How to Put Camera Strap on Camera | Lock It In Seconds

Attach a camera strap by threading each end through the body’s eyelets and locking it through the buckle, repeating on both sides.

Getting the strap on wrong is how cameras end up on the pavement. The good news is that the process takes about a minute per side, and the method is nearly identical across Canon, Nikon, and Fujifilm bodies. A camera neck strap always threads through the two metal or plastic eyelets on the left and right of the body, and the buckle is what keeps it from sliding loose.

What You Need Before You Start

The attachment method depends on your camera’s hardware, but the prep is the same for every brand. Inspect the ends of the strap to confirm the buckle and the keeper (the small sliding loop) are on the correct side of the webbing. Unclip any plastic quick-release hooks if your strap uses them, and set the camera on a clean, flat surface with the lens pointing down so you have two free hands.

You will need:

• The strap itself with its buckle and keeper in place.
• Access to both strap eyelets on the camera body.
• For Fujifilm clip systems, the supplied clip-attaching tool and protective cover.

If the strap is already threaded but just loose, skip ahead and simply tighten it through the buckle on each side.

Canon And Nikon: The Thread-And-Buckle Method

Most Canon and Nikon cameras use the same lock-through-buckle system, and the official manuals describe an almost identical sequence. The key difference is the starting orientation: Canon says to pass the strap through the eyelet from the bottom, while Nikon instructs you to face any lettering outward for a clean look.

Canon’s Official Steps

1. Loosen the strap and pass the end through the buckle and keeper to straighten the webbing.
2. Pass the strap end through the camera’s strap mount eyelet from the bottom side.
3. Fold the strap back over and pass it through the keeper, then through the inside of the buckle.
4. Pull to remove all slack and ensure the strap is not twisted.
5. Repeat on the opposite side.

When it’s done right, the strap’s lettering faces outward and the buckle sits flat against the keeper with no twist in the webbing.

Nikon’s Official Steps

1. Orient the strap so any lettering faces outward.
2. Pass the end through the camera eyelet and back through the retainer clip.
3. Create a loop in the buckle, feed the strap end through the top half, then back through the bottom half, leaving about 6 cm of slack.
4. Adjust the strap length and pull tight.

Canon specifically warns to keep the strap straight and untwisted, since a twisted strap weakens the weave’s grip on the buckle over time.

Fujifilm Clip Systems: A Different Approach

Some Fujifilm cameras, such as the X100F and X-Pro2, skip the traditional buckle entirely and use a proprietary clip-and-cover system. These straps feel more secure once clicked in, but they need a quick tool to open the clip.

1. Open the strap clip with the supplied clip-attaching tool.
2. Hook the camera’s strap eyelet into the clip’s opening.
3. Rotate the clip fully through the eyelet until it clicks closed.
4. Attach the protective cover over the clip.
5. Insert the strap through the cover and clip, then fasten it.
6. Repeat for the second eyelet.

Use only the supplied tool and protective cover, since third-party clips may not match the eyelet shape.

How To Check It’s Secure, And A Better Option

After both sides are attached, give the camera a firm tug at the strap’s midpoint. The strap should not move at all through the buckle. Then double-check that both keepers are pushed flat against the eyelets and no webbing is twisted. If anything shifts, rethread that side from the start.

Once you’ve got the factory strap seated right, you may find it works fine but rubs your neck raw on long shoots. If you’re looking to swap it out for something more comfortable, our tested roundup of the best Apple crossbody camera straps covers padded and quick-release options that use the same eyelets you just threaded.