Grip Question

[remphoto]

Can the Leica M grip for the film Leica M's be used on the M8/9? The digital bodies are a little wider and I wasn't sure if the grip would fit properly. I realize Leica makes a special grip for the digital M's, but it is expensive and some say not positioned properly. Thoughts?

 

[sepiareverb]

Tripod socket is in a different place no?

 

[MCTuomey]

the film grips won't fit. photo-equip makes an alternative M8/M9 grip, less expensive than leica's own.

 

[hlockwood]

Can the Leica M grip for the film Leica M's be used on the M8/9? The digital bodies are a little wider and I wasn't sure if the grip would fit properly. I realize Leica makes a special grip for the digital M's, but it is expensive and some say not positioned properly. Thoughts?

Have a look at Tim Isaac's latest version of Thumbs Up. You may find it obviates the need for a grip, as others have. And it's much less expensive.

Harry

 

[peterm1]

Another alternative if you are so inclined is to use a leather case (or the bottom half of an ever ready case.) This is what I do with my M4P and find its texture and extra thickness adds the "grippiness" that I need in lieu of the hand grip I use on my M3 body. Just something to consider. The added advantage is that it affords extra protection to the body.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

heh heh heh

heh heh heh

Since I'm both poor and cheap, I decided to get a little innovative tonight...

I've used the film M grip for years now and want something for the M8 but I don't like the Leica grip. It's huge, looks awful and I don't like the fit. I like the fit of my M grip.

So I got the old M grip, looked at it, put it up to the M8 and the grip is exactly the same width as the M8 baseplate. (ok, maybe the grip is .3mm narrower.)

I took the M grip apart, made some measurements, drew out a cutout line on the metal base of the M grip (it's under the felt and on top of the plastic, so you don't see it.)

I dremeled out a hole for the M8 baseplate key then did the same for the plastic base.

The grip part is thin polyethylene or some cheap plastic but since it has the better part of a cylindrical build, it remains quite rigid. I removed the rubber top and cut the back off of the grip (closest part to the camera.) I also cut the front lip of plastic which reaches around the M baseplate.

In the plastic base, I drilled out a 13/16" hole for the grip attachment key. I located where in the metal support the hole needed to be drilled to accommodate the key then drilled that out.

After that was done, all that was left was to put the thing back together. I noticed that the grip lost a bit of rigidity so I used a longitudinally cut half of a 120 spool center as a support. I shaped the 120 spool part to fit the sloped base inside the grip at the bottom and slip neatly into the rubber top. Using some 3M outdoor rated 2 sided tape, I stuck the 120 spool piece into the rubber top and affixed it into the grip portion. After that, it was done.

Since I cut out a good portion of the plastic base, I had to make up that space with a thicker washer between the grip fastening key and the metal baseplate support.

I am once again happy to have a small and comfortable grip for the M8. This one I didn't spend a grip of money on though. Only about 1.5 hours of work put into it.

I'll post a photo when I get another M8 so I can take a photo of this one...
(I'll have a photo up as soon as I can)

Have fun folks
Phil Forrest