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We owe much to John Milich and his creativity in devising accessories for our lenses. I'd like to point out another creative source for M8 accessories. He is Tim Isaac.

 

Tim has produced "Thumbs Up" which serves to replace the winder of previous M's as a brace for your thumb. Mine arrived yesterday and it is nothing short of amazing. In addition to providing a firm grip on the camera, it has changed my normal holding position. Previously when I picked up the camera the tip of my index finger naturally fell on the shutter release. With Thumbs Up attached, the meaty part of the second joint of the index finger falls on the release. This lets me shoot by just squeezing the whole camera rather than by jabbing my index finger... much smoother. This is one of those $100 accessoies that are worth taking a chance on given the cost of the whole kit.

 

You can find a very long thread on Thumbs Up on RFF. Tim has posted shots of thumbs up on: Flickr: Photos from Fotogo. This site also shows a lens coding templaite that he has under developement.

 

Tim can be reached at timyzik@comcast.net.

 

I have no financial interest in Tim's products, but a great admiration for the creativity of people like John and Tim.

 

Mike

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That's great! Whatever it takes to improve the handling of the M8 is a welcome addition. Has anyone used this in combination of the grip? Is that too much of a good thing or does it work just as well as without?

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That's great! Whatever it takes to improve the handling of the M8 is a welcome addition. Has anyone used this in combination of the grip? Is that too much of a good thing or does it work just as well as without?

 

I use it with the Leica grip, and it is a terrific combination. I often use heavier lenses (Noctilux, etc.), yet can still confidently handle the camera with one hand while using this combination.

 

The Thumbs Up is a really fine accessory, and we should be very thankful that Tim Isaacs was so creative and diligent!

 

Regards,

 

Tony C.

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Looks like a great idea, but is there a risk of applying excessive, twisting pressure to the flash shoe in a way that was never intended?

 

That's a concern which others have raised, but the fact is that unless one intentionally presses directly up (and hard!) on the thumb end of the device, there is no way to damage the shoe.

 

You'll find that when used correctly (and naturally), the vast majority of the pressure falls harmlessly on the upper rear plate of the M8. It would take either a remarkable act of stupidity, or incredibly bad luck (i.e. dropping the camera and having the Thumbs Up struck at the wrong angle) to damage the shoe.

 

Regards,

 

Tony C.

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Guest tummydoc
That's a concern which others have raised, but the fact is that unless one intentionally presses directly up (and hard!) on the thumb end of the device, there is no way to damage the shoe.

 

How about if it got snagged on the strap and pulled away from the body and/or upward? I'm sure there are mechanical engineers here who could supply the actual computations, but the top-plate is a relatively thin casting and the Thumbs-Up is quite a long lever. I believe the maker ought offer to "piggy-back" a warranty on top of the Leica warranty as Cameraleather does, in case of the odd happenstance the camera should be damaged as a result of the Thumbs-Up and Leica disallows sorting it under warranty. Until then as concerns my own M8 I'll have to give it a thumbs-down.

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How about if it got snagged on the strap and pulled away from the body and/or upward? ... Until then as concerns my own M8 I'll have to give it a thumbs-down.

 

Feel free to turn it down, and to apply all of the mathematical computations that you like. I can assert with confidence, having actually used the device for several weeks, that getting it snagged on a strap (or anything else) is highly unlikely to cause harm. It would take a major blow at an upward angle to threaten the shoe.

 

There are probably hundreds of people using it already, and I won't be holding my breath in anticipation of the first flash shoe damage report.

 

Regards,

 

Tony C.

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Guest tummydoc

It intrigues me how some people take personally any criticism of something they've purchased as if their intelligence was being called into question. I wonder, is it a self-esteem issue?

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It intrigues me how some people take personally any criticism of something they've purchased as if their intelligence was being called into question. I wonder, is it a self-esteem issue?

 

That's a penetrating psychological insight, cleverly disguised as an ad hominem argument.

 

Yes, low self-esteem is why I have offered my perspective, including specific impressions based on my use of the device, on the concern raised by you and others.

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Guest tummydoc

Science universally acknowledges that mathematical theory is a more accurate and reliable basis for conclusion than anecdotal evidence. However the most accurate and reliable is valid experimental data. I have not read where the Thumbs-Up inventor tested the device to determine the minimum amount of force necessary to cause damage to the camera, which I would think would be a reasonable step in R&D.

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