Thou Shalt Accessorize?

[topoxforddoc]

Mine's got one of Tom's IXMOO RWs, a softie and a Leica strap. That's all - apart from my 35 pre-asph lux

Charlie

 

[Roger Hicks]

Roger, are you serious in saying that a soft release just gets in the way?

For me, yes. Maybe it's just habituation -- 35 years of using M-series Leicas without 'em -- but to me they're awkwardly bulky and feel odd, even Tom's. His winder is another matter. For me, a Leica without a Leicavit or RapidWinder is a lot less convenient to handle, though oddly, I don't much care for the electric winder.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[vieri]

Tom's Softie (large) and a Optech neoprene strap are all I need. I have been considering a rapidwinder, mostly because I am a left-eyed shooter (not for the speed, which I don't need) but in the end I found out that I'd rather move the cam away for a split second to rewind (my right thumb is always using the rewind lever for grip anyway) than having the extra bulk/weight added to my Ms. I always go out with at least 2 Ms, so that would add a bit (if I get it, I'd have to get in on both cameras 😀)

So, nr. 3 for me - though, I would have expected a fourth option like "as little as possible" to fill the gap between "nude" and "in between", for amore balanced poll.
- nude;
- minimal, as little as possible;
- in between;
- full, as much as possible;

 

[Al Kaplan]

Umpteen years ago I had a Leicavit on a III-f and loved it, but saw no need for it when "I went M". Mostly I use the M as a one handed camera with shorter focal length lenses. I take a wrap of the strap around my right wrist, index finger tip poised above the release, thumb against the wind lever, and I often focus tabbed lenses with my middle finger. I wind with a series of short strokes. When I'm usiing another body with a different lens the first one just hangs from my wrist.

Don't push the release with the pad of your finger. Arch your finger so the tip comes straight down on the button. Practice moving just the tip straight up and down like that. No other part of your hand should be moving. Nice and steady!

 

[Pablito]

I generally hate accessories but I find the large softie and a grip, preferably the TA grip, to be essential. I have been using them for 10 years more or less and can't imagine a Leica without them.

 

[gutguido]

Tom A's softie and an A&A wrist strap for me ...
I used to have an A&A half case as well, but ditched it after a couple of weeks.

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

Thin strap and a soft release. Most of the time the strap is wrapped around my wrist, but sometimes it's nice to be able to hang it around my neck.

 

[Nando]

I'm addicted to external viewfinders. I have vf's for every focal length I have and in addition, I have 3 different multi-finders. My favourite as of late is the VIDOM as it allows me to see the frame upside down. I also really like Luigi's cases and neck straps. I also can't shoot without a softie. I have 3 TA softies, 2 Luigi softies, and a Chinese-made softie with a P (for Pentax) on it.

 

[tbm]

I bought Leica's Motor-M (#14408) when it was released but I never ultimately got used to it and never felt comfortable with its handling. Pressing the shutter release on it always seemed to push my M6 TTL downwards although perhaps more practice would have helped. Nevertheless, I bought the Rapidwinder from Tom and it is so much better--a case where simplicity rules!

 

[photorat]

I'm addicted to external viewfinders. I have vf's for every focal length I have and in addition, I have 3 different multi-finders. My favourite as of late is the VIDOM as it allows me to see the frame upside down. I also really like Luigi's cases and neck straps. I also can't shoot without a softie. I have 3 TA softies, 2 Luigi softies, and a Chinese-made softie with a P (for Pentax) on it.

I have a 15mm viewfinder for the Heliar (because I obviously don't have the frame lines). Why use external viewfinders of you have frame lines for that fl? (Not being critical, am genuinely curious.)

 

[Nando]

I use them mainly on my Bessa-T, which doesn't have a viewfinder or with my IIIf which only has a squinty 50mm viewfinder without brightlines. I'm left-eyed so I can't shoot with both eyes open with my IIIf, M3 or MP. My right eye ends up behind the body. However, with my 50mm and 75mm external-VF on top, I can shoot with both eyes open.

Now, I'm using the VIDOM as an aid for composition as it allowed me to view the image inverted and upside down like a view camera. This adds a level of abstraction that helps me concentrate on the geometry. HCB used a VIDOM with M-cameras in this manner. Of course, that basically sold me on the idea. Too early to say if using the VIDOM is beneficial for me - I'm still trying to get used to aiming the camera correctly with the inverted upside-down image.

 

[Tom A]

This is one (or two) of the rarer Leica accessories, A friend of ours in Japan, nuclear scientist by day, opera singer by night and designer of truly strange items in what ever spare time he has. These are Albada finders (one is 50mm FL the other 73mm). You keep both eyes open and the frame appears suspended in midair! Zeiss used to make a boxy looking version (I think it was called Kontour) and also Voigtlander.
Guaranteed to catch peoples attention, though small children usually run away screaming! I am trying to figure out the mechanics of putting an eyelid in one. You press the release and it opens up!

 

[Tom A]

Too match the eyeball finder our friend made this "eye ball" softie - complete with eye lashes. Who said that working with fissionable material was harmless!

 

[Al Kaplan]

What next? A lenshood that looks like bright red lips?

 

[Tom A]

Al, good idea!

 

[craygc]

...there are plenty of grips available for M's including Leica's own. They all suffered from one major problem! [...] It also needs a "lip" on the top to prevent it from sliding through your hand.

Tom,

I use a Photoequip grip on my M's and Ive never found any issue with slipping out of my hand due to having no lip. Furthermore, as the grip stops around the level of the vulcanite, I usually have a finger sitting on top of it which works very well for shooting from the hip with the camera upside down - this is actually the main reason I have and need a grip at all.

This thing looks like "Wall-e"

 

[urban_alchemist]

I think that is both the coolest, and most disturbing, thing I've ever seen!

 

[Al Kaplan]

What probably would sell to Leica shooters are yellow lenscaps with a "happy face" on them captioned "I Got Mine!".

 

[Frank Petronio]

The only thing that M2 needs is a "hood straightener"!

 

[photorat]

I agree. But unfortunately it snaps in at that angle only. I guess the angle of fit is slightly different with bodies of the same vintage as the 4th version 35/2 summicron.

The only thing that M2 needs is a "hood straightener"!