CTOOM flash bracket for Leica IIIf

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NeeZee

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Hello,

lately I'm having fun using flash with my IIIf RD (call me crazy if you like...). So far I used my flash unit handheld as the cold shoe is blocked by a viewfinder. Although this approach is fun and i will definitely try it again, I'm now also looking for something to attach the flash to the camera.

On the net i stumbled across that original Leica flash bracket called CTOOM, which looks very nice and is not too expensive compared to most leica accessoires. I know not many of you guys use flash regularly with Leica rangefinders - even less so with a screwmount model. But maybe someone will be able to answer these questions:

1) Am i right that there is only one CTOOM bracket compatible for both screwmount and M?

2) Is it strong enough to reliably carry an average electronic flash unit (i'm talking about 70s/80s devices using 4 AA-batteries - weighing between 200 and 350 grams)

3) Is the plastic or the metal one preferable? (I don't care too much about the looks, just looking for the best compromise between weight and stability)

Thanks for taking your time!
Thomas
 
I have two CTOOM flash brackets, one made of metal and the other made of what seems to be plastic. Unfortunately, I'm unable to successfully mount it to the baseplate of my M2 as its screw seems to be too short to screw all the way in to the tripod mount.

I'm uncertain as to whether it is strong enough to carry an electronic flash as I don't own one, but they seem pretty robust. I've mounted a CEYOO flash to it, the bracket manages to hold its weight, but I found it to be a little unbalanced in its weight and difficult to handle.
 
Thanks for the info. Strange thing with the screw - are you sure your M2 hasn't just been upgraded to the modern (tighter) tripod mount some time?

Yeah, i also expect that balance is going to become an issue. But well, i think i give it it a try if i can get one for a good price...
 
I have used a 1980's Sunpak auto-bounce (bulky, 4x AA batteries) with my IIIf, using the metal CTOOM bracket. It's cumbersome, but it works.

I would leave the ivory plastic version CTOOM in your collectors' showcase. Some plastics do not age gracefully, and it would be a shame to lose a flash or the camera if the flashbracket failed. I always figured the metal brackets were intended for the metal CEYOO flash, and the white plastic bracket was for the ivory-plastic CHICO flash, which are very light.

Can't speak as to the fitment on an M Leica.
 
Thanks, that's the info I needed - will be watching out for the metal one then.

I don't own an M Leica - just wanted to find out if there are different models for both types of cameras in order not to buy the wrong one, but there seems to be only one...
 
I agree with Luddite Frank. Some of the plastic CTOOMs I've seen have discolored to a putrid "tan" hue...might as well have been pink because they're pretty u-g-l-y. They're also much thicker/bulkier than the metal counterparts. Sorry, I can't comment on LTM use.

Paired with a smaller flash, the metal CTOOM is the best compact bracket I've ever used.

wf11_8ab_u9ryg.jpg


wf11_195_u9ryg.jpg


This Vivitar 283 was a bit more cumbersome.

wf11_d72_u9ryg.jpg
 
Hi,

FWIW, the tripod screw in the end of the CTOOM bracket can slide from side to side by about a quarter of an inch and so it fits the older, newer and M series cameras. Interestingly it came out in the early 50's before the M series and was for the IIIf era. I guess the M bottom plate and IIIf bottom plate are the same size. Or that was an example of Leitz's forward planning.

As far as I know the screw thread is the smaller quarter inch on all of them and so a 3/8th to 1/4 fitting would be needed for the older cameras, FED, older Zenits etc.

Regards, David
 
Thanks to all for the help again - I'm definitely in for a metal ctoom as soon as I come across a decently priced one.

In the meantime I was thinking of a more lightweight solution for a small flash. I remembered that some cameras back in the 60s/70s - the Rollei 35 for instance - had the hotshoe on the bottom plate. I know it's a bit awkward to mount a flash there but I'd still like to try it.

What I am looking for now is basically an accessory shoe with a tripod screw. Does anyone know where i can get something like this? Searching the net I only came across shoes with tripod mounts so far (for installing flash guns on tripods, I guess).
 
NeeZee said:
Thanks to all for the help again - I'm definitely in for a metal ctoom as soon as I come across a decently priced one.

In the meantime I was thinking of a more lightweight solution for a small flash. I remembered that some cameras back in the 60s/70s - the Rollei 35 for instance - had the hotshoe on the bottom plate. I know it's a bit awkward to mount a flash there but I'd still like to try it.

What I am looking for now is basically an accessory shoe with a tripod screw. Does anyone know where i can get something like this? Searching the net I only came across shoes with tripod mounts so far (for installing flash guns on tripods, I guess).
Click to expand...

The cheaper solution is a simple bar of metal about 9 inches long. Accessory shoe one end (not hot-shoe) and a hole or two along for middle or end fitting to the tripod bush. They don't work so well with cameras with the screw hole at the end as they can flap about a bit at the other end and the weight of the flash makes it worse. With the tripod screw used in the middle they are OK. And they are dirt cheap, usually sold for the opening 99p on ebay or dealers have them covered in dust at the bottom of the the "All 50p" box.

There's also the things with a hand grip and the accessory shoe on top of it and then the bar forming an "L" shape, nice but cumbersome.

The CTOOM is nice and snug on the M's and the stud on the end of the M's holds it tight at the other end. They've never struck me as dear or sought after but that's in the UK.

Hope this helps.

Regards, David

PS Sorry, forgot, looking at the one in the picture it's difficult to say. I'd ask and go after the 1/4" as the conversion thing to 3/8th is neater than the other way round, which dreadful with flash brackets. The 1/4" version with wotsit is neat and works well.
 
Last edited:
Yes, I have been thinking about a conventional flash bracket, too, but the ctoom has the big adavantage to be fixed on both sides of the camera. Apart from that it looks nice and very compact.

You're right, by the way, they are not that expensive (seen them going between 15 and 30 Euros). Maybe i should in the classifieds if someone wants to get rid of theirs...
 
NeeZee said:
Yes, I have been thinking about a conventional flash bracket, too, but the ctoom has the big adavantage to be fixed on both sides of the camera. Apart from that it looks nice and very compact.

You're right, by the way, they are not that expensive (seen them going between 15 and 30 Euros). Maybe i should in the classifieds if someone wants to get rid of theirs...
Click to expand...

Um, I think you'll find that, as the tripod bush is at one end of the camera, the flash must go the other end, not either end or has the IIIf both ends threaded?

Regards, David
 
NeeZee said:
It's only threaded on one side of course but the ctoom seems to have a little whole for that small pin on the camera on the other side.
Click to expand...

Hi,

The M2 I use mine on has a stud each end; one for the flash bracket and one for the bottom plate like the IIIf's etc.

Regards, David
 
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