The inside edges of the strap lugs on my M3 are very worn from decades of hard use (by the previous owner(s)). Is there any way to minimize further wear? I've read that chrome (?) strap rings are kinder to the brass lugs than steel rings, but where does one buy chrome strap rings? Does anyone manufacture a strong, but less abrasive strap ring (e.g., made of carbon fiber or whatever)? BTW, I would like to avoid using a never-ready case or 1/2 case because I think they slow down the operation & reloading of the camera too much. Thanks in advance, Chris

-- Christopher Chen (furcafe@cris.com), June 07, 2001

Answers

The strap lugs can be replaced with M6 lugs (at least the later M3's with the same style lugs, I don't know about the early M3's with the triangular-shaped lugs)which are hardened and won't wear prematurely from the strap rings.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), June 07, 2001.

Early triangular shaped lugs from early M3 have two rivets on each side, so if you want to replace one of those you could set a couple of M6 lugs on each side; I donīt know if it is possible but if so, you could have a quite unique M3.

-- R watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), June 07, 2001.

I think a camera store should be able to provide you with the proper chrome strap mounting rings from various strap manufacturers (Nikon suppies them with their brightly coloured straps). The triangular shaped lugs are available from DAG and other repair places. If you are handy, you could sleeve them very easily though it does seem alot of bother for something so inexpensive to replace.

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), June 07, 2001.

Thanks for the responses so far. To clarify things, my M3 is a single-stroke & has the later, round lugs, not the triangular ones. I understand that replacing these is possible, but is a fairly significant operation because they're built into the camera frame.

-- Christopher Chen (furcafe@cris.com), June 07, 2001.

An engineer I used to work with told me that in order to prevent one metal from wearing another, it only needs to be 3 Rockwell points softer than the metal you are trying to preserve. When you talk about chrome rings, I wonder if this means pure chromium, or chrome steel? When at least 13% chromium is added to steel, the result is stainless steel--hardly a soft material (no pun intended). I wonder if aluminum might me the right material to avoid wear to brass?

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), June 07, 2001.

Having mine changed on my M2 was not that big a deal. I had the sync terminals changed to pc style at the same time so I cannot tell you exactly what it cost. I assume you are sending to a place with the proper tools!

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), June 07, 2001.

The rings used with the old strap lugs were chrome plated not chrome alloy.

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), June 07, 2001.