Carrying Strap

[povlj]

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It's now happened twice -- My carrying strap comes loose at the camera tie down; The plastic piece that is supposed to hold the strap locked into the metal ring moves up, away from the ring and allows the inside metal clips to unravel, thus almost causing the camera to drop out of its strap.

I squeeze the plastic piece down on to the metal ring as hard as I can; do I need to use some sort of tool? How far down should the plastic piece be toward the metal ring?

Idiotic question, I know, but I don't want to drop my M9!

 

Povl

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[microview]

Get a much nicer one from Artisan and Artist:).

[digger1914]

If you get nothing else from Luigi, get his strap. It is a pearler!

[Washington]

No such thing as a dumb question I have been told.

Those plastic covers/clip retainers are supposed to cover the whole spring-wire clip

and fit about 1/2 way down the ring which is through the camera lug. They can be a bit

tough to pull down into this position.

I have had one of these plastic retainers crack and break.

I use a different strap myself. Cheers. (and don’t drop your camera)

[brill64]

make sure that both prongs of the metal clip are inside the plastic cap and that it locks down into position snugly next to the lugs. it is possible that only one prong has fitted in, in which case the clip would slide back up again eventually with use. i use the original leica strap because i like it's understated design and doesn't scratch the camera when in a bag and it's been fine so far. i do check both clips are in their correct position occasionally though because nothing is infallible afterall..

[andybarton]

If the plastic piece covering the metal ring is in place properly, there's no way that it will ride up on its own. It takes quite considerable force to get the plastic cover over the metal ring - it clips into place.

[michael_b_elmer]

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Leica's strap is excellent. If it goes loose, it is because it had not been fastened correctly.

 

Mounting the strap may, in fact, be a bit tricky, especially when you are eager to get started using your new toy.

 

My advice: (1) unmount the strap. (2) check that everything is undamaged. (3) mount the strap following closely the detailed instructions on p 106 of the instruction booklet that came with your M9. (4) Especially check that the strap is mounted correctly on the metal clip and (5) use the power necessary to have the plastic holder click in place. (6) check that the plastic holder sits firmly in place and enjoy your M9.

[250swb]

In all the many years of using the Leica style strap I've never come across one that has undone itself or broken. My guess is either operator error, or it is indeed broken. It will not become unscured by any other means in normal use. The fact that you can't pull the plastic part down fully leads me to think the strap isn't fully wound onto the ring, like you have it stuck between the two straight bits of wire instead of over both of them.

 

Steve

[spylaw4]

I agree with the previous two posters - incorrect fitting most likely.

[Dabow]

Oddly enough, not long after I received my M9 something very similar happened to me. In fact, the only thing that did keep the camera from dropping to the floor was my viewfinder magnifier, which was luckily attached at the time, the anchor string linked to the strap. I'd never had this problem before and at the time it came as a bit of a shock. There was certainly nothing wrong with the fitting. I always double check such things at the time I fit them, so it had indeed worked loose. Since then I've been watching the thing like a hawk, fully expecting it to happen again, which in itself is rather annoying. IMO it is a poor design. I understand that Leica are trying to protect the camera body by having the plastic slip that fits over the ring, but that really is the only thing that stops the ring from opening up and free-falling the camera.

 

Anyway, I'm ditching mine soon for a Luigi. Fed up of worrying about it failing again.

[andybarton]

If it's not broken and it's clicked into place properly, as per the instructions, there's no way that it can become loose. It takes a lot of force to push the plastic over the metal ring, in either direction. When it has clicked into place, the action is very positive and you will know that it has happened.

[Dabow]

If it's not broken and it's clicked into place properly, as per the instructions, there's no way that it can become loose. It takes a lot of force to push the plastic over the metal ring, in either direction. When it has clicked into place, the action is very positive and you will know that it has happened.

 

So, when it has been clicked into place correctly and it still manages to come undone, how do you explain that? Never say 'never'.

[andybarton]

That I cannot explain, unless it is broken, or has been worn through being put on and taken off repeatedly.

[siglo]

Personally, I really like the leica strap that came with the M9. It works really well, quite secure, and very easy to put on and off. My only problem with it is that it is not long enough for the way I carry my camera. I bought a longer strap from Luigi which I use now but I am not very impressed. The build quality of the leica strap is much better. Artisan and Artist seems like a better choice but their straps were not long enough for me either.

 

I suggest you ensure that you are locking the plastic cover into place like many suggested. If you notice any damage, order new ones. In the mean time, use black electrical tape (preferably silicon with none stick glue) to hold the plastic covers in place.

[scsambrook]

With mine, it takes a lot of pressure to lock the plastic covers in place but a great deal less to slide them up . . . I occasionally loosen them adjust the "loop" that somehow forms itself between the clips and length adjustment sliders. (How does that happen???)

 

I've never had them work loose on their own but I can see it might possibly happen if you're regularly putting the body into a tightly fitting holdall where they might get caught somewhere. As Dabow said, "never say never" . . .

[Your Old Dog]

...........................(and don’t drop your camera)

 

Or, as my boss in the TV news business used to say, "it's okay to drop your camera but you better need to have the handle surgically removed from your hand!"

[Dannybuoy]

One of the first things I noticed when I got my M9 was the excellent engineering of the clasp and the clasp cover on the strap. When I slid the hook through the ring on the body and it perfectly slid though with minimal friction I knew some decent thought had gone into it. I actually recall making a "woah" sound under my breath. It's never come loose and is very, very secure. You must have a faulty one or it's not clicked home properly

[erl]

So, when it has been clicked into place correctly and it still manages to come undone, how do you explain that? Never say 'never'.

Everything is possible. Your's may be defective. I suggest, if possible, try another unit.

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Hallo,

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[k-hawinkler]

Oddly enough, not long after I received my M9 something very similar happened to me. In fact, the only thing that did keep the camera from dropping to the floor was my viewfinder magnifier, which was luckily attached at the time, the anchor string linked to the strap. I'd never had this problem before and at the time it came as a bit of a shock. There was certainly nothing wrong with the fitting. I always double check such things at the time I fit them, so it had indeed worked loose. Since then I've been watching the thing like a hawk, fully expecting it to happen again, which in itself is rather annoying. IMO it is a poor design. I understand that Leica are trying to protect the camera body by having the plastic slip that fits over the ring, but that really is the only thing that stops the ring from opening up and free-falling the camera.

 

Anyway, I'm ditching mine soon for a Luigi. Fed up of worrying about it failing again.

 

 

Yup, that saved my M9 as well.

[jaapv]

Oddly enough, not long after I received my M9 something very similar happened to me. In fact, the only thing that did keep the camera from dropping to the floor was my viewfinder magnifier, which was luckily attached at the time, the anchor string linked to the strap. I'd never had this problem before and at the time it came as a bit of a shock. There was certainly nothing wrong with the fitting. I always double check such things at the time I fit them, so it had indeed worked loose. Since then I've been watching the thing like a hawk, fully expecting it to happen again, which in itself is rather annoying. IMO it is a poor design. I understand that Leica are trying to protect the camera body by having the plastic slip that fits over the ring, but that really is the only thing that stops the ring from opening up and free-falling the camera.

 

Anyway, I'm ditching mine soon for a Luigi. Fed up of worrying about it failing again.

How on earth would the ring open up?:confused:. You need to slip the strap through and that is a tight wiggle including opening up the two arms against strong pressure....

I have a strong suspicion you did not slip the loop over both arms.