hand grip for leica m5?

[yelofngr]

any m5 users out there?

any suggestions for a hand grip? i think it would really benefit from one.

all the ones i keep finding are for every leica m except the m5! camera-ist!

 

[Pickett Wilson]

I haven't found one, but agree one would be nice. I've tried the half-case with a grip bulge, but they just make the camera too bulky.

 

[maddoc]

Unfortunately in German but here is a DIY solution:

http://www.troeszter.net/Download/Leica M5 Handgriff Bauanleitung.pdf

 

[yelofngr]

ever tried a normal leica m hand grip on a leica m5? can it be modified with some extra padding? toms rapidgrip?

 

[paolo]

I use a standard M-grip from PhotoEquip on M5 (old version, like on the photo here http://www.photoequip.net/_forms/history.htm ). It fits nice, but it is necessary to take it off for reloading the film. The grip itself can be removed easily from the base and replaced with what you want to have

 

[sepiareverb]

I have a Rapidgrip on my M5. I just had to take a file to part of the lip so the angled part of the baseplate could clear.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Thanks for that, sounds like a good solution.

 

[yelofngr]

man, that looks sweet.

 

[kdemas]

I have a RapidGrip on my M7 occasionally but never thought about rigging one for the M5. Nice job on that, looks great.

For some reason I've never felt the need for a grip on the M5, I guess it just fits my hand as-is.

 

[yelofngr]

paolo-

on the old m-grip version, does the handgrip part touch the camera? have you found any issues with the baseplate flexing?

 

[paolo]

paolo-

on the old m-grip version, does the handgrip part touch the camera? have you found any issues with the baseplate flexing?

There is no issues with the base plate, it fits the camera as if it was designed for M5.

As for the first question I have to say that the grip touches the camera at one place, see the drawing, point A. As the grip is made from metal and there is no protection at that point I think it's worth to put something between the grip and the camera to protect the covering of the camera

 

[yelofngr]

thanks paolo. diagram helps. i'll stick some rubber or a piece of leather there.

 

[paolo]

In fact, I can't say that I'm 100% satisfied by the grip. But I bought it at a rather reasonable price and it's better than nothing. After all it is possible to modify it

 

[sepiareverb]

For some reason I've never felt the need for a grip on the M5, I guess it just fits my hand as-is.

Too arthritic here- my hands just hurt like hell if I hold a camera without a grip for any length of time.

The Rapidgrip does not touch the face of the camera at all in use, and I've never noticed any flex or play on the M5 or a more traditional shaped M- I've used rapidgrips on M2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. I do make some marks on the chrome from time to time when changing film and the grip rubs the face when replacing the bottomplate with the grip attached. I'm not bothered by it.

 

[kdemas]

Too arthritic here- my hands just hurt like hell if I hold a camera without a grip for any length of time.

Gotcha, makes total sense.

 

[Krosya]

I haven't found one, but agree one would be nice. I've tried the half-case with a grip bulge, but they just make the camera too bulky.

I use one of those half cases and I dont find it too bulky. Plus extra protection helps:

 

[Nokton48]

This has been quite an informative thread for me. I wanted a silver Rapidgrip for my chrome M5 (when I first got it) and TomA did not have any to sell at the time. So I bought a Mr. Zhou tan M5 eveready case, which I have been very happy with, in the interim. But, I just found this silver Rapidgrip from PopFlash on ebay, and grabbed it! So now, I need to finish the Griptac on M5, and do some filin' on the Rapidgrip. I am pleased with my new purchase.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170506890018&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

[yelofngr]

paolo, how come you are not satisfied with the old m-grip? is it slippery? is it too small to be effective?

this has been a great thread with great answers for me as well.

is the consensus that the rapidgrip is the most comfortable grip out of the available ones out there? (old m-grip, new ml-grip, official leica grip)

very happy that answers can be made with some slight filing of metal

 

[paolo]

yelofngr, yes, I think this is because it is not big enough for my hand. Also as you can see from the photo the grip on M-grip is not so long and there is place only for third and forth fingers and the little finger is "hanging in the air" if it is possible to say in such a way. But I think that one can get used to that.

In the modern version (ML-grip) the form of the grip was changed and I think it is more comfortable. But as the size of M5 is different from other models if one wants to use ML-grip on M5 then it would be necessary to cut the end of the base

 

[Nokton48]

I should mention that I have owned two of the GMP grips, and a third, which was attached neatly to an M4-2 Winder. Neither of my GMP's would fit M5 without extensive filing. But I found the grip itself to be too small for my hands, it just didn't feel right for me. So I sold all of that stuff off.

TomA's Rapidgrip seems to be quite a bit larger unit, from what I can see. Judging from the pictures on this thread, I am confident it will work for me. Mine just shipped from Popflash, so I should have it in my hands soon.