R strap problem

[Headshotzx]

Hi guys. I got my R strap RS4 two days ago and I really really like it. It's an Asian-Market one, where they don't sell / allow the fastenR2 and ConnectR2 ones. Love it, except for one problem.

Here is user Permagrin's Rstrap FastenR :
http://lcimages.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p505701801-4.jpg

And here's mine:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3341/3634366293_122a8942b0_o.jpg

Notice the difference in area of the hole?

Because of the small hole, my strap ConnectR's difficult to hook in place. Then, there are angles where the hook will lock / jam due to the small hole, and then scrape against the FastenR, causing this problem:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2480/3635176016_d7013e9a1e_o.jpg


I'm going to email my local distributor that I got it from if you guys tell me that the FastenR is different.

Cheers,
Zexun

EDIT: Apparently, the FastenR they show on their site has a way bigger hole than I have: http://reddotphoto.com.sg/ecommerce/viewproducts.php?catid=1.2&pid=41

http://reddotphoto.com.sg/ecommerce/product_images/41_1.jpg

[fitzhughsmith]

Have someone drill out the hole. Are you near Princeton NJ. I'll do it for you.

[Headshotzx]

Have someone drill out the hole. Are you near Princeton NJ. I'll do it for you.

Nah thanks for the offer, but i'm halfway 'round the world in Singapore. I'll try to get an email back from both my distributor and Black Rapid and go on from there (:

Just had to put this out to anyone who's going to purchase an R strap and might have gotten the really small hole one.

[JWright]

I'm wondering if you have an Asian knock-off (read counterfeit) and not a true R-Strap. The fact you can't get the ConnectR-2 and FastenR-2 leads me to believe that might be the case. Or it could be another example of Black Rapid's lack of comprehensive quality control... Did you purchase it from Red Dot Photo?

I'm thinking the simplest solution would be to ream the hole out to a size that works.

[Headshotzx]

I'm wondering if you have an Asian knock-off (read counterfeit) and not a true R-Strap. The fact you can't get the ConnectR-2 and FastenR-2 leads me to believe that might be the case. Or it could be another example of Black Rapid's lack of comprehensive quality control... Did you purchase it from Red Dot Photo?

I'm thinking the simplest solution would be to ream the hole out to a size that works.

Yes, I purchased it from RDP, an online retailer here in SG. The other dealer, Cathay Photo is a retail shop spanning two locations, so they know their stuff pretty well. I checked with one of the older guys and they said that Black Rapid has some issue with the asian market. Both did not carry FasternR / ConnectR 2s.

I don't know about expanding the hole, though. I'm no engineering expert, but don't you think that expanding the hole will make it less structurally sound? Perhaps Black Rapid went for a different kind of aluminum that needs more metal around the hole to hold up everything? I don't know, I'm just throwing out possible explanations. Still awaiting emails from both Black Rapid and RDP (dealer).

[JWright]

Yes, I purchased it from RDP, an online retailer here in SG. The other dealer, Cathay Photo is a retail shop spanning two locations, so they know their stuff pretty well. I checked with one of the older guys and they said that Black Rapid has some issue with the asian market. Both did not carry FasternR / ConnectR 2s.

I don't know about expanding the hole, though. I'm no engineering expert, but don't you think that expanding the hole will make it less structurally sound? Perhaps Black Rapid went for a different kind of aluminum that needs more metal around the hole to hold up everything? I don't know, I'm just throwing out possible explanations. Still awaiting emails from both Black Rapid and RDP (dealer).

Yes, if you enlarge the hole there will be less metal to support the weight of the camera, but it will probably be more than sufficient.

If you can, compare the size of your FastenR to another with the proper size hole and determine if it's the same size on the outside dimensions. If it's the same, then you probably could take a tapered hand reamer (LINK (http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT?PMPXNO=1698172&PMT4NO=65645620)) and open up the hole to the proper size with no problems. It is important this be done slowly so as to not heat up the metal. Getting the metal hot may destroy any hardening that was applied as part of the manufacturing process. Also, you may have to ream the hole from both sides so the resulting larger hole isn't tapered. When the hole is the proper size, make sure there are no burrs left behind.

I suspect what might have happened here is that you got one that maybe missed a step in the manufacturing process and slipped past QA. It happens...

[Headshotzx]

I see, thanks for the suggestions, but there's no need for DIY-ing now.

I'm impressed. Bryan from Black Rapid emailed me just a day after I emailed customer service. Here's the reply:

Hello Zexun,

I appreciate you providing pictures to help illustrate your problem, it makes things way easier for us. Your fastener is definitely different, and we'd like to send you a replacement part. Give us an address we can ship to and I can send a CR-1 and a FR-1 to immediately.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks,
Bryan Holmes
Black Rapid

Alright!

[nordstern1]

thats great after-sales service!

[M3Rocket]

I see, thanks for the suggestions, but there's no need for DIY-ing now.

I'm impressed. Bryan from Black Rapid emailed me just a day after I emailed customer service. Here's the reply:

Alright!

Good thing you pointed this out--I just looked at my old FasteneR-1, and indeed, it has the same problem as yours. In my case, I'm not going to even bother emailing them since I paid for, and only use the FasteneR-2. FR-1 gets in the way of using the camera in portrait mode with a portrait grip.

Is there a logical reason why the FR-2 and/or CR-2 isn't "allowed" in Asia?

[Headshotzx]

Good thing you pointed this out--I just looked at my old FasteneR-1, and indeed, it has the same problem as yours. In my case, I'm not going to even bother emailing them since I paid for, and only use the FasteneR-2. FR-1 gets in the way of using the camera in portrait mode with a portrait grip.

Is there a logical reason why the FR-2 and/or CR-2 isn't "allowed" in Asia?

The only logical explanation that I can think about is that the FR/CR2 had issues, and shipping / delivery of replacement parts is easy to US/UK locations, but not halfway 'round the world. The local retailers said that Black Rapid had "problems", so I don't know.

[kandyredcoi]

there has been many variations of the eyelet, so as long as it hold your gear you should be OK

my .02