Just Received The Abrahamson RapidGrip

[murrayb53]

Hi All,
I'm a "Newbie" to this group but I've been a regular on other groups. My name is Steve and I live in the Chicagoland area. I've been a Leica user for many years.
I just thought I would give my 2 cents worth on the new Abrahamson RapidGrip I just received in the mail. I purchased the Glossy Black model even though my re-painted M3 looks to be a rather matte black finish. I did this because IMO you get a better feel with a bit of a "drag" due to the gloosy paint rather than a more "slippery" feel you get from a matte paint finish. Anyway, it fits my hand beautifully, the contoured design makes all the difference in the world.
In response to those who feel a grip on an M body is not required I would like to say that as for myself, one who has just a bit of an unsteady hand, the grip helps. I also feel with a larger lens, say a 90mm Summicron, you can use as steady a hold as possible even with a steady hand.
As far as my transaction was concerned I have nothing but good things to say about my buying experience. I paid with Paypal and four days later I received my grip.
It's nice working with Professionals!!

Thanks T&T.
Steve

 

[Magus]

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[Tom A]

Steve, welcome to the Forum. great source of information and trivia. I am pleased that you like the Rapidgrip too. The glossy finish does look gorgeous and the guy who does the polishing of these also does Kenworth alloy wheels! I am always a bit worried that one day I will see a "Keywhopper" with Rapidgrip/Winder on the spokes of the wheels!

 

[sepiareverb]

You've piqued my interest. I have the Leica grip on my 3 traditional M's, and as some may know I'm working on one for the M5- This one does look much better for my hand- slightly arthritic already. I find the Leica grip a bit small- one of the things I wanted to build into the M5 grip was a bit more grip.

Erik- if you decide it's not for you send it over to me and I'll give it a try. I would like to try one before buying- anyone in VT reading this??

 

[murrayb53]

I've seen the Leica Grip and it's quite similar to the ZI Grip. Has a textured look to match the body but not enough "grip".

 

[Magus]

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[Dunk]

I saw a used Abrahamson Rapid Winder II and grip in Aperture , Museum Street, London last Friday and was impressed with it in use ... so fast ... had previously only read about them in J Eastland's books ...

So I bought the item and is now fitted to my titanium M6 .. looks a bit odd ie titanium and alloy do not match that well IMO ... but the SPEED of operation is unbelieveable. ... And the storage compartment in the grip is a useful secret cubby hole. ... diamond smuggler's dream!!

Dunk

 

[Magus]

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[rover]

anyone in VT reading this??

Plan a photo day in Boston where Pete and/or I will meet you.

 

[Magus]

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[peter_n]

Plan a photo day in Boston where Pete and/or I will meet you.

Yes we need a Boston meet this summer anyway. Unfortunately I'm scheduled to be out-of-town a lot soon but going back to the Rapidwinder I got mine as soon as I saw/used Ralph's. It was a must have. I've found it invaluable for use with big heavy lenses like the Noctilux and 90mm AA. It's also really useful on your carry-round because let's face it, the M body in your hand with the strap around your wrist can induce hand-lock. The Rapidgrip makes the M so much easier to carry. Attached is a pic of my 0.72 M with Rapidgrip that shows the shape of the grip front. It is very comfortable.

 

[sepiareverb]

Plan a photo day in Boston where Pete and/or I will meet you.

A possibility. I'll be heading down that way in early August.

 

[Magus]

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[Tom A]

The Rapidgrip is actually designed to have a certain bit of play in it. If it was made to be absolutely rigid, it would put excesive stress on the attchment point of the camera (The 1/2 moon "point"). The grip is designed to allow you to lift the camera by the grip only, even with a heavy lens and that could literally deform the base plate!
If you want to "stabilize" the grip on the camera, you can glue some leather to the inside curve of it, the one that faces the body. When I make it, I have to contend with a multitude of variations in Leica bodies, from 1954 M3's to 2007 MP's. The 1-1,5 mm spacing allows for that. If the grip is too tight against the body, it would also be difficult to remove when you change film as it would "rub" against the covering.
As for making a grip with a central tripod bushing for the MP Leicavit. The cost would go up substantially as the machining time would double and material cost would rise too. Too small a market to make viable. The Rapidgrip is machined out of solid bars of alloy and the price of the alloy has now increaed almost 4-fold in 2 years. The machines used for making the Rapidgrip cost in excess of 3/4 million dollars and as you pay for machine time by the hour - you have to balance cost against how many Grips you can run in a set time.

 

[sepiareverb]

Thanks Tom- I see three of these in my crystal ball of GAS

 

[Dunk]

The Rapidgrip is actually designed to have a certain bit of play in it. If it was made to be absolutely rigid, it would put excesive stress on the attchment point of the camera (The 1/2 moon "point"). The grip is designed to allow you to lift the camera by the grip only, even with a heavy lens and that could literally deform the base plate!
If you want to "stabilize" the grip on the camera, you can glue some leather to the inside curve of it, the one that faces the body. When I make it, I have to contend with a multitude of variations in Leica bodies, from 1954 M3's to 2007 MP's. The 1-1,5 mm spacing allows for that. If the grip is too tight against the body, it would also be difficult to remove when you change film as it would "rub" against the covering.
.

Taken your advice Tom and using double sided tape have stuck on two pieces of soft vinyl, each of which is 1mm thick, to the inside curve of the grip. The first piece runs the whole length of the inside curve of the grip; the second piece, stuck on top of the first piece, has 7mm x 10mm removed from the top L.H.S. ... and thus leaves a 7mm long 'step' at the top of the inside curve of the grip. This 'step' is necessary to clear the 'lip' on the M6 top plate when the grip is used without the winder ie with Leica base-plate. The top-plate lip does not foul the vinyl when used with winder because the winder is deeper than the original base-plate ... the grip does not cover the 'lip' on the top plate when used with winder.

Result is that the vinyl takes up nearly all the 2mm gap between the winder and the M6 body (apart from the "cut-out" for the 'step' when used with the winder) ... give or take a fraction of a mm. which is absorbed by the cushion effect of the vinyl ... and the grip now feels and actually is more snug ... with no movement ... especially with the original base-plate rather than with the winder.

Should emphasize that this modification is fine on my M6 (original Titanium model ) but might not suit other M models with different top-plates. But ... the Rapidgrip with vinyl cushion does fit my M3 very snugly as well .. it too has a 'lip' on the top-plate of different dimensions to the M6 .. but the 7mm step in the vinyl also suits the M3 top-plate.

The soft cushion effect vinyl is chair/cushion covering upholstery material

Softly softly catchee monkee!

Dunk

 

[Magus]

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