M8 Prototype Grip Up at Rapidwinder.com

[CameraQuest]

Tom pointed out to me he felt the M8 needed the advance lever to help grip the camera. After shooting with a loaner M8 for a week, I agreed with him.

see the drawings of his prototype M8 grip at http://www.rapidwinder.com

Stephen

[Harry Lime]

Hmmmmmm.....

I never use a grip, but I'm so sure how crazy I am about the ribbed handle.

[CameraQuest]

Hmmmmmm.....

I never use a grip, but I'm so sure how crazy I am about the ribbed handle.

if I am not mistaken, the "rib" slots are to store SD cards

Stephen

[ywenz]

You mean the cards are spring loaded in the rib slots? other wise, ahem.. thumbs down for the look.

[Sailor Ted]

Ribbed for her pleasure or not I like my Leica spec handle as it perfectly matches the camera's finish and significantly improves ergonomics IMO.

[kaiyen]

Wow. How many SD cards does Tom think one would need? :-) There are like 8 slots there.

allan

[Harry Lime]

if I am not mistaken, the "rib" slots are to store SD cards

Stephen

Actually it looks like there is a compartment in the base for a SD card, that would be hidden between the baseplate and the grip.

Maybe Tom is trying to save some weight with the ribbed handle.

Now what would be really clever is if the grip handle held a spare battery...

[B&W Norway]

Why???
Leica made a perfect one

[BrianPhotog]

umm...

there's nothing to wind on the M8.

[HAnkg]

I believe the cut outs are to save weight. Common in Bicycle components. I am not sure how comfortable the cut-outs will be. Looks like it will require a lot of finishing to round all those edges.

[ywenz]

Why not just expand the current Leica Grip to accomodate for the thicker M8 and then just keep with the stock look... This one looks like a dildo

I'm sure the asian makers will soon come out with a replica Leica M grip and put it on ebay.

[Tom A]

The cut-outs are indeed to save weight. The full-length baseplate adds material and weight.

There is a space in the baseplate of the grip that can store an extra SD card.

The slots in the grip are slanted downward to provide a more secure hold and, yes they will be chamfered to avoid a too sharp an edge.

There will also be a 1/4" 20 tpi tripod bushing in the base of the grip (not enough space for that in the actual baseplate because of the SD card slot).

Best,
Tom A

Tom Abrahamsson
Vancouver, BC
Canada
rapidwinder.com

[Gabriel M.A.]

This one looks like a dildo
This is an inkblot test?

[boilerdoc2]

Tom, I like it. Especially the SD storage. Would it be possible to machine a dovetail for rapid release tripod mounting? Then, it would be perfect. Thanks.....Steve

[HAnkg]

The full-length baseplate adds material and weight.
Does the grip baseplate replace the Leica baseplate or is it added on top of it?

[Tom A]

Tom, I like it. Especially the SD storage. Would it be possible to machine a dovetail for rapid release tripod mounting? Then, it would be perfect. Thanks.....Steve

Steve,
unfortunately there is not enough material on the base to accommodate a dovetail "slot". To do that I would have to add more thickness to the base and subsequent weight.

There will be a tripod bushing at the base of the actual grip and there is no reason why that could not hold the dovetail part of a mount.
All the best,
Tom A

Tom Abrahamsson
Vancouver, BC
Canada
rapidwinder.com

[Benny Boy]

Unfortunately, this design does not follow the Bauhaus principals that influenced the original Leica M design. A better design for the Leica M body would look essentially like the M winder and grip. A hole tube could be used for the grip portion, with a knurled surface band matching the height of and lining up with the leatherette.

[Didier]

Tom pointed out to me he felt the M8 needed the advance lever to help grip the camera ... see the drawings of his prototype M8 grip at http://www.rapidwinder.com

The grip looks cool. But the picture looks magenta :D
Didier

[HAnkg]

Unfortunately, this design does not follow the Bauhaus principals that influenced the original Leica M design.

The guiding principal of the Bauhaus was "form follows function". The cut outs are not there for ornamentation they are there to reduce weight. It would seem Tom is aiming for as functional, streamlined and ergonomic a solution as is possible.

[peter_n]

Tom got the ergonomics of his regular Leica grip absolutely perfect. Remember this is a prototype drawing and not even a model yet. There is a ways to go and he will get it right.

[Gabriel M.A.]

The grip looks cool. But the picture looks magenta :D
I'd go and check with your optometrist, that's a serious condition if you see magenta there :o

[Tom A]

Does the grip baseplate replace the Leica baseplate or is it added on top of it?

Good Evening Hank,

it is added on the top.

FYI I have just enclosed some explanatory notes to the
3D-drawings at

www.rapidwinder.com (http://www.rapidwinder.com)

regarding planned timing and other details.

I hope these notes will answer the questions I have received
so far.

I will add information to the website as we go along.


Best,
Tom A

Tom Abrahamsson
Vancouver, BC
Canada
www.rapidwinder.com (http://www.rapidwinder.com)

[Didier]

I'd go and check with your optometrist, that's a serious condition if you see magenta there :o

Must be reddotitis solmsensis.

Another useful option for the grip would be a inbuilt case for the various IR filters, wouldn't it?

Didier

[rxmd]

What I don't like about it is that it is likely to make the M8 a whole lot bulkier, like the older Rapidgrips. The camera will looks like a DSLR with it and probably feel like one, too, specially since the grip is meant for bigger lenses.

Also, with the ribbed design all sorts of gunk will probably collect inside the grip.

Philipp

[Sailor Ted]

Well I really like my Leica grip- not bulky and matches the finish of my M8 perfectly. Also it replaces the M8's standard bottom plate so it keeps the weight down. I really can't complain.

[giulioz]

I want one in green.

Giulio

[freecitizen]

Hello Mr Abrahamsson

It would be nice to have a tripod socket in the same place as the M2, M3, M4, M6 and M7, etc .... so that the Leica lens carrier accessory could be used.

I find this to be the most useful accessory Leica makes when used on my M6. It not only is tremendously handy for carrying a second lens ( no bag required ), but gives additional weight and gripping point so that I can handhold at very slow speeds quite easily.The older lens carrier cannot be used on the M8 because of the repositioning of the tripod socket to the centre on that camera. Leica have not said they will be making a lens carrier for the M8.

Perhaps you could make a new type of carrier which fits on the bottom of your new M8 grip, or, indeed the leica M8 grip where the tripod hole is central.... detachable of course .... or put an extra tripod socket hole in your new grip so the existing Leica lens carrier could be used.

Also, neither the Leica M8 grip, nor the standard M8 baseplate, has the tripod socket aligned with the lens axis. It would be great if yours could .... for easy stitching/panoramas when used on a tripod. I do not understand why Leica did not do this in their original design for the M8.

Hope this gives some constructive food for thought.

[Benny Boy]

Hank,

The Bauhaus did utilize a form follows function principal but that did not yield to the use of pure geometric forms in a balanced relationship. If it was simply form follows function, the M body would not look like it does at all. Instead, it has a deliberately and strictly geometric form comprising a rectangular parallelpiped with half-circular cylinders added to opposite ends. The M winder design follows these design ques by simply using a circular cylinder for the grip.

This prototype grip is more organic in shape and would look good strapped to the Terminator. It certainly looks like it was created by a different designer or designers than of the M body and does not do justice to the elegant design of the M body.

[Robert Price]

I don't own an M8 so I really have no need for this grip. But if I could interject for a moment. What you are doing is really cool. Leica cameras have always facinated me and one day I hope to own one.

[Stan98103]

Tom,

How about adding a slot at the bottom of the plate below the handgrip so that it would be possible to attach a wrist strap to the camera using that slot and the eyelet on the camera. Alternately, this slot could be used to attach the neck strap so that the camera would hang vertically rather than horizonally.

Thanks,

Stan

[Harry Lime]

;) :D Hank,

The Bauhaus did utilize a form follows function principal but that did not yield to the use of pure geometric forms in a balanced relationship. If it was simply form follows function, the M body would not look like it does at all. Instead, it has a deliberately and strictly geometric form comprising a rectangular parallel-piped with half-circular cylinders added to opposite ends. The M winder design follows these design queues by simply using a circular cylinder for the grip.

This prototype grip is more organic in shape and would look good strapped to the Terminator. It certainly looks like it was created by a different designer or designers than of the M body and does not do justice to the elegant design of the M body.


What Benny said.


Tom, I love your Rapidwinder and the softrelease, but I have to admit that I'm not too crazy about the ribbed handle on the grip.

Benny gives a very good explanation why the ribbed handle clashes aesthetically with the shape and design principles of the M body.

It sort of makes the M8 look a little mismatched, like a tuxedo with brown shoes... Nothing wrong with either on it's own, but together... :)

Cheers,


HL

[Sailor Ted]

It sort of makes the M8 look like a tuxedo with brown shoes... ;)

Or a studded dog collar!

[HAnkg]

Is there some patent restrictions that don't allow the replacement of the Leica bottom plate? That really saddles the design of any 3rd party grip with a big design drawback right out of the box.

[Peter Klein]

Might I point out that on a black Leica, the ribbed design will look far less obtrusive when the brass shown in the drawing is painted black like the camera? I don't know how the ribs would look with a chrome body where the vulcanite shows through the ribs, but for black, it ought to blend in well.

Grips are a very personal thing. Some people will like one kind, some will like others. Depends on the size of your hands, what lenses you use, your aesthetic sense, and occasionally, the phase of the moon.

To me, the (film) RapidGrip looks and feels big on an M. But it is very comfortable and stable, especially for someone with large hands. It's really good with heavy lenses like the Noct, 90/2 Summicrons, 75/1.4 Summilux.

The Leica grip for film M's matches smaller lenses better, but is less comfortable than Tom's.

--Peter

[ywenz]

The ribbed design will also trap a lot of dirt and grease inside the rib slots.. Imagine having a coffee+biscuit with your M8 and then having all the crumbs inside the grip..

[Sailor Ted]

The ribbed design will also trap a lot of dirt and grease inside the rib slots.. Imagine having a coffee+biscuit with your M8 and then having all the crumbs inside the grip..

Then imagine taking a macro shot of the aftermath for the notorious camera and coffee section on this site :eek:

[cnguyen]

ribbed handle will be caked with dirt and grimes. Why not make it solid grip. I shoot my M w/o grip anyway.

[Robert Price]

Every one is complaining about the "ribbed" handle. It will save some weight. If it gets dirty just clean it is all. I don't see any one else making a grip fro the M8. If you don't like it don't buy it. If you want to change it well, add some constructive comments.

I like the design myself, I think it is innovative and a step away from traditional accessories. I think a dove tail could be put into the design, a thicker base plate could be done and hollowed out to lower the over all weight.

Also as a side note, a solid grip could easily be done to, for thoes that don't like the skelatonized look.

[Tom A]

The design of my M8 grip follows my philosophy of making something that works well and is built to last. The Leica grips, both the standard M grip and the M8 grip have a flaw and a serious one at that. There is no "lip" at the top to prevent it from sliding out of your hand! I find that critical, both when holding the camera and when hauling it out of the shoulder bag. The grip should be solid enough that you can safely lift the camera and a heavy lens by the grip only!
As for biscotti crumbs accumulating in the grip - highly unlikely as they would escape through the same slots or you can carefully shake the camera over the piazza and feed the birds.
To my knowledge there is no "patent" for the regular baseplate of a M8, but I also wanted to add the SD card storage and have the grip's full base serve as a protective surface for the base plate.
To the comment that it looked like a dildo I will only say *please remove it from the M8 first*!
All the best for now,
Tom A

Tom Abrahamsson
Vancouver, BC
Canada
www.rapidwinder.com (http://www.rapidwinder.com)

[jamriman]

Tom A, more power to ya!

[NIKON KIU]

In Case we forgot to say,

Welcome Tom A.

We are glad to have you aboard.

Regards,


Kiu

[Robert Price]

To the comment that it looked like a dildo I will only say *please remove it from the M8 first*!
All the best for now,
Tom A

Tom Abrahamsson
Vancouver, BC
Canada
www.rapidwinder.com (http://www.rapidwinder.com)


HAHAHAHA! I wish I had a M8. I would be the first to buy one. But not for the the above reason.

I think the grip is an AWESOME IDEA!!!

Keep up the great work, I look forward to seeing the progress or your work.

[Gabriel M.A.]

Then imagine taking a macro shot of the aftermath for the notorious camera and coffee section on this site :eek:
I imagine it'll be (drumroll please...) poiple!

[Gabriel M.A.]

The design of my M8 grip follows my philosophy of making something that works well and is built to last.
I will pay for things built with that philosophy. It's also ecologically-friendly ;)

How many "cheap" things have ended in the garbage bin, costing more in the end to by being replaced and/or fixed numerous times.

[Bob Parsons]

For those who think the cutouts will accumulate dirt I wonder if heat shrink plastic sleeving would be a solution? I can see there might be a problem due to the sleeving not following the concave contour at the back of the grip. You could have a choice of most colors. :D

Bob.