Jungle Jim
Leica Fat Old Men's Club
Just back from dropping my camera off at Really Right Stuff. Met with the owners, Joe Johnson and his lovely wife Joan. They loved the camera and will be doing a custom plate and an L-Bracket for it. (I had spoken to Kirk Photo about a plate 3 weeks ago and they said they had no interest in making one at that time.) I let Joe know the concerns about having the battery/SD door available for access and he said no problem. Design is very straight-forward as far as the camera plate is concern. He immediately noticed the four little feet and speaker on the bottom, and said allowances would have to be made for that. Concerning the L-Bracket, he was thinking about a modular piece like the one that is designed for the Nikon D7000, which has a standard camera plate and an optional piece that can be bolted on for an L-Bracket.
See here: http://reallyrightstuff.com/Product...=BD7000-L-Set:-Includes-Base-+-L-Plate&key=it
Joe said preliminary drawings will be done by the end of this week or beginning of next week. He may provide a pdf of the drawings and has given me permission to post them here for additional input/suggestions from the forum members.
I will update as soon as I hear more.
All the best.
See here: http://reallyrightstuff.com/Product...=BD7000-L-Set:-Includes-Base-+-L-Plate&key=it
Joe said preliminary drawings will be done by the end of this week or beginning of next week. He may provide a pdf of the drawings and has given me permission to post them here for additional input/suggestions from the forum members.
I will update as soon as I hear more.
All the best.
Jungle Jim
Leica Fat Old Men's Club
Latest Update for June 6th:
I spoke to the engineer at Really Right Stuff an hour ago and he said he would try to email me a pdf of the preliminary drawings later this afternoon. The drawings have been completed and the preliminary prototype will be done tomorrow or Wednesday. The plate(s) will consist of three pieces, and can be bought separately or as packages.
First piece is the baseplate. It was a much more complex design than was first thought because of the openings and complex pockets that were required for the bottom of the camera. There is a slight 5% taper in the bottom of the camera that had to be accommodated for the anti-twist flange.
Second piece is the modular L-Bracket that will screw in just like the one for the Nikon D7000 example I had earlier linked to. This will also be designed to accommodate the little door where the plugs in the camera door are attached.
Third piece is a generous over-sized grip much like the one RRS designed for the Leica M9. I have no idea how they designed for it. Perhaps it will show up in the drawings. The engineer said they noticed how slippery the body is and wanted something like a handle for it. If you want a minimalist approach to your camera, you will not want the added-on handle, but it will make the X100 much easier to use, especially if you have medium/large hands. (Engineer's words, not mine.)
I will try and post again after I receive the pdf (and figure out how to attach it to this forum.)
All the best.
I spoke to the engineer at Really Right Stuff an hour ago and he said he would try to email me a pdf of the preliminary drawings later this afternoon. The drawings have been completed and the preliminary prototype will be done tomorrow or Wednesday. The plate(s) will consist of three pieces, and can be bought separately or as packages.
First piece is the baseplate. It was a much more complex design than was first thought because of the openings and complex pockets that were required for the bottom of the camera. There is a slight 5% taper in the bottom of the camera that had to be accommodated for the anti-twist flange.
Second piece is the modular L-Bracket that will screw in just like the one for the Nikon D7000 example I had earlier linked to. This will also be designed to accommodate the little door where the plugs in the camera door are attached.
Third piece is a generous over-sized grip much like the one RRS designed for the Leica M9. I have no idea how they designed for it. Perhaps it will show up in the drawings. The engineer said they noticed how slippery the body is and wanted something like a handle for it. If you want a minimalist approach to your camera, you will not want the added-on handle, but it will make the X100 much easier to use, especially if you have medium/large hands. (Engineer's words, not mine.)
I will try and post again after I receive the pdf (and figure out how to attach it to this forum.)
All the best.
Jungle Jim
Leica Fat Old Men's Club
Updated 6/08
I received some drawings this morning from Really Right Stuff. The engineer wrote: "Attached is the first set of drawings for our BX100 modular L-plate and grip design. Both the L-upright and grip are bolted into place, so as to be purchased and added separately."
I have linked to the X100 forum post since I can't figure out how to attach the pdf file of the drawings to this forum.
http://www.x100forum.com/index.php?...-release-plate/page__view__findpost__p__15280
All the best!
I received some drawings this morning from Really Right Stuff. The engineer wrote: "Attached is the first set of drawings for our BX100 modular L-plate and grip design. Both the L-upright and grip are bolted into place, so as to be purchased and added separately."
I have linked to the X100 forum post since I can't figure out how to attach the pdf file of the drawings to this forum.
http://www.x100forum.com/index.php?...-release-plate/page__view__findpost__p__15280
All the best!
Jungle Jim
Leica Fat Old Men's Club
Update for June 10th:
Back from a visit with the folks at Really Right Stuff. The engineer said the final drawings took much longer than expected. The drawings are now at the fabricator and are being coded for the CNC machines. Once the prototypes are completed and anodized, they will give me a phone call to bring my camera back in for a fitting.
I emphasized to the engineer the need for a good texture on the grip so it won't be slippery.
I will update if I hear anything else.
All the best.
Back from a visit with the folks at Really Right Stuff. The engineer said the final drawings took much longer than expected. The drawings are now at the fabricator and are being coded for the CNC machines. Once the prototypes are completed and anodized, they will give me a phone call to bring my camera back in for a fitting.
I emphasized to the engineer the need for a good texture on the grip so it won't be slippery.
I will update if I hear anything else.
All the best.
majid
Fazal Majid
I looked unsuccessfully for custom fitted QR plates at the usual suspects last week (RRS, Kirk, Markins and Acratech). Thanks for taking the initiative to contact them and have one designed.
Will there be a second 1/4" screw socket at the bottom of the plate, and will it be centered wrt lens optical axis? Another great feature to have would be an eyelet for a wrist strap, but I fear Markins may have patented that design.
Will there be a second 1/4" screw socket at the bottom of the plate, and will it be centered wrt lens optical axis? Another great feature to have would be an eyelet for a wrist strap, but I fear Markins may have patented that design.
Jungle Jim
Leica Fat Old Men's Club
Update for June 24th:
I have the prototype in my hands now and full production on the camera plate and L-bracket is now proceeding. The owner of Really Right Stuff (Joe Johnson) wanted to ask the forum members the following:
"Do you want a strap boss built into the separately sold handgrip piece ? It would allow for the attachment of a wrist strap that would thread from the bottom of the grip to the top of the camera strap holder. It would add about $15 to $20 to the cost of the handgrip price due to the complexity of manufacture."
The prototype that I am using has this function and it looks very nice as part of the hand piece. Depending on the feedback, all handgrips will either be sold with the option or without. RRS will not be making 2 different kinds.
Personal Comments:
The camera baseplate is a one-piece design that runs the full length of the camera with cut-outs for the battery/SD card door and a small cut-out for the speaker. It is fully machined out to lower total weight and is in black anodized 6061-T6 aluminum (Sorry, no other colors.) The camera with baseplate can sit flat on a table without any rocking and is very solid. On the right hand side (as you hold the camera to your face orientation) is an indentation on the bottom with three small holes to allow for attachment of the optional handgrip. On the left side-end of the baseplate is an indentation with one hole for attachment of the optional L-Bracket. For those of you looking for just a small baseplate piece, this isn't it. This baseplate piece looks like it is part of the camera itself.
The handgrip is 50mm tall at the highest point and nicely curves around to the front of the body. It sticks out 22mm from the body and has been acid treated to give a slightly rough feel. The handle does not feel slippery, even with sweaty hands. To give a visual depth, the handle sticks out as far as the lens with the original Fuji lens cap attached. The handle has two large holes bored out from the bottom to reduce weight. You can't see the holes from the top or side. With the handgrip attached, you will not have access to the side cable ports, because the handle covers the door.
The L-Bracket attaches to the left side of the camera baseplate with a large self-retaining hex screw. It sits up 56mm from the bottom of the baseplate and has a large cut-out to allow easy access to the AFC/AFS/MF switch. Plenty of clearance for the left side camera strap attachment.
Overall, I think this is a very elegantly and functionally designed package that Really Right Stuff has put together. You can buy just the baseplate, or the baseplate with the L-bracket attachment, or the baseplate with the grip attachment, or all three pieces.
The engineer from RRS will be emailing me some of the actual photos of everything that will be on their website. I will attach them here on this forum as soon as I get them.
Pre-orders will be available on Monday or Tuesday June 27/28th. They expect the first deliveries will be leaving their factory three to four weeks after pre-ordering starts. I have no idea on prices but the owner said the camera baseplate will be cheaper than the one for the Leica M8/M9 because it was not as complicated to design and manufacture. The handgrip cost will depend on what the overall suggestions are for the strap boss.
Really Right Stuff is at 1-888-777-5557 and I will put up a direct link to the X100 stuff once they have everything set-up.
Please note that I am NOT affiliated with Really Right Stuff in any way. I simply loaned my camera to them for several weeks so that they could take the measurements and design the plates for the X100.
All the Best.
I have the prototype in my hands now and full production on the camera plate and L-bracket is now proceeding. The owner of Really Right Stuff (Joe Johnson) wanted to ask the forum members the following:
"Do you want a strap boss built into the separately sold handgrip piece ? It would allow for the attachment of a wrist strap that would thread from the bottom of the grip to the top of the camera strap holder. It would add about $15 to $20 to the cost of the handgrip price due to the complexity of manufacture."
The prototype that I am using has this function and it looks very nice as part of the hand piece. Depending on the feedback, all handgrips will either be sold with the option or without. RRS will not be making 2 different kinds.
Personal Comments:
The camera baseplate is a one-piece design that runs the full length of the camera with cut-outs for the battery/SD card door and a small cut-out for the speaker. It is fully machined out to lower total weight and is in black anodized 6061-T6 aluminum (Sorry, no other colors.) The camera with baseplate can sit flat on a table without any rocking and is very solid. On the right hand side (as you hold the camera to your face orientation) is an indentation on the bottom with three small holes to allow for attachment of the optional handgrip. On the left side-end of the baseplate is an indentation with one hole for attachment of the optional L-Bracket. For those of you looking for just a small baseplate piece, this isn't it. This baseplate piece looks like it is part of the camera itself.
The handgrip is 50mm tall at the highest point and nicely curves around to the front of the body. It sticks out 22mm from the body and has been acid treated to give a slightly rough feel. The handle does not feel slippery, even with sweaty hands. To give a visual depth, the handle sticks out as far as the lens with the original Fuji lens cap attached. The handle has two large holes bored out from the bottom to reduce weight. You can't see the holes from the top or side. With the handgrip attached, you will not have access to the side cable ports, because the handle covers the door.
The L-Bracket attaches to the left side of the camera baseplate with a large self-retaining hex screw. It sits up 56mm from the bottom of the baseplate and has a large cut-out to allow easy access to the AFC/AFS/MF switch. Plenty of clearance for the left side camera strap attachment.
Overall, I think this is a very elegantly and functionally designed package that Really Right Stuff has put together. You can buy just the baseplate, or the baseplate with the L-bracket attachment, or the baseplate with the grip attachment, or all three pieces.
The engineer from RRS will be emailing me some of the actual photos of everything that will be on their website. I will attach them here on this forum as soon as I get them.
Pre-orders will be available on Monday or Tuesday June 27/28th. They expect the first deliveries will be leaving their factory three to four weeks after pre-ordering starts. I have no idea on prices but the owner said the camera baseplate will be cheaper than the one for the Leica M8/M9 because it was not as complicated to design and manufacture. The handgrip cost will depend on what the overall suggestions are for the strap boss.
Really Right Stuff is at 1-888-777-5557 and I will put up a direct link to the X100 stuff once they have everything set-up.
Please note that I am NOT affiliated with Really Right Stuff in any way. I simply loaned my camera to them for several weeks so that they could take the measurements and design the plates for the X100.
All the Best.
Jungle Jim
Leica Fat Old Men's Club
Majid--
On the prototype RRS camera plate there is a second 1/4" tripod screw socket. It is located in front of the screw that goes into the camera and is centered on the camera axis, not the lens axis. The center of the lens axis is about 12mm to the left of the accessory tripod hole.
All the best.
On the prototype RRS camera plate there is a second 1/4" tripod screw socket. It is located in front of the screw that goes into the camera and is centered on the camera axis, not the lens axis. The center of the lens axis is about 12mm to the left of the accessory tripod hole.
All the best.
Jungle Jim
Leica Fat Old Men's Club
I have not yet received the email with the photos from Really Right Stuff. Until then, I borrowed my son's digital camera and took some pictures of the X100 plates. Sorry for the poor quality.
Baseplate Only:
001 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
002 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
007 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
008 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
Baseplate Only:
001 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
002 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
007 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
008 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
Attachments
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Jungle Jim
Leica Fat Old Men's Club
Grip Only:
003 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
004 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
Close-up of Wrist strap Boss:
015 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
003 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
004 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
Close-up of Wrist strap Boss:
015 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
Attachments
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Jungle Jim
Leica Fat Old Men's Club
Attachments
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Jungle Jim
Leica Fat Old Men's Club
Attachments
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Jungle Jim
Leica Fat Old Men's Club
Everything put together:
012 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
013 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
014 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
Some weight data:
Baseplate = 48gms or 1.69 ounces
L-Bracket = 22gms or 0.77 ounces
Grip = 80gms or 2.82 ounces
Hope this helps. Remember, the owner of Really Right Stuff wants to know if you want the wrist strap boss as an addition to the grip. The additional cost would add $15 to $20 dollars to the total cost of the grip only, due to the complexity of the design. He will not make two designs. He will either build it in or not. Please let me know as either a reply on this thread or as a PM.
All the best.
012 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
013 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
014 by dungeonhack, on Flickr
Some weight data:
Baseplate = 48gms or 1.69 ounces
L-Bracket = 22gms or 0.77 ounces
Grip = 80gms or 2.82 ounces
Hope this helps. Remember, the owner of Really Right Stuff wants to know if you want the wrist strap boss as an addition to the grip. The additional cost would add $15 to $20 dollars to the total cost of the grip only, due to the complexity of the design. He will not make two designs. He will either build it in or not. Please let me know as either a reply on this thread or as a PM.
All the best.
Attachments
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Jungle Jim
Leica Fat Old Men's Club
Pre-orders are now available at the Really Right Stuff website with prices shown. They are still waiting for feedback on the X100 grip addition.
Link: http://reallyrightstuff.com/Items.aspx?code=BodyFujiX100&key=cat
Please Note: I am not affiliated with Really Right Stuff.
All the best!
Link: http://reallyrightstuff.com/Items.aspx?code=BodyFujiX100&key=cat
Please Note: I am not affiliated with Really Right Stuff.
All the best!
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majid
Fazal Majid
I don't care for the grip, as it adds considerable bulk. If they can get a strap lug/boss to the plate itself, I'm all for it.
LKeithR
Improving daily--I think.
Yeah, I don't care for that grip either. Ugly as sin and way too bulky for my taste. I'd much prefer something smaller and more subtle but full height...
Jungle Jim
Leica Fat Old Men's Club
Update for June 29th.
I just returned the prototypes and met with the owner of Really Right Stuff and one of the techs. They were very interested in the comments people made about the X100 Grip attachment and have made the following changes:
1) The wrist strap boss will not be incorporated in the grip design.
2) The height of the grip will be changed to about 2.6 inches overall height. Visually, the grip height will be from about the bottom of the camera plate to the middle of the camera's chrome top-plate, where the little chrome shelf extension is on the front camera handle. The overall shape will be the same, with cut-outs for the free movement of the camera strap and ring.
There are no changes on the L-Bracket and camera plate. Shipments on Pre-orders will be going out in mid-July for those items (about two weeks.)
Joe Johnson said if anyone had pre-ordered the L-Bracket set and wants to order the grip at a later date, they can call customer service at RRS and they can get the grip at a price discount equivalent to what the 3-set package price discount is.
They would like to thank the forum members here for all the comments and suggestions. As soon as the new grip prototype is made, I will let you know and have pictures posted.
All the best.
I just returned the prototypes and met with the owner of Really Right Stuff and one of the techs. They were very interested in the comments people made about the X100 Grip attachment and have made the following changes:
1) The wrist strap boss will not be incorporated in the grip design.
2) The height of the grip will be changed to about 2.6 inches overall height. Visually, the grip height will be from about the bottom of the camera plate to the middle of the camera's chrome top-plate, where the little chrome shelf extension is on the front camera handle. The overall shape will be the same, with cut-outs for the free movement of the camera strap and ring.
There are no changes on the L-Bracket and camera plate. Shipments on Pre-orders will be going out in mid-July for those items (about two weeks.)
Joe Johnson said if anyone had pre-ordered the L-Bracket set and wants to order the grip at a later date, they can call customer service at RRS and they can get the grip at a price discount equivalent to what the 3-set package price discount is.
They would like to thank the forum members here for all the comments and suggestions. As soon as the new grip prototype is made, I will let you know and have pictures posted.
All the best.
Jungle Jim
Leica Fat Old Men's Club
Update for July 13th.
I spoke to Joe Johnson at Really Right Stuff this afternoon. The new redesigned grip for large hands has been finished and is being produced. They production copies will be back from machining and anodizing sometime next week. Cost for the grip alone is $65 and will of course require the baseplate for attachment. The package price for all 3 pieces has not yet been determined as of a few hours ago. You can begin the pre-order for the grip tomorrow (Thursday) at the Really Right Stuff website, or give them a call. I have attached pictures (courtesy of Carla at RRS) here. Please note that this is the prototype grip and has NOT been anodized black yet and the wrist strap attachment is also no longer there.
All the best.
(I am not affiliated with Really Right Stuff in any way. I just loaned them my camera so they could produce the plates.)
I spoke to Joe Johnson at Really Right Stuff this afternoon. The new redesigned grip for large hands has been finished and is being produced. They production copies will be back from machining and anodizing sometime next week. Cost for the grip alone is $65 and will of course require the baseplate for attachment. The package price for all 3 pieces has not yet been determined as of a few hours ago. You can begin the pre-order for the grip tomorrow (Thursday) at the Really Right Stuff website, or give them a call. I have attached pictures (courtesy of Carla at RRS) here. Please note that this is the prototype grip and has NOT been anodized black yet and the wrist strap attachment is also no longer there.
All the best.
(I am not affiliated with Really Right Stuff in any way. I just loaned them my camera so they could produce the plates.)
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Jungle Jim
Leica Fat Old Men's Club
Pictures of the new redesigned grip for large hands are now up on the Really Right Stuff website. Just mouse-over the pictures for a magnified view.
http://reallyrightstuff.com/Product...desc=BX100-Set:-Includes-Base-+-LPlate-+-Grip
The new grip is now 65mm tall and stands out 23mm from the camera body. The groove in the grip makes for a comfortable handhold, even with my small hands. This will be my last post on the RRS Plates.
All the best.
http://reallyrightstuff.com/Product...desc=BX100-Set:-Includes-Base-+-LPlate-+-Grip
The new grip is now 65mm tall and stands out 23mm from the camera body. The groove in the grip makes for a comfortable handhold, even with my small hands. This will be my last post on the RRS Plates.
All the best.
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