X1 Thumb Grip

[Cirrus]

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I'm lucky to have a friend in the area who uses Leicas and is a watch maker and has made some small parts and changes to my M8 and M9. He uses an X1 also and has come up with something that makes the camera *a lot* easier to use and he just did it to my camera last night. The part is made of brass (he told me it could be steel or aluminum for the color of the part) and it is covered in a gripping material he has used on his M8 cameras. It is attached to the right side LCD frame with epoxy. It is a world of difference--the camera fits in the hand now for the first time. My thumb just falls on top of the bar and hooks around it for a real grip. Because the bar raises the thumb it also keeps it away from the controls. The camera is so much easier to use. It's amazing that a little thing makes such a difference. Also, this looks a lot better in person than in the photo, although I'd stick a dead squirrel on the back of the camera if it made this much difference. I wish Leica had tried holding the camera after they styled it and come up with something like this on their own.

Dan

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[wda]

A possible solution if you do not have the hand-grip which transforms holding the camera immensely.

[Cirrus]

I do and have used the hand grip. That doesn't solve the problem of where the thumb goes. The hand grip deals with the problem of the front of the camera.

This makes the camera much more comfortable and secure and doesn't add the weight and bulk of the hand grip, taking it off to change the battery, etc. I suppose everyone's hand is different, but mine doesn't fit this camera with or without the grip.

Dan

[terrycioni]

I'm lucky to have a friend in the area who uses Leicas and is a watch maker and has made some small parts and changes to my M8 and M9. He uses an X1 also and has come up with something that makes the camera *a lot* easier to use and he just did it to my camera last night. The part is made of brass (he told me it could be steel or aluminum for the color of the part) and it is covered in a gripping material he has used on his M8 cameras. It is attached to the right side LCD frame with epoxy. It is a world of difference--the camera fits in the hand now for the first time. My thumb just falls on top of the bar and hooks around it for a real grip. Because the bar raises the thumb it also keeps it away from the controls. The camera is so much easier to use. It's amazing that a little thing makes such a difference. Also, this looks a lot better in person than in the photo, although I'd stick a dead squirrel on the back of the camera if it made this much difference. I wish Leica had tried holding the camera after they styled it and come up with something like this on their own.

Dan

 

Dan, I am curious about the camera strap you are using... would you be so kind as to let me (us) know where that came from, etc.

 

Best regards, Terry

[grober]

Interesting idea. My only problem would be that I could now no longer slide the camera into any fitted case like the Leica bottom-of-the-line leather case.

 

I'm still hoping for a rubbery bump to put on the front of the camera so my right hand's fingers can get some purchase. (I don't like the Leica grip -- too big and clunky.)

 

-g

[Cirrus]

My friend who made the thumb grip, Walt, also made the strap. I just asked him and he said it's utility cord that he bought at camping supply and is rated for 400 pounds. Its' used on backbacks and things like that. It's attached with nylon tie wraps like those for electronics wiring and he insisted on two per side as you can see in the photograph. It's much less bulky and much more flexible than the leather strap that came with the camera and much better for a light camera like this.

 

I use the Leica transport case, the brown leather one, and the camera goes in fine with the thumb grip on it. I don't know about the other cases though. I've been using the camera over the weekend and what a difference with the thumb grip. Like night and day! I've asked a few people on the forum where they put their thumb and no one has answered. Before this grip I had to put it on the upper right corner of the screen and that was much too slippery. I think you would find that with this you wouldn't need a grip on the front. A small one would be good but I think the grip Leica sells is completely against the whole idea of this camera.

 

Dan

[terrycioni]

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My friend who made the thumb grip, Walt, also made the strap. I just asked him and he said it's utility cord that he bought at camping supply and is rated for 400 pounds. Its' used on backbacks and things like that. It's attached with nylon tie wraps like those for electronics wiring and he insisted on two per side as you can see in the photograph. It's much less bulky and much more flexible than the leather strap that came with the camera and much better for a light camera like this.

 

I use the Leica transport case, the brown leather one, and the camera goes in fine with the thumb grip on it. I don't know about the other cases though. I've been using the camera over the weekend and what a difference with the thumb grip. Like night and day! I've asked a few people on the forum where they put their thumb and no one has answered. Before this grip I had to put it on the upper right corner of the screen and that was much too slippery. I think you would find that with this you wouldn't need a grip on the front. A small one would be good but I think the grip Leica sells is completely against the whole idea of this camera.

 

Dan

 

Thank you Dan, great stuff....

 

Terry

[PayPerView]

I want one...As I said in my other thread. I have dropped (and caught) the X1 3 out of 4 times. Today I dropped it through sheer stupidity...too embarrassed to share how...but luckily i managed to break the fall with my foot and only dinged the bottom plate...

[markpsf]

So idiosyncratic obviously, depending on our hand sizes, style preferences, and personal comfort.

 

I use the Leica grip and a wrist strap from Luigi. I've never had a more comfortable and easy to use camera with this combo.

 

This is not at all a recommendation. I'm sure this combo wouldn't work for many others.

 

 

Mark

[PayPerView]

So idiosyncratic obviously, depending on our hand sizes, style preferences, and personal comfort.

 

I use the Leica grip and a wrist strap from Luigi. I've never had a more comfortable and easy to use camera with this combo.

 

This is not at all a recommendation. I'm sure this combo wouldn't work for many others.

 

 

Mark

 

well, its what I am going with as well. I got through my add and Luigi's and attempted to email him..

 

I don't know if I will ever be able to get anything from Luigi as that site makes me crazy and he is clearly overwhelmed, an artist and ......Italian!

 

lol... Can someone just order it for me??? please!!!

[markpsf]

I do know exactly what you mean when ordering from Luigi , but he is overloaded and I always find out that he eventually responds. He also has hand tailored more than one strap for me.

 

You probably do all of these but just in case...

 

I always place my order via eBay, always follow-up with both a regular e-mail message to him as well as sending him a message via eBay, and then communicate occasionally via regular e-mail when I haven't gotten a response within a few days.

 

I always find what I want through the Leicatime site first.

 

For me it's worth the wait and I always feel like I'm dealing with an old friend or, as in the old days, with a local craftsman.

 

You could tell him that I suggested you annoy him. He'd probably roll his eyes, laugh, and still have you wait a couple more weeks!

 

Mark

[PayPerView]

I do know exactly what you mean when ordering from Luigi , but he is overloaded and I always find out that he eventually responds. He also has hand tailored more than one strap for me.

 

You probably do all of these but just in case...

 

I always place my order via eBay, always follow-up with both a regular e-mail message to him as well as sending him a message via eBay, and then communicate occasionally via regular e-mail when I haven't gotten a response within a few days.

 

I always find what I want through the Leicatime site first.

 

For me it's worth the wait and I always feel like I'm dealing with an old friend or, as in the old days, with a local craftsman.

 

You could tell him that I suggested you annoy him. He'd probably roll his eyes, laugh, and still have you wait a couple more weeks!

 

Mark

 

good idea...I will look on ebay and go that route!

[PayPerView]

I do know exactly what you mean when ordering from Luigi , but he is overloaded and I always find out that he eventually responds. He also has hand tailored more than one strap for me.

 

You probably do all of these but just in case...

 

I always place my order via eBay, always follow-up with both a regular e-mail message to him as well as sending him a message via eBay, and then communicate occasionally via regular e-mail when I haven't gotten a response within a few days.

 

I always find what I want through the Leicatime site first.

 

For me it's worth the wait and I always feel like I'm dealing with an old friend or, as in the old days, with a local craftsman.

 

You could tell him that I suggested you annoy him. He'd probably roll his eyes, laugh, and still have you wait a couple more weeks!

 

Mark

 

 

Thanks again for the idea to order via ebay..ordered for the M9 but can't find the x1 case on ebay..if you can send me a link I would owe you bigtime!

[ChiILX1]

You guys should check out the X1 ThumbsUp- non destructive

[h00ligan]

Holy Cow. Put the thumbs up on my x1 today.... Wow is it fantastic. I haven't tested yet but I'm guessing it will add two stops for hand holding (the x1 is really hard to hold at low ss imo). It really is GREAT for my hands. Night and day. Yes it is VERY expensive for a chunk of metal but I get it. It's a guy making them after his real job.

 

It is way better than leica's grip imo.

 

Fwiw I'm 6'5" and my hand measures about 8.5-9 inches palm to middle finger tip. My 4'10" girlfriend could not reap the benefits as her hand was to small and she had to stretch to reach it.

 

I'm guessing anyone over 5'3"-5'5" will greatly benefit and honestly leica should pay him a patent fee and this should come stock.

 

I know the complaint about it making the camera rest differently in the body when not in use. All I can say is I use mine or put it in a bag. No problem here.

 

Thumbs up to the thumbsup for x1.