Taming of the split-ring

[Strmbrg]

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Hm, none of the above did actually work...

 

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[Pyrogallol]

Leica cameras I have seen with seriously worn strap lugs are more than 60 years old. So if you are using a modern camera you can forget about it for the next 50 years. If you are worried about the split rings working loose, put some glue on the ring where the ends meet.

Personally I hate those spring clips and wide straps used on some camera bags, I replace them with simple straps.

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[M9reno]

1 hour ago, Pyrogallol said:

Leica cameras I have seen with seriously worn strap lugs are more than 60 years old. So if you are using a modern camera you can forget about it for the next 50 years.

Exactly. And I would wager that no Leica digital camera will survive electronically long enough for worn strap lugs to be an issue.

[Sid Bolan]

I was out shooting in central London the other day  when,  a brief slithering about my neck presenting the only warning , my M and attached lens crashed onto the pavement. Apart from a couple of scuffs, the camera appeared to be fine. Strangely the strap seemed to be in perfect condition, but one split ring had somehow separated itself from the lug. Given how difficult it is to put a split ring on, I find it hard to believe that it was able to open itself enough to admit the lug and then able work its way all the way round to come off. Has anyone had a similar experience? Will the bead stop a recurrence?

[Patrick1955]

On 1/18/2024 at 6:42 PM, Pyrogallol said:

Leica cameras I have seen with seriously worn strap lugs are more than 60 years old. So if you are using a modern camera you can forget about it for the next 50 years. If you are worried about the split rings working loose, put some glue on the ring where the ends meet.

Personally I hate those spring clips and wide straps used on some camera bags, I replace them with simple straps.

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Me too!

[mujk]

On 3/30/2024 at 10:43 PM, Sid Bolan said:

I was out shooting in central London the other day  when,  a brief slithering about my neck presenting the only warning , my M and attached lens crashed onto the pavement. Apart from a couple of scuffs, the camera appeared to be fine. Strangely the strap seemed to be in perfect condition, but one split ring had somehow separated itself from the lug. Given how difficult it is to put a split ring on, I find it hard to believe that it was able to open itself enough to admit the lug and then able work its way all the way round to come off. Has anyone had a similar experience? Will the bead stop a recurrence?

Very strange. Split rings are constructed in the way they are to prevent this from happening. Poor quality split rings may become loose so that the gap between the rings open up easily. I have also seen split rings break, but apparently neither of these seem to apply to your case?

Edited April 5, 2024 by mujk

[Sid Bolan]

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It's a mystery. The split rings seem to be sound and the strap in question was a reputable brand, bought from the Leica store. I did think of doubling up the split rings, but I don't think there's room in the lug.

[Strmbrg]

Sorry for the poor images below. The steel rings are somewhat reluctant in my opinion. I use my strap both as neck- cross body and wrist strap. The rings are not very supple to the twisting that appears when I alternate to use the strap in those ways. In theory it may work, but in practice it shows some issues.
A strong cord is a much better solution. 

• It flexes and doesn't fight against the movements.
• No need for any body-protection-patches. (The slight wear seen was there when I bought the camera.)
• No wear-problems from the open ends of the ring.
• No need for any bed to cover the the ends.
• If I want to change strap, I just cut loose the cord and use a new piece. (I bought a 50m-roll.)
• A loop around the lug locks the cord so that the end-knot is kept inside the leather-loop.
• Simple and secure end-knot.
• Not necessary with this knot, but easy to apply a drop of super-glue on it.
• Discrete looks, especially with the knot hidden this way.
• No real trouble with cord wear and even very easy to check the condition of course. 
• I don't really like the look of the Peak Design-type of attachment, because it is very long in all, and even not possible to use on straps with closed loop-ends.
• Here I can make the cord short, so it corresponds to a split-rings diameter.

 

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Edited June 2, 2024 by Strmbrg

[Strmbrg]

Now the really tame split rings have arrived.
Simplr rings, in an - as I can understand - developed version compared to the ring displayed on their site.

Sorry for the bad shots from my phone, but I hope you can see that the ends are really flush to the rest of the ring and that the angled part between the ends is really steep.
That, plus the more or less polished end-cuts ensures for a very smooth ring.

They are rather small but not too small for a proper function.
Their smallness can cause some trouble with connecting to some leather-end-loops, because the end will stubbornly push towards the inside of the leather rather than just slip trough.
Connecting to the camera-lug is problem-free.

 

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[justj]

My solution-

 

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