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.
