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="]
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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="]
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