FED 3 - Strap lugs!

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After years of putting up with the lack of strap lugs on my FED 3, I have finally decided to do something about it.

I have already located a pair of donor strap lugs from a dead Spotmatic. All that remains is finding the right spot to drill a hole and epoxy them onto my FED 3.

Has anyone here done a similar operation, it seems that there is no good spot to add them that does not interfere with using the camera or having enough mechanical integrity to stand up to the force of the strap.

Also another question, If I have both lugs on the same side of the camera (a la M5), does it interfere regular use as much?
 
I made the lugs on my Fed 5c from 3/16" stainless steel bolts.
I drilled and tapped the back of the Fed camera and used a drop of Loc Tite to secure them in place once threaded in.

IMG_0235_2.jpg
 
Trust me, after you screw in that stainless steel lug with a touch of Loc Tite , to quote a line of lyrics from a Byrds album" it ain't goin no where".


IMG_0240_2.jpg
 
xayraa33: Any particular reason you choose to drill the holes on the back and also how to you tap the hole to make sure the strap lugs have the holes point in the right orientation?

Does it feel like the lugs are getting in the way when you are using it?
 
The reason I chose to place the lugs on the back is because I can always use the lugged camera back on another Fed 5 body if this one dies on me, I have several new Fed 5 cameras that I got cheap in 1991 at the fall of the Soviet Union.

use the corner radius moulding on the Fed's body casting as a reference to where you drill.

Always use a center punch before you drill to properly locate the hole, and drill with a hand drill if possible and the tap will follow the direction of the drilled hole.

the lugs do not get in the way at all, you can make the lugs from smaller bolts if you choose to if you like delicate tiny lugs, I went with rugged lugs that befits this Ukrainian tractor of a camera, strong like a Slava bull.
 
You guys are way industrious. The Soviet engineers who designed these cameras would be proud. 🙂
 
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