Thou Shalt Accessorize?

Thou Shalt Accessorize?

  • as God intended it: pure and unadulterated.

    Votes: 163 43.6%
  • with as many weird and wonderful accessories as I can get my hands on.

    Votes: 21 5.6%
  • somewhere in between.

    Votes: 190 50.8%

  • Total voters
    374
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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!

Dear Tom,

Voigtländer's Kontur was the one you couldn't see through: I don't know of a Zeiss version, though Kirn of Dunoon made also one. Basically, as you say, a box with a magnifying eyepiece at one end and a black mask with a frosted cut-out at the other. One eye saw the mask; the other, the scene. Most people's brains superimpose te mask on the scene, but apparently some people don't see it. Brilliant in very poor lighting (I have a couple).

Cheers,

R.
 
I think Frank was referring to my M2. The hood of the IVth 35/2 does indeed attach at a funny angle on the M2. Not that I mind that much, it does the job. I guess lenses attached at a different angle in later camera bodies...

That M2 has a 75mm f2.0 Summicron on it! The GX 200 can go very close and in so doing, gives a bit of an twisted perspective.
 
I prefer my Leica(s) as they were made, no accessories work best for me except ... My M5 handles better with one of Tom's Softies and occasionally I use the Rapidwinder with my M4-P. The Rapidwinder gives better heft when using heavy lenses (1.0 or 90/2.0). Sometimes I use the 21mm VF and a hand held meter, too ...
 
I frequently wrap the strap around my wrist and carry a camera in-hand or use a wrist-strap when wearing a small bag. A grip makes carrying the camera in-hand more comfortable for me, thus all of my 35mm RF's that can take a grip have one.

I also like a softie on an M2 and a Sekonic Twin-Mate to advise on exposure. My other RF's don't seem to need these items. I just got an MP-winder for it as well.

However, the strap I like is the nylon one that comes with the Bessa series of cameras. I remove the "grip strip" so that the camera can slide easily when I wear it across my chest. Over a shoulder, when I'd really need a grippy strap, I find I bang the camera around too much for my comfort when I'm moving around.
 
I use Lutz's Slings on all M's as well as Tom's Softies +Tim's Thumbs Up on the M8.2. Also Leicavit on the MP, but not always.

Someone mentioned Lutz's Strap? i have one of these but i found it too short, Stephen Schaub's Y-Strap can be ordered to a custom length. Very handy for discrete work in crowed places.
 
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.

Silly me. I just accidentally found out that it's possible to rotate the entire front element of the 35/2 summicron. So now my hood is as straight as a die!

Have also decided to get a polarizing filter after all. Although the Kenko option with accessory polarizing viewfinder looks cool, using a 77mm filter which crosses the viewfinder window seems more practical. Rather than spend $120 on PhotoEquip's FilterView, I bought standard 39mm-52mm and 52mm-77mm step-up rings for a few bucks and will take to the 52-77 with a drill and jig saw to cut a slit for real-time viewing. It will no doubt look ugly, but should do the job. As my 21/4 Skopar, 35/2 Summicron and 50/2 Summicron all have 39mm filter threads, the one step up ring has me covered. I do miss the ability to control contrast that a PF gives, so am curious how workable it will be on a RF without TTL viewing.
 
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.

Have you refined your opinion in the meantime, Nando? Seems like a cool idea, though unfortunately I read that the VIDOM merely crops the image, unlike the Nikon universal finders of the same vintage. Anyone want to sell me one of those for $20?
 
My friend and mentor keeps threatening to kick my ass as I have one of those small spirit level cubes ruining the look of my M8. I can't take a straight photo without it... and he bought it for me! The other bit he loves, it's a very subtle wrist strap that I can easily move between my bodies, extra security in case the camera slips... or someone tries to grab it 🙂
 
Gordy strap

Gordy strap

As much as I love the classic, luxurious look and feel of my Luigi deluxe strap, I am loving the streamlined and ergonomical Gordy strap on my M2 (here depicted with Jupter-3 and retractable Hoya rubber hood). The camera is nicely tucked away under the left arm when carried and easily pulled up to eye-level for shooting. A good combination with the Leicagoodies Sling...
 

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As much as I love the classic, luxurious look and feel of my Luigi deluxe strap, I am loving the streamlined and ergonomical Gordy strap on my M2 (here depicted with Jupter-3 and retractable Hoya rubber hood). The camera is nicely tucked away under the left arm when carried and easily pulled up to eye-level for shooting. A good combination with the Leicagoodies Sling...

Very Classy, thats a ballroom camera.
 
I do not believe in God, so my choices in responding are limited. I have enough Leica M camera bodies to leave some alone (my IIIG, M4, chrome M4-P, and MP) and others have Cameraleather coverings (burgundy lizard M3 double stroke, vulcanit M2 button rewind). All have at least a Tom Abrahamsson Softie.
 
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