TS ISAAC
Established
Getting a grip
Getting a grip
Missing the feel of the rewind lever on my M4 and M6, and with 5 months of hands-on use with my M8, especially in humid conditions, I find I don’t quite get the grip I would like on the camera. The Sling looks like the most secure of all compact systems, but, when it’s hot and wet, I would be inclined to try something else. Using a neck strap, I am not worried about dropping my camera, I just want a more secure and repeatable feel, each time I compose a shot.
The Leica grip allows an excellent hold on the camera, but that barrel arrangement for my fingers is awkward. When pressing the shutter release it seems my fingers don’t bend around the grip!
Considering the characteristics of these two designs, I figured I would dive into a thumb grip design of my own. I have designed castings and injection molded parts for many years, so I settled on a die-cast design made in brass, as both practical and strong, and esthetically matched to my M8. I love the lines of this camera, even its thicker body, and don’t want to detract from the traditional shape the Leica designers have preserved with such excellence. But I do want a better hold of my M8 when taking photos.
To start, I completely modeled my M8 with 3D software, to build a reliable platform from which my thumb grip idea could take shape. This method is a good way to manage the precision and the tolerances required to make the part during the casting process, as well as the esthetics. Brass is the material I am using on my prototype and it will be painted black.
In one design version, I am considering a slot for my SD card, with a 3rd hand function in mind, while changing out cards. One of these days, I figured I am going to drop a card into some water, or worse, down into a hole somewhere, so this should hold the card for those few seconds needed while I replace cards.
Please have a look at JPEGS of my design on flickr. Stay tuned for the tests of the prototype! I welcome any ideas or comments, good or bad, from the members here. [FONT="]
[/FONT]
Getting a grip
Missing the feel of the rewind lever on my M4 and M6, and with 5 months of hands-on use with my M8, especially in humid conditions, I find I don’t quite get the grip I would like on the camera. The Sling looks like the most secure of all compact systems, but, when it’s hot and wet, I would be inclined to try something else. Using a neck strap, I am not worried about dropping my camera, I just want a more secure and repeatable feel, each time I compose a shot.
The Leica grip allows an excellent hold on the camera, but that barrel arrangement for my fingers is awkward. When pressing the shutter release it seems my fingers don’t bend around the grip!
Considering the characteristics of these two designs, I figured I would dive into a thumb grip design of my own. I have designed castings and injection molded parts for many years, so I settled on a die-cast design made in brass, as both practical and strong, and esthetically matched to my M8. I love the lines of this camera, even its thicker body, and don’t want to detract from the traditional shape the Leica designers have preserved with such excellence. But I do want a better hold of my M8 when taking photos.
To start, I completely modeled my M8 with 3D software, to build a reliable platform from which my thumb grip idea could take shape. This method is a good way to manage the precision and the tolerances required to make the part during the casting process, as well as the esthetics. Brass is the material I am using on my prototype and it will be painted black.
In one design version, I am considering a slot for my SD card, with a 3rd hand function in mind, while changing out cards. One of these days, I figured I am going to drop a card into some water, or worse, down into a hole somewhere, so this should hold the card for those few seconds needed while I replace cards.
Please have a look at JPEGS of my design on flickr. Stay tuned for the tests of the prototype! I welcome any ideas or comments, good or bad, from the members here. [FONT="]
[/FONT]
Last edited:
CK Dexter Haven
Well-known
Has anyone seen this? What the heck is it? Looks like it's just glued on.... Not something i'd do with a $6000 camera, but there are those a bit more intrepid....
http://flickr.com/photos/masa-/3072705443/in/set-72157605637835385/
http://flickr.com/photos/masa-/3073523100/in/set-72157605637835385/
http://flickr.com/photos/masa-/3072705443/in/set-72157605637835385/
http://flickr.com/photos/masa-/3073523100/in/set-72157605637835385/
gandalfk7
Established
there was a thinh called "thumb up",
it's a plastic upper grip that fits in the hot-shoe and gives
your thumb a grip
now I need to sleep maybe tomorrow i'll look for a link.
cheers
it's a plastic upper grip that fits in the hot-shoe and gives
your thumb a grip
now I need to sleep maybe tomorrow i'll look for a link.
cheers
Sam N
Well-known
I don't think gripping the camera is a problem.
For many of us, the act of advancing the film is part of the ritual of photography. I love the shutter-cocking lever on the R-D1 because it feels more like using a film camera and somehow helps my pace my shots. I don't get the same feeling with motorized SLRs or DSLRs.
I've noticed that the only times I forget to re-cock the R-D1s shutter are when I'm wasting my time chimping after the shot instead of getting my mind ready for the next shot.
For many of us, the act of advancing the film is part of the ritual of photography. I love the shutter-cocking lever on the R-D1 because it feels more like using a film camera and somehow helps my pace my shots. I don't get the same feeling with motorized SLRs or DSLRs.
I've noticed that the only times I forget to re-cock the R-D1s shutter are when I'm wasting my time chimping after the shot instead of getting my mind ready for the next shot.
CK Dexter Haven
Well-known
Atom
Molecular.Atom
I really like the idea of the thumbs up. I don't own an M8 but I've used one several times. I don't have great grip to begin with and find myself using the advance lever on my film M's as a partial grip. If I were to ever own an M8 I would consider trying out a thumbs up. I like the double cold shoe option as well.
HenningW
Well-known
I think the idea of a 'wind lever' is silly. The camera is just fine the way it is.
When the M4 came out with it's lever I thought it was the greatest thing to that point, and I liked it way better than the M2, and certainly even more than the LTM camera knobs. I had callouses on the side of my index finger, but the M4 lever was fantastic. I still have a couple of film M's with that lever, and I enjoy using them, but the M8 doesn't need to be wound, I've never dropped either of my M8's and don't want anything that can catch on clothing, etc which the wind levers can do. That is one of their downsides. Leave off the wind lever.
Better would be the slightly contoured surfaces of the Hexar RF. That was one of the best handling motorized cameras. There certainly were things about it that weren't as good as the M7, but the shape of the contouring was excellent.
Henning
When the M4 came out with it's lever I thought it was the greatest thing to that point, and I liked it way better than the M2, and certainly even more than the LTM camera knobs. I had callouses on the side of my index finger, but the M4 lever was fantastic. I still have a couple of film M's with that lever, and I enjoy using them, but the M8 doesn't need to be wound, I've never dropped either of my M8's and don't want anything that can catch on clothing, etc which the wind levers can do. That is one of their downsides. Leave off the wind lever.
Better would be the slightly contoured surfaces of the Hexar RF. That was one of the best handling motorized cameras. There certainly were things about it that weren't as good as the M7, but the shape of the contouring was excellent.
Henning
parsec1
parsec1
Probably not possible on an M 8 or 9 but if the addition of a wind on lever could be made to generate enough ' electrical power' to run the camera so it wouldn't need batteries you would be on to a winner and be completley battery free.
jody36
Well-known
I think if your worried about dropping 10000 dollars worth of gear buy something cheaper. As for me if I had a M8 my grip would be very tight.
Ken Ford
Refuses to suffer fools
I like the idea too - my M6 with RW or M Motor could use it. But, like Double Negative, I think it is grossly overpriced.
Dale Cook
Established
Ummm...it's not Leica is above adding things to the camera that serve absolutely no purpose in the digital M version. For example...the base plate. I'm with the original poster, I for one would like to have seen the film advance lever. I own an RD-1 and I have to admit it makes me feel like I'm shooting film which automatically changes my mindset and approach to taking pictures. It's not as rapid fire which for me tends to be a good thing. Sometimes slowing down can help a lot.
movito
Member
The ThumbsUp CS1 worked wonders for me. Replacing the original "vulcanite" with GripTac helped a lot, too. If you're worried about dropping your camera, use a wrist strap.
edlaurpic
Established
Thumbs up for the Thumbs-up . . . WAY UP!
Thumbs up for the Thumbs-up . . . WAY UP!
I have had two M8s since they were first released in November 06, and, even with the accessory grip and later a Luigi case with built-in grip, I missed being able to rest my thumb on the advance lever, as I had with my Leica M film cameras (M3, then M2, then, M4, M6, MP). Then I got the thumbs up, first one of them, then another, and I am now never without it on the camera.
All I can say is that if you haven't tried an M8 with and without the thumbs-up, you might find it hard to imagine just how much more comfortable and solid one's grip is on the camera.
By the way, it takes two minutes to modify a Luigi half case to accommodate the thumbs-up.
Not sure there is a thread that shows the new double shoe thumbs-up, which I now use with my 15mm and 24mm lenses together with my 21mm and 35mm external finders, which not only leaves the center flash shoe open for other accessories (like an led light source I am now using) but also makes it possible to look through the accessory viewfinder on the left instead of in the middle of the camera body, which is much more comfortable for a guy with a large-size shnoz like mine that otherwise crunches against the LCD display while I am shooting.
Thumbs up for the Thumbs-up . . . WAY UP!
I have had two M8s since they were first released in November 06, and, even with the accessory grip and later a Luigi case with built-in grip, I missed being able to rest my thumb on the advance lever, as I had with my Leica M film cameras (M3, then M2, then, M4, M6, MP). Then I got the thumbs up, first one of them, then another, and I am now never without it on the camera.
All I can say is that if you haven't tried an M8 with and without the thumbs-up, you might find it hard to imagine just how much more comfortable and solid one's grip is on the camera.
By the way, it takes two minutes to modify a Luigi half case to accommodate the thumbs-up.
Not sure there is a thread that shows the new double shoe thumbs-up, which I now use with my 15mm and 24mm lenses together with my 21mm and 35mm external finders, which not only leaves the center flash shoe open for other accessories (like an led light source I am now using) but also makes it possible to look through the accessory viewfinder on the left instead of in the middle of the camera body, which is much more comfortable for a guy with a large-size shnoz like mine that otherwise crunches against the LCD display while I am shooting.
