An ergonomic idea for hand-held shooting

[Clarifixer]

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I've been fiddling around with ways to make hand-held shooting more comfortable and stable. I got an idea from target shooting where a palm rest is sometimes incorporated into the rifle stock for stability.

 

Lucky me, I have a machine shop in my basement, so I made a simple gizmo that incorporates an aluminum post with a plastic hemisphere held together with a 1/4-20 socket head cap screw. I made one of rosewood, too, but it didn't look as integral as the black. I tried screwing it straight into the tripod socket, which improved the feel, but it was too far back and my wrist still felt cramped. Then I installed a Really Right Stuff camera plate that has an extra 1/4-20 hole 25mm farther forward under the camera's lens receiver and screwed in the gizmo. Ahhhh! It feels wonderful to me to have the large curved surface in my left palm which allows the wrist to be much straighter and frees up the fingers for focusing and aperture adjustments. Very natural for my hands, and it can be screwed out in a couple of seconds so that the RRS plate can be utilized in the tripod ballhead.

 

Leica gear is certainly fantastic, but not being a purist, I've always found the B+W rubber hood to be great because it can be folded back, and gives good protection against little knocks without being damaged or dinged itself. This one is oversize, but I happened to have a brand new B+W 67mm 010 UV-Haze MRC filter with the hood and lens cap originally bought for another purpose and figured I might as well use it. I got a 55-67 adapter to screw it all together and figured a little extra shade depth would be a real plus.

 

Now I'm on a quest to find a neck strap that gives a healthy dose of comfort and utility...

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[pop]

Fascinating. also see http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/116569-ballpod.html

[bill]

Welcome. Be careful that Mr. K doesn't come knocking on your door for copyright infringement...

 

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...this from 2000...

 

There is nothing new under the (Rising) Sun...

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[Clarifixer]

Hah! There really ISN"T anything new under the sun. Jeez, I thought it was unique, and though I suppose there is some refinement in my approach, I can see it's an old idea.

[tobey bilek]

The best aid short of a tripod is a neck strap properly lengthened so it goes across neck, under the left arm, and is tensioned with the head and neck.

 

Left forefinger and thumb go on the lens little finger down.

 

This pulls the camera to the head limiting shake.

[gberger]

Another trick that I used in European museums:

 

I took one of those screw-in hand straps, removed the strap and tied a 7' length of stout cord into the D ring.

 

Step on the cord and draw it tight, as you lift the camera to your face, thus stabilizing the camera on the Y axis.

 

Not quiteas good as a monopod, but it does help.

[pop]

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tied a 7' length of stout cord into the D ring.

 

Step on the cord and draw it tight, as you lift the camera to your face, thus stabilizing the camera on the Y axis.

 

I tried that but the elasticity of the cord ruined it all. I ended up by shaking the camera quite noticeably.

[doubice]

Another trick that I used in European museums:

 

I took one of those screw-in hand straps, removed the strap and tied a 7' length of stout cord into the D ring.

 

Step on the cord and draw it tight, as you lift the camera to your face, thus stabilizing the camera on the Y axis.

 

Not quiteas good as a monopod, but it does help.

 

I tried that but the elasticity of the cord ruined it all. I ended up by shaking the camera quite noticeably.

 

I use the same contraption but, insted of a cord, which definitely has some elasticity to it, I use a metal chain. The smallest monopod under the sun!

 

Best,

 

Jan

[gberger]

I used cords from a discarded parachute. Several thin nylon lines within a nylon tube.

[jaapv]

These ideas have been proposed since photographers stopped dragging ash tripods around. However, there are a few objections to this kind of solution. It makes focussing nearly impossible, as the left hand is pushed down, and it makes it impossible to hold the camera properly. If one wants to shoot an M camera at low shutterspeeds, say 1/8th with a 35 mm lens - and that is quite possible - one has to hold the camera properly.

1. The elbows have to touch your body.

2. Hold the left hand with the palm upwards, like one is begging. ( Not too difficult, considering Leica prices )

3. Put the camera in the open left hand. the fingers wil now be able to focus the lens.

4. Hold the camera not too tightly with the right hand.

5 The index finger must be resting flat on the shutter release.

6. If possible, lean against a wall. Keep your legs slightly spread for stability.

7. Breath out, hold your breath and flex the index finger to release the camera.

 

If you want even slower speeds use a chest tripod. There are quite a few options, but the Leica mini tripod and ballhead will comfortably double as one. Shoot down to 1/2" with a 50 with confidence that way.

[dave_d]

Check out this neck strap. I have never used it but it is a neat idea: BlackRapid.com

[dave_d]

I took a similar approach to making my Leica more ergonomic by adding a set of bumper nuts. They come in chrome too.

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[jaapv]

They are brass, aren't they?

[Clarifixer]

1. The elbows have to touch your body.

2. Hold the left hand with the palm upwards, like one is begging. ( Not too difficult, considering Leica prices )

3. Put the camera in the open left hand. the fingers will now be able to focus the lens.

4. Hold the camera not too tightly with the right hand.

5. The index finger must be resting flat on the shutter release.

 

Yes, this is exactly what I was trying to accomplish with the gizmo. Having it positioned further out (the 25mm mentioned) from the longitudinal center line of the camera body actually feels more balanced to me because it is more at the center of gravity of the lens AND camera mass. In addition, my left wrist is more naturally straight and relaxed with the domed extension rather than being a bit cramped up when the palm is in direct contact with the camera bottom. Another benefit is that with the elbows tucked in for stability, the camera is held a little higher off the hand so one's head and neck can be held a bit straighter and relaxed rather than crunching down a bit to look through the viewfinder.

 

It would take some head scratching to figure a way to do this with an M series because of the tripod socket being off to the side, but it works great for the R.

 

The Abrahamsson Softrelease button helps the index finger (point #5) to be nice and flat, too.

[Clarifixer]

I took a similar approach to making my Leica more ergonomic by adding a set of bumper nuts. They come in chrome too.

 

Ha! That is hilarious!

[Guest]

I've been fiddling around with ways to make hand-held shooting more comfortable and stable. I got an idea from target shooting where a palm rest is sometimes incorporated into the rifle stock for stability.

 

Lucky me, I have a machine shop in my basement, so I made a simple gizmo that incorporates an aluminum post with a plastic hemisphere held together with a 1/4-20 socket head cap screw. I made one of rosewood, too, but it didn't look as integral as the black. I tried screwing it straight into the tripod socket, which improved the feel, but it was too far back and my wrist still felt cramped. Then I installed a Really Right Stuff camera plate that has an extra 1/4-20 hole 25mm farther forward under the camera's lens receiver and screwed in the gizmo. Ahhhh! It feels wonderful to me to have the large curved surface in my left palm which allows the wrist to be much straighter and frees up the fingers for focusing and aperture adjustments. Very natural for my hands, and it can be screwed out in a couple of seconds so that the RRS plate can be utilized in the tripod ballhead.

 

Leica gear is certainly fantastic, but not being a purist, I've always found the B+W rubber hood to be great because it can be folded back, and gives good protection against little knocks without being damaged or dinged itself. This one is oversize, but I happened to have a brand new B+W 67mm 010 UV-Haze MRC filter with the hood and lens cap originally bought for another purpose and figured I might as well use it. I got a 55-67 adapter to screw it all together and figured a little extra shade depth would be a real plus.

 

Now I'm on a quest to find a neck strap that gives a healthy dose of comfort and utility...

 

Could we see a picture how you actualy hold the camera, Tim?

 

Best regards,

Simon

[jaapv]

Yes, but how do you focus ?

Yes, this is exactly what I was trying to accomplish with the gizmo. Having it positioned further out (the 25mm mentioned) from the longitudinal center line of the camera body actually feels more balanced to me because it is more at the center of gravity of the lens AND camera mass. In addition, my left wrist is more naturally straight and relaxed with the domed extension rather than being a bit cramped up when the palm is in direct contact with the camera bottom. Another benefit is that with the elbows tucked in for stability, the camera is held a little higher off the hand so one's head and neck can be held a bit straighter and relaxed rather than crunching down a bit to look through the viewfinder.

 

It would take some head scratching to figure a way to do this with an M series because of the tripod socket being off to the side, but it works great for the R.

 

The Abrahamsson Softrelease button helps the index finger (point #5) to be nice and flat, too.

[MarkP]

I took a similar approach to making my Leica more ergonomic by adding a set of bumper nuts. They come in chrome too.

 

 

Well at least we know to address your camera as Herr and not Frau:rolleyes: