Leica LTM Are you all thumbs?

[stuken]

I have been finding that when holding my IIIf it is rather awkward to use my index finger to depress the shutter. However, gripped in my hand my thumb rests nicely on the shutter release, and it leaves my fingers in a better position to wind the film. Has anyone else found this?

 

[Nikon Bob]

Never used my thumb to release the shutter on an LTM but I do use a homemade soft release to make it easier to get at with my index finger.

Bob

 

[kully]

I've tried this stuken - but my thumb always rubs against the shutter speed dial.

 

[bmattock]

The only difficulty I've faced with my fingers not going where they should was in trying to shoot a Kiev 4am - wow! The 'Contax Claw' grip required to focus and trip the shutter was an exercise in flexibility I don't have.

 

[Gary Sandhu]

Just recently got a iiif. I've been using the thumb in vertical compositions only.

 

[gjlynx]

The ergonomics of the Barnacks are really much better than you might think when you first pick one up. I forget who first showed me how to hold one, but for me the real trick is to rest the base plate in the palm of your left hand. This leaves the left thumb and index finger to manipulate the focus rings and provides a "stable" platform for slower speeds. The right index finger comes in from behind and to the left of the rewind knob for easy access to the shutter release. The right hand does not really support much of the camera's weight; that is mainly in the left hand. The fine motor skills of the right index finger can then be directed at a smooth release of the shutter.


For me anyway using my thumb for the shutter seems awkward.

Please forgive me if this post seems to provide to much detail for something
which some might consider to be really trivial