Product request: Finder Keeper for Leica M.

Larry. I have been trying to figure out the best and most economical method for it. The material would have to be stainless spring shim stock and as it would be very thin, it could be either laser cut (which would easy as the small hole for the "pin" in could be done at the same time). The other alternative would be punched out version which would give the folded edge at the back.
We are off to Japan in a week, so this has to wait until we are back though. It is a brilliant design though.
 
I'm in ! Lost my 21 finder somewhere in Vancouver years ago working on a story on alzheimers. If you find it Tom, couldja send it back please ;) ?

Have a great time in Japan.
 
That would also work to keep the VC Meter in place. Now where can I find some thin stainless spring shim stock?
 
There are variations in thickness of the slot on the "shoe". I have M2's that require a firm pull to get the finder off - and there are M2's where the various finders "flop" around.
Summer is here (though the weather belies that) and in between suing up various films, I will venture into the design of the FK (Finder Keeper) and start looking into various ways of making it.
Stamping it out is expensive - as the die costs multiple $000, but either laser cut or acid milled could work. Will keep the RFf posted on progress.
 
Tom, varying thicknesses of shoe mounts could be accommodated with a slight positive bend in the shim. In that way it would flex downward in the case of a tight shoe, or flex very little in the case of a loose shoe mount. In both cases, the "spring" action of the metal would help keep the finder in place.
 
I am working on a design, that rather than using the small screw that sits in the M-shoe - I want to use the two flat springs that are common to most all accessory shoes. It would have a slight "bend" to it.
I am probably going to have to go with 1 or 2 "thou" stock, either punch or laser cut and then heat treat it.
 
May a country boy (?) suggest a low-tech solution? Get about six or eight inches of nylon monfilament (fishing line.) Using an appropriate fishing knot, make a "lasso."

Put the lasso's loop around the base of the finder and pull it tight. Now tie a snap swivel (yes, that's fishing item, too.)

Now, just snap the swivel onto your neckstrap split ring. Your viewfinder may come off, but you won't lose it.

This system also works well for eycups on SLRs. If you wish - email me your address and I'll make you one.



Another solution for those with user cameras - I secured an old Voightlander KONTUR finder on my Canon P by screwing a small cap screw horizontally between the finder and the mount.

Not for your pristine collector cameras, because it does leave tiny thread marks on the bottom of the finder and the top of the holder.
 
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Hi Tom,

I made the original "Finder keeper" by cutting the shim stock into a 1/2" wide strip using a small sheet metal shear. With the fence set at the correct width it would have been easy to make many strips in a very short time. For any quantity a die/jig for cutting the strips to length and drilling/punching the hole would speed things up. The little catch could be a separate piece, spot welded on instead of silver solder. There are even soft solders that work well on stainless.

My 21mm Leitz finder and the 35mm CV one fit over the Finder Keeper perfectly as there's a shallow groove in the middle of the metal foot. Wasn't quite so lucky with the plastic 15mm CV finder as it's not grooved all the way through. Not a big problem though, a few strokes with a jewelers file to the edge of the plastic and it now slips over the catch OK.

If these things ever get in production should they have one of those crazy codes like "NOOKY" ??? ;-)

A weird, but true story .... Last year I was out shooting with both M4's. Stopped to make a lens change, moving the 21mm over to the other body. When I went to move the finder, my Finder Keeper was gone! Crap! At least the finder was still there. Just on the off chance that I might find the thing, started retracing my foot steps. Was walking along and spotted something shiny on the sidewalk. There it was, what luck, now all I needed was a new screw. The thought came to mind that the screw might be close to the keeper. Kept looking and finally found the screw a couple feet away, whew. When I got home the keeper got re-installed, this time with some non-permanent Loctite.

Now the story begins to get into the twilight zone. Amazed at my luck in finding the tiny part on a cobble sidewalk, decided to see if the lucky streak would hold. Just for a laugh I purchased a ticket on the the Canadian 649 lottery. The numbers I picked were made up from the M4 serial numbers.... When I got around to checking the result of the draw had a nice surprise! Four of the six numbers were correct and I collected $85. Not the big one of multi-millions $$$ but enough to let me know I had lucky cameras. Had I gotten one more number the prize would have been about 150K$ as the bonus number was also correct.

Glenn
 
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I know pwople who order red Softreleases so they can find them in the snow! The chance of finding the "Keeper" is amazing and the tiny screw puts it in the "Miracles" division!
Never thought of applying my camera # as Lotto 649 source.
Well $85 is not too bad, but $15K would have been nicer - you could have hired someone to look for the parts!
 
Tom A said:
I am working on a design, that rather than using the small screw that sits in the M-shoe
Click to expand...

I'd certainly appreciate a more general design, as I'd love one of these that would fit my Bessa-T. The T lacks the hotshoe screwhole found on the M's.
 
newspaperguy said:
May a country boy (?) suggest a low-tech solution? Get about six or eight inches of nylon monofilament (fishing line.) Using an appropriate fishing knot, make a "lasso."

Put the lasso's loop around the base of the finder and pull it tight. Now tie a snap swivel (yes, that's fishing item, too.)

Now, just snap the swivel onto your neck strap split ring. Your viewfinder may come off, but you won't lose it.

This system also works well for eyecups on SLRs. If you wish - email me your address and I'll make you one.



Another solution for those with user cameras - I secured an old Voightlander KONTUR finder on my Canon P by screwing a small cap screw horizontally between the finder and the mount.

Not for your pristine collector cameras, because it does leave tiny thread marks on the bottom of the finder and the top of the holder.
Click to expand...

Any particular choices for line weight? Had a friend who taught me to snell hooks, probably five times, and I still cannot do it. I do a bit of salt water fishing, am thinking 40 lb is over kill, but some of the higher weights have perhaps a bit more "body", and I have some reels with the braided lines.
 
A box of Interdens (balsa-wood toothpicks) is good: hard enough to shove in, but soft enough to deform and allow you to push them in a long way. Then snap it off. Replace when changing finders.

I find that ALL the Leicas I have tried are tighter than ANY of the Bessas I've tried. I also modified a Russian Zeiss-copy turret with a permanently glued shim to make it a tight fit in the Bessa-T (the only camera it's used with).

Even so, I'd love a Finder Keeper. Indeed, I'd buy 'em in packets of five (or three, at least).

Cheers,

R.
 
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