laskadog
Member
Anyone have any experience with the Chinese knock off Thumbs up on their Leica M8/9? $30 vs. $150 is quite a spread.
Chinese Thumbs Up
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burancap
Veteran
Not for the M, but I stumbled upon one for my X100 in a deal.
It did not fit the X100 at all ... but fit everything else just fine! 😀
kxl
Social Documentary
Roger Hicks
Veteran
You should always buy cheap Chinese knock-offs if you want to drive the originators out of business.
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
stompyq
Well-known
I've had one for my X100 and have one for my epm-1 now. No problems. It fits fine and does the job. It's just a peice of milled metal. What's the bigdeal?
Sparrow
Veteran
... intellectual property?
rybolt
Well-known
I bought them for my Fuji X pro 1 cameras and took them off almost immediately. They were putting too much pressure on the shoe due to a bad fit. The expensive ones fit, tighten down and are more ergonomic.
Ken Ford
Refuses to suffer fools
I'll admit to buying a cheap copy of a thumb lever for my new X100s, but it's only to try the concept out and see what length works for me. If I like it, I'll replace it with a quality one. (The jury is still out.)
I consider proof of concept to be a valid reason for picking up a knockoff.
I consider proof of concept to be a valid reason for picking up a knockoff.
PatrickCheung
Well-known
I put a thumbs up on my X100, and it got stuck on the hotshoe. I thought I was gonna break the hot shoe when trying to remove it!
laskadog
Member
Sounds about like what I expected. Tolerences are probably a roll of the dice.
GaryMulcahey
Member
Photographers hate it when they take a very good photo and then someone else just goes out and recreates the same shot and does a ****ty job of it.
jip
Member
If you've got a Leica you can buy the real deal...
Don't take me wrong I'm a Leica user as well.
uhoh7
Veteran
They come up used fairly often for around 60USD.
I was pretty shocked when I received a new one, with the cold shoe. Very heavy, no case.
The design is good. I'd like to see a mag option, or at least alu, since the brass is much more weight.
I also bought a 1.45x mag from MT, and it comes with no case or safety line.
mine fell off on the second day (it was getting moved around under my ski coat), but luckily it was found and I retrieved it.
In retrospect I wish I would have just got the Leica one.
Now, the boxes are off the chart.
I was pretty shocked when I received a new one, with the cold shoe. Very heavy, no case.
The design is good. I'd like to see a mag option, or at least alu, since the brass is much more weight.
I also bought a 1.45x mag from MT, and it comes with no case or safety line.
mine fell off on the second day (it was getting moved around under my ski coat), but luckily it was found and I retrieved it.
In retrospect I wish I would have just got the Leica one.
Now, the boxes are off the chart.
johnmshaw
Member
Supprising, I have bought several MT products , all came with fantastic packaging?
seen a plastic thumbs copy off ebay, was quite cheap looking and not sturdy. the real deals are nice.
swoop
Well-known
The guy who created the original was a godsend. I remember when the concepts were first coming out, and this was all before 3d printing and kickstarter. And I was glad to see it got off the ground and became a success. I still have my original on my M240. The fitting isn't as tight as it was on my M8 and M9, so I'll likely upgrade soon.
lxmike
M2 fan.
🙂that sounds like my fly fishing flies they look like no one fly in particular but a lot like every other fly
uhoh7
Veteran
by "boxes are off the chart" I was trying to mean the packaging is very very fancy 🙂
Wonderful for a gift, but a bit over the top when you are buying for yourself. I'd prefer OEM version LOL.
Whining aside, I have two thumbs ups and use them often.
stevencrichton
Established
I'd say buy a cheap one to try if you can't get one from a friend or try one in a shop.
Then if it works out well buy a genuine one that will last. This way you save money in the long run and no-one loses out.
I've bought enough gear on the basis of reviews to only find they line a drawer for months/years as they simply didn't agree with me. Whereas in person that assumption is made then and there.
I'd equate it to lenses. Imagine you think "i'd quite like a 15mm I only have a 50mm" you then go out and buy a zeiss 15mm and realise you simply can't see in that way. You made the maximum loss over getting the voigt second hand. Trying it and realising it's not for you. Whereas with the voigt you find your feet and can sell it on then buy the zeiss knowing it's good for you as a user.
Also the cost of the Zeiss, you'd hang onto it as you would know even selling it used you would loose a lot!
Then if it works out well buy a genuine one that will last. This way you save money in the long run and no-one loses out.
I've bought enough gear on the basis of reviews to only find they line a drawer for months/years as they simply didn't agree with me. Whereas in person that assumption is made then and there.
I'd equate it to lenses. Imagine you think "i'd quite like a 15mm I only have a 50mm" you then go out and buy a zeiss 15mm and realise you simply can't see in that way. You made the maximum loss over getting the voigt second hand. Trying it and realising it's not for you. Whereas with the voigt you find your feet and can sell it on then buy the zeiss knowing it's good for you as a user.
Also the cost of the Zeiss, you'd hang onto it as you would know even selling it used you would loose a lot!
raid
Dad Photographer
I have two original Thumbs Up. They are practical to use.
Bill58
Native Texan
I agree 100%!
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