too large, and this creates an unsafe situation that I wouldn't dare trust my $1500 body/lens combo too. Go with a trusted Canon or Nikon handgrip. Saving $20 now will inevitably cause you to drop your thousand-dollar investment later, if you purchase this grip.

In the end, I made this grip much safer by hot-gluing the strap to itself, to keep it from slipping and sliding through the buckle. This vastly improves the product, but now it is permanently at that length. I can no longer sell this grip, and I've wasted $18. I now use a trusted Canon hand grip (~$35) that is far more comfortable and safer..