Thumbs up

[Out to Lunch]

Is this a useful accessory for Leica M users...or just another gimmick? Thanks for your feedback, Peter

 

[asiafish]

Essential.

 

[Vince Lupo]

I find the little built-in thumb rest on my Monochrom 246 enough for me.

 

[James24]

Once you've got one you'll wonder how you ever managed without one before.

 

[user237428934]

Once you've got one you'll wonder how you ever managed without one before.

Exactly. Holding the body is so much better with the thumbs up. Without it I constantly think it might slip from my fingers.

Edit: You are talking about the M-240? My comment is about the M9.

 

[Out to Lunch]

I am behind the curve...talking about an M-E. Thanks for your feedback and I'll take the plunge...I've done dumber things with Euro 139.

 

[icebear]

In the times of using film M's I always had my thump behind the film lever.
I could hardly use my MM , M9 without the thumbs up. It helps to balance the camera securely and you don't have to grip the body so firmly. I have a handgrip and fingerloop too on both bodies.

 

[FrankS]

I'm waiting on a $6 Chinese version of a thumbs up, for my xe2 which is already wearing a $30 Chinese hand grip.

 

[Vobluda]

I prefer Thumbie, that is similar and made in UK.
Available on ebay, google the photos.

 

[ferider]

Thumbs up = Perfect lever to bend the flash shoe.

I recommend a grip instead.

 

[user237428934]

Thumbs up = Perfect lever to bend the flash shoe.

I recommend a grip instead.

I read somewhere there is one person in the world who managed to bend his flash shoe with a Thumbs up. Don't even know if it's a true story.... Have you seen this live?

The original Leica grip is very unergonomic for my fingers. No comparison to the Thumbs up.

 

[Lss]

Is this a useful accessory for Leica M users...or just another gimmick?

It's definitely useful IMO and I have learnt to prefer it. When I use an external viewfinder and need to take the thumbs up off, the camera feels a little strange for a few minutes. After a while I don't miss it, but it's always nice to put it back on. I also quite like the Leica grip, but haven't used it for more than a year. It's a little bulky. The thumbs up certainly doesn't have that problem.

Overall, I actually like the digital Leica shape (I have the M8) without accessories. It handles great, but the two accessories I use make one-handed use more comfortable.

 

[ferider]

I read somewhere there is one person in the world who managed to bend his flash shoe with a Thumbs up. Don't even know if it's a true story.... Have you seen this live?

Didn't even know about that story. Saying what I said because of physics, and I know the Thumbs-up would sooner or later get stuck in my sweater, jacket or bag. Think about a bottle opener, that's basically what a Thumbs-up is .... On the M240 I use the RRS grip, on the film Ms GMP grips, they do the job perfectly for me and are tripod plates as well. Of course, YMMV, we all have different hands, etc.

Roland.

 

[jaapv]

There have been or two reports of a thumbs-up working the hot shoe loose. It is held, after all, by just four mini-screws. Considering that there is a fair number in use without any issues, it should not pose a real problem, though.

 

[LCT]

No problem with mine on M240, M8.2 and Fuji X-E2. I would not do without them, especially on the Leicas that i feel too slippery as is.

 

[sleepyhead]

I use my M9 with a Thumbie (which is attached by strong, but removable, double-sided tape) combined with the Leica grip. For me, this combination turns the M9 into one of the most ergonomically-pleasing cameras I have ever used.

Sometimes, if using only a small lens, I'll use the regular camera baseplate instead of the Leica grip.

My reason for not getting a Thumbs Up was mainly because I do use an accessory viewfinder or electronic flash occasionally.