Luigi (Leicatime.com) strap warning!

[enero]

Lugui is beyond a straight up guy. He actually tracked me down once to inform me of a misrepresented case I had sold months prior, to make sure that the buyer was sure of the model case they bought, and was happy with the purchase!

As for those clips, they are cheap Chinese crap. I'm actually surprised that he used them. Would definitely opt for the basic split ring when deciding on replacement. They're a pain for switching out, but at least you know they won't break.

 

[Pioneer]

Thanks for the heads up Jocko.

 

[Highway 61]

Something we all should think of here also regards why those poor quality Chinese molded alloy clips could even be used to carry some of the most expensive cameras being marketed out there. Doesn't it sound odd ?

See : since the introduction of the Nikon F "Apollo" back in 1970, all Nikon cameras round strap lugs got some steel inserts in them so that you can use strong steel strap rings without the least fear of harming the camera strap lugs.

But this is something Leica never did : they continued to use plain chromed brass lugs so that, yes, some very strong strap rings can damage the cameras strap lugs, and this, quite quickly. Hence some demand towards the straps manufacturers for some alternative strap-to-camera linkage (hence those Luigi's QR clips as well as his all-leather so-called "essential" strap loops, in which I wouldn't trust too much, either).

Moreover, onwards from the M4-2, Leica M cameras strap lugs got cheaply riveted to the camera casting instead of being solidly screwed in from the inside of the camera chassis...

 

[axiom]

If you use it on M3/M2/MP, the rewind knob grinds on the threads on the strap, and eventually the threads come undone.

This happens to one of my Leica straps.

 

[Fraser]

[

I've tried a lot of different straps on my Ms including Luigi strap which are very nice (always with split rings) and I've got one of the leica leather ones but always come back to the original Leica M strap because its easy to adjust the length.
You could always get a very small cable tie thread it through as a backup to the clips, thats what I did with the quick release bits on domke straps.

 

[nobbylon]

Moreover, onwards from the M4-2, Leica M cameras strap lugs got cheaply riveted to the camera casting instead of being solidly screwed in from the inside of the camera chassis...

As far as I've seen the only M to have 'screwed from the inside' strap lugs is the early M3. I've replaced strap lugs myself on M2 and M4 and they use splayed rivets. I always used a little JB weld plus splaying to secure the new rivets. The older rivets (m2, m3, m4) were made of brass, the newer type (m4-2, m6, mp) are steel.

 

[nobbylon]

I had a Luigi case but sold it. Super workmanship however I ended up with a Zhou case which was just as nice. I've had a Luigi strap for 6 years with the split 'O' ring ends and it's been great.
I do think that the best straps though are the M6 and 'R' straps for strength with the D ring ends.
I've used a wide 'R' strap on my D700 for the last 3 years and it's been faultless.