How to Attach a Leather Camera Strap to Sony and Fuji Strap Lugs
To attach a leather camera strap to Sony or Fujifilm strap lugs, decide first whether the leather passes through the factory ring or through the lug itself. On most Sony Alpha bodies the triangular ring plus its plastic protector leaves little room for leather, so the cleanest fit is to remove the ring and thread the strap directly through the lug. The Leatherius camera strap with a belt attachment – about $50, with a leather tongue sized for standard camera lugs – fits both routes, and the whole camera strap collection uses the same attachment hardware.
First, identify what is on your lug
| Body family | What ships on the lug | Recommended route |
|---|---|---|
| Sony Alpha full-frame | Triangular split ring with a plastic protector | Remove ring plus protector, thread leather through the lug |
| Sony compact APS-C | Small lug, sometimes a round eyelet | Thread leather directly through the lug |
| Fujifilm X-T series | Split ring with a protective washer | Either route works, ring off is tidier |
| Fujifilm X100 series | Small round lug | Thread leather directly through the lug |
| Canon RF and Nikon Z | Flat webbing slot | Thread leather through the slot |
The rule is simple. If the leather tongue passes through with a little friction, that is the right fit. If you have to force it, take the ring out of the equation.
Removing a split ring without scratching the body
- Work over a table with a cloth on it, so a dropped ring does not bounce onto a floor.
- Slide the plastic protector off the ring first if there is one. On Sony bodies this is a small black or clear sleeve.
- Open the ring with a fingernail or a guitar pick rather than a screwdriver. Metal tools slip toward the top plate.
- Walk the ring off the lug by rotating it, the same way you take a key off a keyring.
- Keep the ring in your camera bag. If you ever sell the body, the buyer will want it.
Threading a leather belt attachment
Step by step
- Hold the strap so the finished side faces outward when the camera hangs.
- Push the leather tongue through the lug from the outside toward the body.
- Bring the tongue back and feed it through the keeper loop on the strap body.
- Pull it flat until the fold sits close against the lug with no slack loop standing proud.
- Repeat on the other lug, checking the strap has no twist along its length before you tighten the second side.
New leather is stiff on day one. Warming the tongue in your hand for a minute makes it easier to bend through a tight lug. Avoid soap or oil as a lubricant, since anything that softens the leather at that point is softening the exact spot that carries the load.
If you keep the ring
Some photographers prefer to leave the split ring on so the strap can pivot freely. That works, and it is the faster fit. Pass the leather through the ring rather than the lug, keeping the plastic protector in place, then thread the keeper as above. Expect a slightly longer hang and a small amount of ring noise when the camera swings.
Checking your work
Hang the camera from the strap over a bed or a sofa, then lift it a few times by the strap alone. Look at the fold at each lug. The leather should be flat against itself with the keeper holding it, no gap opening as you lift. Come back after a week and pull the tongue snug once, since new leather seats itself slightly under load then stops moving. That is settling rather than stretching, which we explain in do leather camera straps stretch.
Which strap to fit
- Camera strap with a belt attachment, about $50 – the most secure route through the lug, built for heavy bodies.
- Snap hook attachment strap, about $50 – clips onto the ring, so it suits people who take the strap off for tripod work.
- Personalized Leather Camera Strap, about $53 – same belt system with your initials, name, monogram or logo stamped in.
For a Fujifilm X100 or a compact Sony body, our roundup of the best leather camera straps for mirrorless cameras in 2026 covers which colors read well on small silver-topped bodies.
FAQ
Should I remove the triangular rings on a Sony camera?
For a leather belt attachment, usually yes. The ring plus its plastic protector leaves a tight opening, and threading the leather through the lug directly gives a flatter, quieter fit. Keep the rings in your bag.
Will a leather strap fit Fujifilm X-T lugs?
Yes. X-T bodies take the leather either through the factory split ring or through the lug itself once the ring is off. Removing the ring gives a tidier hang with less noise.
How tight should the leather be at the lug?
Flat and snug, with no loop standing away from the camera. Pull the tongue through the keeper until the fold sits close to the lug, then check again after a week of carrying the camera.
Can I use a snap hook strap on Sony or Fuji bodies?
Yes, and it is the faster option since it clips to the existing ring. It suits photographers who remove the strap for tripod work. The comparison is in our post on belt attachment vs snap hook camera strap.
