stevelap Posted November 6, 2009 Share #1 Posted November 6, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Existing or previous M8 owners will be aware of the Thumbs Up accessory (the original, not the cheap looking aluminium copy) from Tim Isaac at Match Technical Services Match Technical Services - Thumbs Up 1/3 but many new M9 owners might not be. This very handy and beautifully made device has proved very popular here and several different versions have been produced since its introduction a couple of years ago. Tim continues to work on evolved models, as well as other useful accessories. With the M8 I used the Leica Grip and never got around to trying a Thumbs Up, but with the M9 I've been so impressed by it that I probably won't bother with a grip this time. I have no financial or other links with Tim or Match Technical, but I've been very impressed with the top notch quality of the product and the excellent customer service he demonstrated in sourcing an original model for me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 6, 2009 Posted November 6, 2009 Hi stevelap, Take a look here Thumbs Up Revisited. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
john_newell Posted November 6, 2009 Share #2 Posted November 6, 2009 Just to add my $0.02, I have a CSEP-1 on my M8 and can't imagine using the camera without it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From Space Posted November 6, 2009 Share #3 Posted November 6, 2009 I too, can completely endorse the Thumbs Up. It has not left my M8 since I installed it. I'm ordering another for my M9... whenever my grey body on order arrives. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicanut2 Posted November 8, 2009 Share #4 Posted November 8, 2009 Yes I give the Thumbs Up two thumbs up a great item. Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted November 8, 2009 Share #5 Posted November 8, 2009 I do not hang more doodads on a M than absolutely necessary. And I have never had any problems with my right thumb on a whole line of M cameras. No lever? But for chrissake, when I shoot a film M, the thumb is not ON the lever but UNDER it! How else do you get off that quick second shot? The thumb rests on the rear face of the top plate, just as with my M9. I might just as well ask for a widget to anchor my nose. The old man from the Age of Thumb Wind-On Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrice Posted November 8, 2009 Share #6 Posted November 8, 2009 Fair enough Lars, just personal ergonomic preferences. I have in more recent months started using a cocked lever as a thumb hook to allow me to better hold my M6... and have consequently ordered a thumbs up CSEP-4 for my imminent M9. I also needed the dual accessory shoe for a wide angle finder and vernier polariser finder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted November 8, 2009 Share #7 Posted November 8, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) If I needed a Vernier Polariser Finder in order to use polarisers, I would either lay off polarisers, or buy an Nikon. The old man from the Age of Thumbs-On Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrice Posted November 8, 2009 Share #8 Posted November 8, 2009 Thanks for the opinion, I shoot landscape so time is not of the essence. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
manic Posted November 8, 2009 Share #9 Posted November 8, 2009 has anyone used a thumbs up in combination with a luigi case with a built-in grip? I am about to order the case and wondering if there is a need for both or if the grip is more than enough. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speenth Posted November 8, 2009 Share #10 Posted November 8, 2009 has anyone used a thumbs up in combination with a luigi case with a built-in grip? I am about to order the case and wondering if there is a need for both or if the grip is more than enough. The Thumbs Up and Luigi case with full grip make a perfect combination. Superbly comfortable in your hand and a great feeling of security and wieldiness - especially when tilting the camera into portrait. Don't forget to tell Luigi you'll be using a Thumbs Up - he will modify your case to fit it. To Lars, that old sage from the age of lighter Ms, I'd only say try it - you might be surprised. The Thumbs Up is the one gadget that truly makes a difference. I think this may be due to a combination of factors, but not least the weight of the M8/9 cameras and their greater thickness relative to earlier Ms. The greatest proof of its effectiveness is, having become used to the Thumbs Up, try using the M without it. The camera feels distinctly unsafe in your hands! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexc Posted November 8, 2009 Share #11 Posted November 8, 2009 The Thumbs Up and Luigi case with full grip make a perfect combination. Superbly comfortable in your hand and a great feeling of security and wieldiness - especially when tilting the camera into portrait. Don't forget to tell Luigi you'll be using a Thumbs Up - he will modify your case to fit it.! I already have Luigi case without cut out for Thumbs Up. It looks to me that every time I will need to remove the the case I will have to remove Thumbs up. Am I correct? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speenth Posted November 8, 2009 Share #12 Posted November 8, 2009 I already have Luigi case without cut out for Thumbs Up. It looks to me that every time I will need to remove the the case I will have to remove Thumbs up. Am I correct? No. The Thumbs Up stays in place all the time, it never makes contact with the Luigi case (as long as the case was specifically made to accommodate the Thumbs Up). Go here M8-and-Luigi-for-Web-001 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! to see some images of my kit to illustrate the relationship. You say your Luigi case has not been made to fit around a Thumbs Up. If so, then I'm afraid the Thumbs Up and your case cannot be used on the same camera - you will need to return your case to Luigi for modification. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest EarlBurrellPhoto Posted November 8, 2009 Share #13 Posted November 8, 2009 My colleague bought a Thumbs-Up, and insisted I should do likewise. I said it looked like disaster waiting to strike, and he dismissed me with a huff. Shortly thereafter he caught it on his camera bag whilst extracting the camera, which startled him and he lost his grip and it all went crashing to the ground. Fortunately it was indoors on carpet and nothing got damaged. A bit later, he managed to catch the strap of his second camera behind the Thumbs-Up on the first, and tore the flash shoe off the top. Ultimately he epoxied a plastic nub to the rear of the top plate as a thumb grip. He seems to have a need for it. Perhaps I've just got stickier thumbs than him I've not found a need for dressups of any sort on the M8. It's a tool, not a G.I. Joe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted November 8, 2009 Share #14 Posted November 8, 2009 Never tried the thumbs-up, but am waiting for Tim to make a two hot-shoe bracket for a wide finder and a GPS mounted at the same time, with a hot-shoe so the GPS or flash can trigger. Ready to prepay when you are Tim. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noah_addis Posted November 8, 2009 Share #15 Posted November 8, 2009 ... I've not found a need for dressups of any sort on the M8. It's a tool, not a G.I. Joe Couldn't agree more. I think the camera is very easy to hold as-is and have no desire to stick more stuff onto it. Same goes for cases, etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robofc Posted November 8, 2009 Share #16 Posted November 8, 2009 I recently purchased a CSEP-1 in silver to replace an older CS-3. The CS-3, which provides an cold shoe for viewfinders was the best accessory I have purchased for my M8. The CSEP has improved the angle of the curve for the thumb so it is more comfortable. The silver perfectly matches my chrome m8. I couldn't be happier. I am getting a grey M9 and will look for a grey paint version in the future. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
markowich Posted November 8, 2009 Share #17 Posted November 8, 2009 I too, can completely endorse the Thumbs Up. It has not left my M8 since I installed it. I'm ordering another for my M9... whenever my grey body on order arrives. this just underlines my opinion on the poor ergonomics of the M8/M9. it needs additional gadgets to hold it reasonably well. peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noah_addis Posted November 8, 2009 Share #18 Posted November 8, 2009 this just underlines my opinion on the poor ergonomics of the M8/M9. it needs additional gadgets to hold it reasonably well.peter While there is quite an industry around selling leica-related gadgets, I don't think the camera is difficult to hold in its original form. I often shoot all day with the M8/M9 with no fatigue and no problems with holding the camera. I'll admit that at first not having the wind lever seemed odd, but in practice it doesn't in any way affect my ability to hold the camera and work with it for extended assignments. Clearly this is a matter of personal opinion, but all of the M8/M9 shooters I know (or have run into on the road) have used the camera as-is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
markowich Posted November 8, 2009 Share #19 Posted November 8, 2009 While there is quite an industry around selling leica-related gadgets, I don't think the camera is difficult to hold in its original form. I often shoot all day with the M8/M9 with no fatigue and no problems with holding the camera. I'll admit that at first not having the wind lever seemed odd, but in practice it doesn't in any way affect my ability to hold the camera and work with it for extended assignments. Clearly this is a matter of personal opinion, but all of the M8/M9 shooters I know (or have run into on the road) have used the camera as-is. portrait mode is extremely uncomfortable. but maybe HCB never used it, p Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted November 8, 2009 Share #20 Posted November 8, 2009 HCB never had a M8, thats for sure. Not that it really matter for what goes on today. Never did know it was uncomfortable to photograph in portrait/vertical orientation. just do it and am happy. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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