Leicavit and Rapid Winder Differences

[cmogi10]

I would really love to hold one of these in my hand and feel it and try it in person, you can only get so much from pictures.

 

[Tom A]

1 side question for you, Tom (which you may have answered somewhere, but not here that I can tell): why is the end of the winding lever so pointed? Was it for ease of manufacture? Weight savings?

If you think my lever is sharp, you should try the original Leicavit MP lever. If you fell on that one, it could perform an impromptu appendectomy!
The material I use in the lever is stainless steel, a material that does not like to be formed or cut! When I designed the lever I had to take in to account the stress of the material in the forming press. The dies for a lever like this will set you back about the cost of a small,compact car as it is and to add a third die for the tip of the lever would have doubled the cost. I also wanted to be sure that the lever could fold flush with the base and still be easy to retract when needed, A rounded or squared off end would mean that I would have had to change the slot in the winder housing and it still would be difficult to pull down. I did try a variety of designs on the lever initially, but settled on the current one as it is possible to do it in stainless. The other designs would have to be cast (not as strong) or machined (prohibitively expensive).
If you find the lever tip to sharp, you can always take a file to it and "flatten" the edge, but do not remove too much material as that would cause it to sit in the slot too deep and it would make it tricky to pull down.

 

[peter_n]

A liitle OT but has anyone used a Rapidwinder with an Arca-Swiss type QR baseplate and had it fit? My plate is designed for the Leica M and won't fit on the Rapidwinder, which is slightly too wide. 🙁

 

[irq506]

Whats the difference between the mkI and mkII Tom?

 

[Tom A]

The easiest way to spot the difference is to look at the top-plate. The Mark I has a brass top-plate with the soldered on bar on it. It is also held in place by the locking disc and the post for the plastic "tulip". The Mark II has a top-plate held in place by two phillips head screws and it is machined out of the same alloy as the housing. Neither of these changes makes a difference to the function of the winder. It takes the alloy top a bit longer to "smooth" out than the brass. Brass is almost "self lubricating". However, painting it is similar to painting on an oilslick! On the version II the top can be anodized matte black.
Over the years I have incorporated improvements in the winder as I went along. The design stayed the same since 1989 with the basic housing machined out of alloy, but things like locks, drives. top-plates and "tulip" posts have changed as I figured out ways to have them machined on CNC equipment, rather than the labourious task of making it myself. There is still a fair amount of labor involved in making a winder and fitting the parts though.

 

[TJV]

I have looked at the pictures of both the Leicavit and RWII and for the life of me I can't figure out how they can be used comfortably in practice. I've never seen one in person and where I live holding one is not an option. Is there any pictures or videos on the net of people actually using one of these things?

Tom A: Just wondering if you are able to name drop a few users of your product? Not that that will make my mind up to buy one, but it's always nice to know who out there is still shooting in the romantic Leica traition.

 

[cmogi10]

I played with a Leicavit today and it is a really cool thing, If it was under 300 bucks it be even cooler to have, at a grand? No way, I'm also a right eye shooter and it's definitely more useful for a left eye.

 

[peter_n]

Tom's Rapidwinder is about 1/2 that as well as being a simpler design and better build quality. Once you get the hang of it (doesn't take long) they are very comfortable to use.

 

[irq506]

I dont know how to use Youtube, (and I dont have a RW or Vit), but I think it would be nice to have some kind of video of it in use -id use my T-Grip in the Bessa only I have no shutter in it currently ...Im testing out the practicalities of a shutterless system right now.

 

[Tom A]

I am working on a "tube" video of some kind. We were planning to do it tomorrow. If you go to the Rapidwinder web site you can see our first attempt of this kind of video "Tom loading a M6/MP". I am not expecting an Oscoar this year, but maybe next!

 

[Vin Vermier]

I played with a Leicavit today and it is a really cool thing, If it was under 300 bucks it be even cooler to have, at a grand? No way, I'm also a right eye shooter and it's definitely more useful for a left eye.

Sacrilege, I know, and to do this to another countryman, but Tamarkin is selling demo Leicavits for $599 (http://www.tamarkin.com/catalog/products/leica/leicamaccs.html). I bought a silver chrome one this summer and it is in pristine condition - never used, but has to be sold as a demo. Looks like they still have them in stock in various finishes. Tamarkin was a snap to deal with - no problems at all. Very prompt delivery and used USPS which is what I prefer when shipping to Canada. Not knocking Tom A.'s rapidwinder at all (and am now convinced that it is better built than the Leicavit), but for my limited use (as an enthusiast) I wanted OEM. Just my personal preference.

 

[Tom A]

OK, my foray into "documentary" film-making continues. Just posted a short clip of how to use the Rapidwinder with a MP

Pls click on

http://rapidwinder.com/

and/or

http://ca.youtube.com/profile?er=TnTandMrB​

The RW was designed to help left eye shooters preserve eyeballs and glasses! It does allow a bit better grip on the camera too. The fact that the camera is resting in your left hand helps with holding it steady.

Next project is using it with a heavy lens and the Rapidgrip and also "how to load a M2/M3".

 

[cmogi10]

Sacrilege, I know, and to do this to another countryman, but Tamarkin is selling demo Leicavits for $599 (http://www.tamarkin.com/catalog/products/leica/leicamaccs.html). I bought a silver chrome one this summer and it is in pristine condition - never used, but has to be sold as a demo. Looks like they still have them in stock in various finishes. Tamarkin was a snap to deal with - no problems at all. Very prompt delivery and used USPS which is what I prefer when shipping to Canada. Not knocking Tom A.'s rapidwinder at all (and am now convinced that it is better built than the Leicavit), but for my limited use (as an enthusiast) I wanted OEM. Just my personal preference.

Oi, hah, not cool. Luckily I don't have the money for one but thanks! it's good to know and have in my back pocket for someday.

 

[cmogi10]

OK, my foray into "documentary" film-making continues. Just posted a short clip of how to use the Rapidwinder with a MP. The RW was designed to help left eye shooters preserve eyeballs and glasses! It does allow a bit better grip on the camera too. The fact that the camera is resting in your left hand helps with holding it steady.
Next project is using it with a heavy lens and the Rapidgrip and also "how to load a M2/M3".

Checked out the video's, nice camera.
I'm glad I was using the 'vit the right way. hah although it took a couple seconds to lock in,
"Why wont it go! O that's right i need to press the shutter,"
But once I got it it smoothed out nice.

 

[Tom A]

Vin, the leicavit MP is not bad at all. I suspect that the price drop was to get it level with mine! My only beef with the MP is the confounded lever. If you carry it over your shoulder, the lever will sooner or later tangle with the jacket and start to "freewheel" and you have to push it all the way up and then down again. On the original Leicavit there was a small look that would keep it down and locked.
I have one of the new Leicavit's and it looks noce but I must admit that it is not used much. When I got it I took it apart and checked out the insides. LOTs of small parts in it too!

 

[Vin Vermier]

Thanks for the heads up about Leicavit lever problem, Tom. I'm a right eye shooter (re-trained natural leftie) and will likely use it for its intended purpose only occasionally when speed is needed. Got use to having a trigger winder on my Bessa R2 so promised myself a few years ago to get one for my M6TTL. I'd consider buying an RWII for my M6 Classic if you can make one with a titanium finish...looks sometime do count.

 

[Tom A]

Some years ago I made a handful of Titanium Nitrated Rapidwinders - they are all gone and as it is quite costly to do (at least in single samples) you are better of checking on E-bay for them. I do have a couple of the Rapipgrips left in that finish - there was a problem with the grip as the coating screwed up the thread in the cap for the storage unit in the grip so I never pursued more of these.

 

[Vin Vermier]

I'll have to keep a watch out for the titanium RW, then. Thanks. I have a couple of Leica M grips which I use when my M6s aren't in their half-cases, so am in no need of a Rapidgrip, but now that you've planted that seed in my little brain one would look pretty sweet on my M6 Titanium. Hmmm.

 

[irq506]

Well I got a Tom mkI, from a guy on Photo.net for a scream, and have been using it all week, I am completely all over it. Tom if you saw how I shoot youd be proud.
I did my research, checked out the vit and was not as impressed as I was hoping, as Id already owned a Triggerwinder for the Bessa and the vit is fancier version of that, Id never actually seen the Tom until I got one in the mail on Monday, and the instant that I picked up the box 9before Id even opened it), I knew this thing meant business.
As for actual use, well all I can say is that its got a soapy self lubricating feel to it that you only get with brass and steel, married with solidity and weight which makes the device perform with exquisite fluidity.

In an instant Id get another over a vit. Ill be selling my Motor-M for a black one for the M7 Im saving up for....

By the way Tom, how much do you sell those grips for? Matt Black.

 

[Tom A]

irg506,

please contact me (or in this case Tuulikki) via our website


http://rapidwinder.com/

for price and availability of the various products.

Thanks for the kind words on the Rapidwinder too!
Tom