Thumbs Up

[popum]

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

[RichC]

I have to agree - and was so impressed that I put a short review on my bit of the web: Photography: Review - Tim Isaac's Thumbs Up

[john_nyc]

I have a Model 3. It's vastly improved the handling of the camera for my hands.

Tim did a fantastic job designing and executing it and even the packaging is well done.

John

[AGeoJO]

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?

[Tony C.]

Originally Posted by AGeoJO

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.

[AGeoJO]

Thankis, Tony. Yup, I am buying one! Boy, that took a lot of arm-twisting, huh ?

[gesper]

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?

[Tony C.]

Originally Posted by gesper

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.

[gesper]

Thanks. Per AGeoJO's question, is anyone using it in combination with the handgrip?

[tummydoc]

Originally Posted by Tony C.

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.

[Tony C.]

Originally Posted by tummydoc

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.

[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?

[stunsworth]

I don't see anything in what Tony wrote implying that he felt his intelligence had been insulted, just a response from someone who'd actually used the device rather than just theorised about it.

[Tony C.]

Originally Posted by 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?

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.

[popum]

I use it with the grip and it provides an exceptionally stable platform.

Mike

[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.

[guy]

And an added bonus is that the choice of font gives your $5000 camera that "cheap toy" feel!

Seriously, the lettering looks like it should be on a Holga.

[stunsworth]

This is hardly the space shuttle we're building here.

If you want to know if a hammer is big enough to crack open a nut it's sometimes easier to hit the damm thing with the hammer and find out rather than spend a month modelling the situation.

[stunsworth]

Ah I see you've edit your response to take out the reference to the world thankfully not depending on Tony or myself for it's survival. I can't speak for Tony, but it's something that personally I am eternally grateful for.

[guidomo]

The font is what put me off. Seriously, I had been following the RFF thread for weeks as this thing was being developed but when he showed the final picture...ugh. Maybe I'm being picky but that thing does not get near my M8!