What accessories do you have on your digital M?

[OurManInTangier]

After meeting up with everyone on the Euro Meet this year in Florence and getting to play with Yannick's M9 and Kully's 'funkified' M8 I decided it was time to get some accessories for my M8. Both Kully and Yannick have versions of the 'Thumbs Up' grip which I found to be a revelation. On returning home I immediately ordered one from Robert White and am overjoyed with my new purchase. SimonSawSunlight also let me use one of his convex soft releases which is now next on my list.

So, I wonder what accessories others have, why they got them and what they think the benefits are?

 

[Roger Hicks]

None at all. The camera is big enough already. Well, all right, finders for wide lenses, and a Viso III.

Cheers,

R.

 

[OurManInTangier]

Some people love the Luigi half case on their M8/9 but I found this made the camera slightly too bulky for my liking. The Thumbs Up grip really helps to keep a comfortable hold on the camera IMO without making the body feel larger than it is already. However I've always been one to use the film advance lever as a kind of thumb grip so I guess it feels quite natural for me.

Roger, my knowledge of RF cameras is meagre in the extreme so you may have to explain to me what a visoflex is😱....sorry to be a wally.

 

[jaapv]

Extensive Visoflex system, SOMKY, R-M adapter,a number of viewfinders, handgrip, a collection of flashes,Leica table tripod+ballhead,and non functional: Engravings and special leather.

 

[ramosa]

i use the luigi half-case. always have, so it seems normal to me. i like the sense of protection that comes with using it.

 

[bottley1]

Kenko vernier polariser viewer and filters, cannot live without 'em

 

[jsrockit]

An Artisan & Artist strap.

 

[furcafe]

Accessories unique to the digital M bodies? Other than the UV/IR filters for the M8, zero.

 

[dof]

I use one of the 1.25x viewfinder magnifiers with lenses longer than 50mm. It complements the .68 magnification of the digital models very well.

Typically this is only for the 75mm in my case as I find 90 is a hair too long for general use on the M8.

 

[popeye]

I missed the flash connector on the back of the M8 so I stuck a nice clear rubber bumper there so my thumb could rest on it as I did/do on my M6... And the filters mentioned above by furcafe.

 

[blimey]

ThumbsUp and Japan Exposure's 1.15x magnifier.

 

[maggieo]

When needed, 21mm and 28mm finders, the occasional flash and a Mr. B Softrelease. And a strap.

 

[Ricko of Fla]

Luigi Camera strap & soft release (Luigi) and correction lens 1.5 for glass wears, Me

 

[msbel]

artist and artisan half case, VF eyecup, thumbs-up, soft release, 1.15 magnifier with built-in diopter dial (can you tell I wear glasses?)

 

[peewee]

I agree that the thumbs up is a revelation, i really love holding my M8 with it.

 

[j_fletcher]

14 posts and no one has said "black tape to cover the dot, for stealth." !!!
I just use a strap and a finder for the 15mm.

 

[jamato8]

I have a bunch of older stuff, including the screw mount close-up piece for the Summitar on my IIIC. I have the Viso I and III and bellows for the I and the III. Filters for my Summitar and I don't know, stuff stored. I used to work in a camera store and the owners passion was collecting Leica's. He had one of the largest collection for some time and then sold it all off. This was back in the 1970's. So I saw all types of odd and different attachments. Interesting but most I would never have a use for.

What I am finding that although I use a half case I prefer nothing but often in my work cameras get banged around I don't care about my SLR's but my Leica, oh that is tuff. :^)

Edit: Ok, when going abroad, tape on the red dot.

 

[jaapv]

Edit: Ok, when going abroad, tape on the red dot.

Furriners being more dumb and not recognizing a Leica in that case?😛

 

[dreamsandart]

Well... lets see, in total but not all of them at the same time;

Thumbs-Up CSEP mod 1, the #1 accessory and on all the time, cold shoe for my external finders and really adds to the hold.

Next is the Match Technical Service black 'bip', the best soft release I've used and just adds a nice feel to the release.

An Artisan&Artiest silk cord (white) ACAM-304 strap which is soft and comfortable, warps around the lens for storage/protection, and long enough for the across the chest style of use, and quick tying a small knot gives it the perfect length for the alternative over the neck and higher up in front.

Have a Ziess 21mm external finder which I love for its sharp big and amazingly very bright(!) view and matches the 24 Elmarit frame almost perfectly (Its black paint also matches the M9 BP).

A Leica 1.25x magnifier for those times I want my 50mm to be more life size in the finder or just a bigger view with a 90mm.

A Visoflex III to use with my 90mm Summicron with a short Viso focus mount for that ground glass (to see the depth of field) and 'reflex feeling' closer view (have an M-bellows too and can mount my 50 Summicron head for really close use).

A Leitz table top tripod with large head lets me put the camera on any flat surface (table, floor/ground, wall.. or non-flat against the chest, or as a 'gun-stock' into the shoulder) for slower shutter speeds.

And finally... a Leica black dot. Not that it does anything really useful, but with a black paint M9 sure looks nice 😎

 

[jamato8]

Furriners being more dumb and not recognizing a Leica in that case?😛

Nope, do that everywhere.