My first K-5 question...

I went to SRS in Watford today, and came back with a K-5, an 18-135 and a credit card that was whimpering quietly.

So the battery's charging (and will be for several more hours), and I already have my first question...

How might I - non-destructively - remove the D-ring (and flexible protector) from the left hand strap connection?

Reason being, I use a wrist strap rather than a neck strap, and I'd rather not have the unused D-ring rattling around.

Getting keys off keyrings, with the inevitable chipped fingernails, seems positively easy in comparison.

erm - it's the non destructively bit I am struggling with otherwise would have suggested a hacksaw

Ouch seems an appropriate word. If you know someone with steel fingernails that will help, but these things are meant to be secure...

... and while I'm hoping for the collective forum genius to come up with something, I may as well mention the secondary requirement.

Which is of course to be able to get it back on again so that in a few years time I can sell it again!

(I know, I don't ask much, do I.)

Hi Chris

Sorry could not resist a silly answer - now the real answer. I have not attempted this on my k5 - no reason to - but I have succeasfully removed them off other camera bodies by sliding a thin screw driver blade in to the gap I first created by prying the end apart with a feeler guage. Then slide the ring around the blade until you can get the open end over the peg if that makes sense?

Carl

Yes, perfect sense. I just have visions of the blade slipping, and creating a damn great scratch where there shouldn't ever be one on a camera.

So I'm a bit hesitant, to say the least.

Does the pin that connects the D-ring to the camera unscrew, or is it an unremovable part of the structure? I'd be more than happy to pay a bit for a spare one, if it was as simple as just unscrewing the one with the ring, and inserting one without.

But it probably counts as one of those "non-user maintainable parts".

WOO - done it. And remarkably easily, it turned out.

It occurred to me that what I needed was something thin, made of plastic not metal - so, inspired by Carl's suggestion, I used the plastic handle end of a nail file - like this one

Held the camera on my lap, and gradually inserted the file handle between the overlapping wire of the D-ring. Since the handle starts off thin, and then gets thicker, it was perfect for gradually increasing the gap.

As soon as the gap was big enough, the ring just rotated easily and could be removed with the flexible protector.

No damage or scratches, and I reckon it would be similarly easy to get it back on.

Hope this helps someone else sometime..

Does the pin that connects the D-ring to the camera unscrew, or is it an unremovable part of the structure? I'd be more than happy to pay a bit for a spare one, if it was as simple as just unscrewing the one with the ring, and inserting one without.

Not sure on the K5 - but I had one fall off an ME Super and I suspect there was a nut inside the body that held it in place. By the way - the screwdriver was only used to hold the ring apart - does not have to be anything sharp ended - just a wide enough diameter to get the gap in the ring - you could actuallu use another ring - one off a key fob for instance to hold it apart

hi
just don't loose it now that you have taken it off
neil

Ha - it's back in the box with all the other bits I'll never use

If any one else is thinking of removing these rings, could I suggest several layers of masking tape around the area first, just in case you slip, your chosen removal tool.

It may just save a lot of tears, before bed time.

Take care.

The pin doesn't unscrew - but it can fall out - see link. ANd not the only case I've heard of, as I mentioned in Gareth's strap thread.

Glad you successfully removed it Chris. Obviously the little bits of leather don't stop it rattling then, just make it harder to put a strap on.

Edit - probably the only thing I miss from the K20D is the strap attachment points .

But this strap isn't only attached to the strap-pin but also to the tripod mount so the weight is spread over 2 points as well.

I'm using the same wrist strap and i have removed the other ring also the same way but with a screw driver.

It seems they are "riveted" inside and there is a O-ring around them to make a seal.

So no easy way to replace them unless you completely remove the body.

Would be excellent advice, normally, but I'd now classify it with sensor cleaning - sounds scary, but get the right tool, and it's easy.

In case you're wondering, normally, I'm *terrified* of this kind of messing about. I'm no Don, believe me.

In this case, the right tool is a nail file.

Use the right end, folks...