M8 Prototype Grip Up at Rapidwinder.com

[CameraQuest]

Tom pointed out to me he felt the M8 needed the advance lever to help grip the camera. After shooting with a loaner M8 for a week, I agreed with him.

see the drawings of his prototype M8 grip at http://www.rapidwinder.com

Stephen

 

[Harry Lime]

Hmmmmmm.....

I never use a grip, but I'm so sure how crazy I am about the ribbed handle.

 

[CameraQuest]

Hmmmmmm.....

I never use a grip, but I'm so sure how crazy I am about the ribbed handle.

if I am not mistaken, the "rib" slots are to store SD cards

Stephen

 

[ywenz]

You mean the cards are spring loaded in the rib slots? other wise, ahem.. thumbs down for the look.

 

[Sailor Ted]

Ribbed for her pleasure or not I like my Leica spec handle as it perfectly matches the camera's finish and significantly improves ergonomics IMO.

 

[kaiyen]

Wow. How many SD cards does Tom think one would need? 🙂 There are like 8 slots there.

allan

 

[Harry Lime]

if I am not mistaken, the "rib" slots are to store SD cards

Stephen

Actually it looks like there is a compartment in the base for a SD card, that would be hidden between the baseplate and the grip.

Maybe Tom is trying to save some weight with the ribbed handle.

Now what would be really clever is if the grip handle held a spare battery...

 

[B&W Norway]

Why???
Leica made a perfect one

 

[BrianPhotog]

umm...

there's nothing to wind on the M8.

 

[HAnkg]

I believe the cut outs are to save weight. Common in Bicycle components. I am not sure how comfortable the cut-outs will be. Looks like it will require a lot of finishing to round all those edges.

 

[ywenz]

Why not just expand the current Leica Grip to accomodate for the thicker M8 and then just keep with the stock look... This one looks like a dildo

I'm sure the asian makers will soon come out with a replica Leica M grip and put it on ebay.

 

[Tom A]

The cut-outs are indeed to save weight. The full-length baseplate adds material and weight.

There is a space in the baseplate of the grip that can store an extra SD card.

The slots in the grip are slanted downward to provide a more secure hold and, yes they will be chamfered to avoid a too sharp an edge.

There will also be a 1/4" 20 tpi tripod bushing in the base of the grip (not enough space for that in the actual baseplate because of the SD card slot).

Best,
Tom A

Tom Abrahamsson
Vancouver, BC
Canada
rapidwinder.com

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

This one looks like a dildo

This is an inkblot test?

 

[boilerdoc2]

Tom, I like it. Especially the SD storage. Would it be possible to machine a dovetail for rapid release tripod mounting? Then, it would be perfect. Thanks.....Steve

 

[HAnkg]

The full-length baseplate adds material and weight.

Does the grip baseplate replace the Leica baseplate or is it added on top of it?

 

[Tom A]

Tom, I like it. Especially the SD storage. Would it be possible to machine a dovetail for rapid release tripod mounting? Then, it would be perfect. Thanks.....Steve

Steve,
unfortunately there is not enough material on the base to accommodate a dovetail "slot". To do that I would have to add more thickness to the base and subsequent weight.

There will be a tripod bushing at the base of the actual grip and there is no reason why that could not hold the dovetail part of a mount.
All the best,
Tom A

Tom Abrahamsson
Vancouver, BC
Canada
rapidwinder.com

 

[Benny Boy]

Unfortunately, this design does not follow the Bauhaus principals that influenced the original Leica M design. A better design for the Leica M body would look essentially like the M winder and grip. A hole tube could be used for the grip portion, with a knurled surface band matching the height of and lining up with the leatherette.

 

[Didier]

Tom pointed out to me he felt the M8 needed the advance lever to help grip the camera ... see the drawings of his prototype M8 grip at http://www.rapidwinder.com

The grip looks cool. But the picture looks magenta 😀
Didier

 

[HAnkg]

Unfortunately, this design does not follow the Bauhaus principals that influenced the original Leica M design.

The guiding principal of the Bauhaus was "form follows function". The cut outs are not there for ornamentation they are there to reduce weight. It would seem Tom is aiming for as functional, streamlined and ergonomic a solution as is possible.

 

[peter_n]

Tom got the ergonomics of his regular Leica grip absolutely perfect. Remember this is a prototype drawing and not even a model yet. There is a ways to go and he will get it right.