enboe Posted December 23, 2014 Share #21 Posted December 23, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I strongly believe that the original poster can come up with a workable configuration, maybe not as fast as regular users, but workable. In the spirit of putting options on the table, I don't recall seeing the Leica X series cameras on the options list. My old X1 allows for very neat, single-handed operation of shutter, aperture, and focus, and you can use the tip of your nose to pop up the flash if needed. Eric Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 Hi enboe, Take a look here Q: one handed M use. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Three Legged Cat Posted December 23, 2014 Share #22 Posted December 23, 2014 If it offers any comfort, I have been using a Leica M240 entirely with my right hand since Summer 2013. As a child I lost my left hand just below the elbow, and thought 'serious' photography using a 'heavy SLR' was beyond me. I was introduced to the idea of looking at a Leica just as the M240 was announced, and I decided to 'go for it' after trialling various cameras and lens set-ups at my extremely helpful local Leica dealer. My dealer and I initially looked into all kinds of set-ups, including home-made adapters/tripods/supports/asking Leica for a technical solution, and I fully expected to have to settle on a compromise with a tripod or something; however, when the camera arrived I actually found things much easier than I imagined. I was given an Angelo Pelle leather half-case with a built in grip which fitted my hand nicely and gave me great support, and by always having the camera around my neck on the strap I knew it couldn't fall too far in a crisis. I then began to develop work-arounds which weren't too difficult (zone focussing, choosing to go out looking for particular shots which didn't involve having to change lenses, etc..). Lens-wise I started off with a 35 Summicron - a small, light lens with a good-sized focus tab, which helped me focus enormously. I then built my kit from there, looking for the smallest lenses at any particular focal length to minimise size/weight (e.g. the new 90 elmar is superb, and tiny for a telephoto lens, and it makes the camera much easier to use 'single handedly' than with a 90 Summicron ..). Since nearly all Leica lenses are superb this wasn't too much of a compromise, but I honestly doubt I could manage a Noctilux - even if I could afford one! I thought photography as a serious hobby was one denied me until I found the M240, and it's given me a new lease of life really. There are obvious compromises I have to make - I probably get fewer 'sharp' images at lower speeds due to a little camera shake, and I may miss more 'fast moving' shots than most (even though I can alway steady the camera by just balancing it on my left arm if I have the time to get set up in advance). You would have to persevere learning to hold the camera and move the tab with the fingers on the same hand to focus, but it IS achievable if you really want to; note however that I have spent forty-odd years finding one-handed workarounds for two-handed problems (tying shoe-laces, hammering nails!...), so I am probably quite dextrous, and have to be a little more patient than most. So far I've been delighted with the results given that I'm quite new to photography, and I have a real sense of achievement in that my shots were at least decided by 'me' and not the autofocus of an SLR - whether that's for better or worse. Finally, perhaps I'd suggest like others here that you find a sympathetic dealer who will let you experiment with the camera actually in hand so you can find your own work-arounds and make your decision from there. Anyway, I hope you continue your recovery, and eventually find a solution that's ideal for you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted December 23, 2014 Share #23 Posted December 23, 2014 I'm approaching the OP's issue in steps. First step, see this clever, inexpensive, DIY appliance. Camera Chest Rest Focusing appliance will be step 2, soon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brill64 Posted December 23, 2014 Share #24 Posted December 23, 2014 ...definitely go for it. working one handed just takes practice & determination, like anything else. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlashGordonPhotography Posted December 23, 2014 Share #25 Posted December 23, 2014 Sorry to hear about your stroke. Hopefully time and effort will reward you with some recovery. An M certainly would be a nice carrot. If you have a camera and grip there's another way to focus wide open, one handed. You set you distance on the lens and then slowly rock forward or back until coincidence is received. Framing will be a bit "flexible" but Leica's don't do precise framing through the rangefinder anyway. Another thought. Even as an able bodied photographer I carry my trusty Sony RX100 mk3 in addition to my "real" camera. It doesn't have to be either/or. Sometimes a compact is more fun on days where you're tired or couldn't be bothered with a bigger camera. Whatever you choose. Recover well. Gordon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pelmen Posted December 23, 2014 Author Share #26 Posted December 23, 2014 Three Legged Cat, sorry but it is encouraging to know I'm not alone in this decision. I live alone so I've adapted fast to looking after myself one handed. As you know everything is just more of a struggle and time consuming, I have to always preplan everything so I can operate as efficient and safe as I can. I havent given up hope for regaining my left hand (I can grasp but can't open the fingers yet, and my arm is almost fully strong but a bit wobbly to control. So I try to do what i can with the arm, like pushing open doors or closing drawers, it's all exercise). I'm glad you've found a way to cope with your situation, I've had several random people come up to me on the street and tell me they recovered from strokes, as they recognised where I am in my progress. Some days I'm pretty down but its so encouraging to see others who have been there too and are fully recovered. The kindness of strangers can mean so much. At least I know my dream is not an impossibility. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted December 24, 2014 Share #27 Posted December 24, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Steve Welcome to the forum and so very sorry to read about your problems. One must overcome somehow and maybe the desire to get an M will help you do just that. Having read about all of this thread, I tend to agree that perhaps it would be best to wait and see how your recovery goes beforer acquiring an M240. It is not light in the hand without a lens. I own the 24/1.4 and it is a hand full on the M240. Steve-I had a severe problem develop and nearly went blind. One eye is OK now, however the other is a write off. That situation just made me more determined to start photography again and I started with an M9 when I thought I had very little time left to create images to leave behind. That was 4 years ago. If my good eye ever starts to go, I will know I have endured and created some meaningful images. When I started with my M9, I often had to have others hold my arm so I did not trip or fall off a cliff,etc. while shooting landscapes. I even wore goggles to keep blowing sand out of my eyes since I had just experienced a hole in my cormea due to eye drops that disagreed with me. Often just typing on this forum is a chore for me on a bad day. I say all this to give you further inspiration to make it your goal to get that M someday. Maybe join a club, group or any venue where you can meet others who might give you ideas for furthering your hobby. It was that group idea that got me on the right track and gave me the courage to keep coming back. This is my story. Louis Foubare: Making Every Minute Count Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pelmen Posted December 24, 2014 Author Share #28 Posted December 24, 2014 To everyone, thanks so much for the great advice and ideas. I've got a lot more to consider and some ideas for making this a reality. Bit of a background, I'm in Canberra, Australia. For M use my photo style would be street scenes, landscape, architectural, rather than action or portrait. It'll be interesting to see how much I could push it for astrophotography too. I like to consider my shots and choose composition carefully then take or two shots. I usually wear the camera at my side on a strap (at the moment i tend to have a satchel bag with me at all times so anything i need to carry goes in that). I don't tend to bother with camera bags, I would go out with my dslr with just a single lens and already set up for impromptu snaps, and I'm not afraid of the camera picking up little scratches or dings( use screen protectors on every gadget, UV filters and lens coats on my pricier lenses..cameras are tools and they should pick up a little cosmetic character from natural use. I'm not a fiddler with settings or reliant on photoshop, I prefer to get the shot right in camera and I spend time when I buy a new camera reading the manual and trying every setting getting familiar and setting up the camera as best I can for a "ready to take any shot starting point" maybe setting up one or two custom set ups for daytime street and night time B&W or removing autofocus from shutter buttons and adding continuous focus to a button my thumb can reach. So my cameras are always ready to take a quick shot if i need it rather than miss something. Its just a hobby for me and I don't like putting photos online nor do I bother with social media sites much. I don't have much money and have enough cameras to cover what I shoot, an M would hopefully be my last upgrade after the LX3 and DLux6. I'm still in two minds about the M-P or the Mono, its very tempting. But Sony and Fuji have some awesome options as well I dont want to get distracted by them and whittle away at my M savings, just want to keep focused. I hope that puts things into context a bit better for any further posts, I really do appreciate all the helpful information from everyone so far, so please dont feel bad if i havent responded to you individually, it's all been helpful and encouraging! thank you all !! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted December 24, 2014 Share #29 Posted December 24, 2014 Steve, Wishing you a rapid and full recovery and success in using an M one-handed. One thing might help, especially for lenses without a focus tab, is a focus follower with a lever that's long enough to reach your fingers. There's an example here that can be attached to pretty much any lens with the flexible rubber ring. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted December 24, 2014 Share #30 Posted December 24, 2014 This is my story. Louis Foubare: Making Every Minute Count Thanks, I really enjoyed reading that article, and some wonderful photographs of course. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mijo Posted December 24, 2014 Share #31 Posted December 24, 2014 Pelmen, I can relate to what your going through. This past May I also suffered a stroke but not as severe as yours, I only had some Horners on one side of my mouth and eye, but I did have extreme numbness in my right hand and my balance was completely messed up. A few years prior to my stroke I had started to amass a decent Leica kit (M-E, M6 and a few lenses) and I was concerned that the numbness in my right hand might cause me move to a completely different system. 10 days of acute rehab therapy at a facility and 90 days of daily outpatient PT and OT and the numbness is almost completely gone. I still rehab on my own and I've still got a ways to go to get back to where I was but photography is an important part of my recovery. Instead of moping around in my home, I go out with my camera or I do some printing at my community darkroom. I hope you do get that 240 and are able to use it. More importantly I hope you have a speedy recovery and your able to keep your spirits up during your recovery. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
helohe Posted December 25, 2014 Share #32 Posted December 25, 2014 A focus lever attachment for the lens could help to focus it with the right hand somehow: http://www.rgbfilter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Focus4.jpg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jto555 Posted December 25, 2014 Share #33 Posted December 25, 2014 A focus lever attachment for the lens could help to focus it with the right hand somehow: http://www.rgbfilter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Focus4.jpg You beat me to it. Hasselblad did a small leaver for some lenses in the past. Another suggestion is to try something like the steer from Leica Goodies: www.leicagoodies.com With a receiver attached to your left hand that you could slide your lens along it to move the focus ring. On a different note, a wonderfull photographer, Steve McCurry has an issue with his left hand as well. However he uses Nikon for his photography. Home | Steve McCurry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted December 26, 2014 Share #34 Posted December 26, 2014 Steve, I'm sure you will be able to enjoy the M240. The sensor and lenses are all superb. Like any of us here, you will reap the benefit of your hard work with the M240. I'm sure you will be able to use it and enjoy it. I won't try and fool you, it is going to be a lot of hard work, but like anything in life, it will be worth it. Welcome to the forum, Rick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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