acapella Posted March 14, 2010 Share #1 Posted March 14, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Being new to the Leica world (I have my M8.2 by now and a 50 lux asph!) I wonder if anybody is using the blackrapid strap for the M's? I liked it on my Oly E3! Regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 14, 2010 Posted March 14, 2010 Hi acapella, Take a look here Blackrapid strap. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jdmiller Posted March 14, 2010 Share #2 Posted March 14, 2010 I've been using the Blackrapid strap with my M8 for several months now and quite like it. I really like how it is possible to wear the camera down at my hip under a jacket, as it makes the camera very inconspicuous to carry. The convenience of the strap's design is also quite nice, as it is so easy to bring the camera up for a shot with the sliding metal clasp. It does take a bit of time to get used to carrying the camera upside down, however, particularly if you have an external finder on the camera body. All told, I'm happy to keep the strap on the camera all of the time! Best, Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arie Intveld Posted March 14, 2010 Share #3 Posted March 14, 2010 I use the Blackrapid straps on my DSLRs but I would NEVER use one for my M8. The problem with the M8 is that the tripod screw mount is only part of the rather flimsy baseplate and there have been previous reports from M8 owners where the screw mount ripped right out of the baseplate (just from mounting the camera on a tripod). What I do use for the M8 is Stephen M. Schaub's Y-strap which attaches to one of the strap lugs. Y Strap � The Figital Revolution Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted March 15, 2010 Share #4 Posted March 15, 2010 there have been previous reports from M8 owners where the screw mount ripped right out of the baseplate (just from mounting the camera on a tripod). Not on this forum there haven't. We've had two or three reports of cameras falling off their baseplates while on tripods, but there has been absolutely nothing approaching what you so vividly describe. Nevertheless the design of the baseplate fixings does not inspire confidence, and I wouldn't trust them to keep the camera safe in rough-and-tumble use, so no Rs-trap for me either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wstotler Posted March 15, 2010 Share #5 Posted March 15, 2010 Not on this forum there haven't. We've had two or three reports of cameras falling off their baseplates while on tripods, but there has been absolutely nothing approaching what you so vividly describe. Nevertheless the design of the baseplate fixings does not inspire confidence, and I wouldn't trust them to keep the camera safe in rough-and-tumble use, so no Rs-trap for me either. John, go easy? While Arie was likely incorrect in his description of the failure (I've not read anything to that effect, like you, and he didn't cite a source), his key point is valid: the tripod screw is not a good place to apply weight/stress on the M8. The M8's shell has snapped/sheared at the stresspoint where the baseplate meets the camera body--dumping the M8 onto the ground. See the thread here for details and close-up shots: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/25121-base-plate-failure.html Near the thread's end is Leica's official response, BTW: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/25121-base-plate-failure-9.html#post644080 When I use the tripod screw I'm very careful not to apply any lateral stress on the camera itself, which is the apparent culprit. Cheers! Will P.S. I just had a look at the Blackrapid site. I'd *never* use one of those straps on the M8, knowing what I know about the baseplate's slight amount of flex and the body casting's potential for failure. Your opinion may differ--way too much risk for me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arie Intveld Posted March 17, 2010 Share #6 Posted March 17, 2010 Not on this forum there haven't. We've had two or three reports of cameras falling off their baseplates while on tripods, but there has been absolutely nothing approaching what you so vividly describe. Nevertheless the design of the baseplate fixings does not inspire confidence, and I wouldn't trust them to keep the camera safe in rough-and-tumble use, so no Rs-trap for me either. Apologies, John. I just checked past reports of M8 base plate failures and indeed, I was mistaken. Base plate failure wasn't from the tripod mount pulling out; rather it was from the body casting failing where the base plate lock engages. Will has kindly provided the LUF thread link mentioning the problem. http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/25121-base-plate-failure.html So my opinion still stands .. I personally can't recommend relying on the integrity of the base plate as an attachment point for a strap and do recommend Stephen M. Schaub's Y-strap . Another point in favour of using the Y-strap is that the M8 dangles nice and safe from it when you remove your base plate to swap out the battery or media card. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted March 17, 2010 Share #7 Posted March 17, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Apologies, John. I just checked past reports of M8 base plate failures and indeed, I was mistaken. Base plate failure wasn't from the tripod mount pulling out; rather it was from the body casting failing where the base plate lock engages. Thanks, Arie. As you saw from my first posting, I think you were right to advise people not to use the strap on a digital M. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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