Just as a neck strap keeps a camera attached to your neck, the Hand Strap keeps a camera attached to your hand. A neck strap has a tendency to get in the way when it is not actively being used - and can even be the cause of a dropped camera if the strap catches on something unexpectedly. If you are going to be primarily holding the camera in your hand, it may make more sense to use a hand strap. The hand strap helps control and support the camera - and helps prevent it from falling to the ground.