Why does everyone use two handles?

[rudeboymcc]

I'm looking at getting a tray and arms for my Olympus Xz-1, and the typical setup seems to be two handles with a ball joint on top.

Why is this? Why can't you hold it with one hand on the camera and one hand on one handle? (then on the right, just have a ball straight on the tray). olympus have gone into so much effort making the housing comfortable to hold (as do nauticam).

I'm thinking this is the setup I'll go for but want to see if there's something I'm missing.

 

[Interceptor121]

Two handles are useful if you shoot video (with your XZ-1 without disrespect I would not waste time with that) and for wide angle so that the strobes are as aligned as possible compared to the port

If you shoot macro or close ups with one strobe one handle is more than enough unless your rig is super heavy on land (not your case)

 

[Akimbo]

Makes it easier to hand the camera to boat crew and sometimes easier two mount two strobes.

 

[TONY CHANEY]

I find it better, with two handles, for stability in framing shots. It is very easy to switch hands very fast while multitasking. It also gives you an additional light mounting point.

 

[KeithG]

Some setups like mine have no handles. My tray currently has 2 ball mounts to mount 2 strobes. I grip the camera housing itself and normally only use 1 hand on my camera. But it is a fairly small and light housing and tray and arm system.

This does not work so well if you have a huge housing. 2 hands may be required. You may also have to release your grip in order to operate some controls.

If shooting video, I suggest you use 2 handles spaced as wide apart as possible in order to steady the camera.