[Leica] M8 Neckstrap Failure

[lkhermann at bresnan.net (lkhermann)]

At 07:20 PM 3/25/2007, you wrote:
>Lee,
>
>Look closely.  Others report that the hardware and plastic used on 
>the M8 strap are different from earlier Leica straps, especially the 
>plastic used.
>
>Jim Nichols
>Tullahoma, TN USA
>
>>At 05:32 PM 3/25/2007, you wrote:
>>>Holy cr@p.
>>>
>>>Can't even get the neckstrap right.
>>>
>>>So it's off for a Passport replacement right? I mean the body.
>>>
>>>...Vick
>>
>>Come on Vick, give them a break.  The strap on my M8 is identical 
>>with the one on my M6, which has served well for 16 years.
>>
>>Lee

Jim,
         Thank you for your good advice.  I have Leica straps 
attached to an M3, M6, MP and M8 and an SL and 2 loose straps.  I 
have examined all of these.

         I have looked carefully and I must apologize to Vick, in 
that the original strap on the M6 had a different metal attaching 
ring.  I guess that I took the strap off when the camera was serviced 
and apparently got a different strap on it when it returned.  All of 
the straps  appear to be made of identical material with rubber pads 
which show slightly different letters "Leica".  The metal connecting 
"rings" are differently shaped.  The owner's manuals of the M6 and 
the MP show straps with rings which are different, the MP strap 
attachement photos being identical to the M8 strap attachment.

         This story is even more complicated in that when I examined 
my MP strap, I discovered that one of the plastic slides, which hold 
the ring and the strap together attached to the camera, had a 
significant break and I suspect that this camera could have crashed 
to the ground some time in the future.      THANKS FOR THE 
WARNING!      The strap and the ring and the plastic slider, on the 
MP, appear identical in all ways I can determine to that on the 
M8.  This suggests that the M8 does not have a "new" strap.  I guess 
that if Leica got it wrong, they got it wrong at least a couple of 
years ago.
         It would seem I was wrong, the life expectancy of the strap 
may to be on the order of 2 to 3 years rather than over 16, based on 
my experience.

Thanks again!
Lee