Jump to content

Leicavit


phovsho

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Any comments on the merits of this accessory? Historically I've been more of a street photographer who trys to grab the moment. Increasingly, taken lots of photos of my young son. I've found with the M8 that in these situations I tend to hold the camera to my eye for longer, constantly focusing and re-focusing and taking a couple of shots from eah perspective. Not sure if the change in behaviour is a response to digital or the new subject (the boy keeps moving!)

 

Anyway, was thinking a Leicavit might be of interest if I'm going to re-introduce film into my photography. Plus it looks like a cool peice of engineering. Any comments or observations appreciated.

 

Murray

Link to post
Share on other sites

I use the Abrahamsson Rapid Winder which is very similar to the Leicavit. It has been one of my best purchases. One can wind on faster than with the top-mounted lever and it when extended makes the camera easier to hold on to while shooting.

I work a great deal in the Arctic and often wear large mittens. With my Rapid Winder and an Abrahamsson Soft Release I can operate my M4-P while wearing these mittens.

The Rapid Winder (or Leicavit) is a boon for the fast work I sometimes do shooting sporting or theatre events however for Street Shooting I do not use it because it makes the camera too large and intrusive.

 

Yours,

Robert Morrison, M4-P, etc.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Murray I used a Rapidwinder too. I found it useful as a left eye shooter as it allowed me to advance the film without taking the camera away from my eye. I also found that the pressing the fingers on the left hand around the spike used to advance the film made the camera feel a little more comfortable.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Rapidwinder here as well. Tom also gives you lifetime warranty and that will go on to the next owner if you decide to sell it. Its great when you are a left eye shooter and you can have a pretty high advance speed if you need it. It does add 250gr or so to the body so you have to consider if you will be comfortable with the extra weight.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Got one, never use it, I keep on forgetting it's on the camera and use the cam's advance lever which I am completely used to.

Never really noticed any gain in speed either.

Perhaps it's my clumsiness, others may have different experiences.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Simple question - Can you focus whilst retaining a hold on the lever? :confused:

 

Rolo

I'm also a TA Rapidwinder user. If you are using a lens with a tab like a 35 or 24mm you will have no problems focusing - the thing is a dream to use. However, I don't like tabs and so most of my lenses have regular focusing rings. The way I hold the camera when I use those lenses means that the Rapidwinder is unusable.
Link to post
Share on other sites

I have a very naive question.

After looking at one of these Leicavit's and the RW from TA just how do they work?

Is the lever on the bottom a winder for some type of spring that works a mechanism that automatically advances the film once a shoot has been taken, something like a motor winder without a real electrical motor and the need for batteries?

 

Are there any websites that shows how they work and gives detail instruction on how to use one.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Ed, after taking a photograph you slide the lever to the left. The lever uses a cogged belt to rotate a notched piece that slots into the motor drive socket on the base of the camera. The lever is spring loaded so that once the film has been advanced is returns to its original position.

 

The lever isn't used to wind up some kind of clockwork mechanism, it advances the frame via the belt.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Ed, after taking a photograph you slide the lever to the left. The lever uses a cogged belt to rotate a notched piece that slots into the motor drive socket on the base of the camera. The lever is spring loaded so that once the film has been advanced is returns to its original position.

 

The lever isn't used to wind up some kind of clockwork mechanism, it advances the frame via the belt.

Thanks for the reply and the description.

Second question is why does the Leicavit make advancing the film any easier then using the regular film advance lever. I must be missing something here as the film advance lever is spring loaded already and when I'm using my M3 my right thumb is always behind the lever waiting for it to be moved.

What make the lever at the bottom of the LV any faster or easier to use?

Link to post
Share on other sites

There's a demonstration video by Tom on youTube:

 

YouTube - "How to use Rapidwinder & Softrelease" by Tom A

 

I've just bought a Rapidwinder, but haven't used it in the field yet.

 

I'm trusting that I can speed up a short sequence of images with the winder which appears to enable 3x my wind-on rate. For me, about 1 per second is practical with the standard wind and being left eyed I can't improve on that. Occasionally, I want to triple that.

 

I read that the motor wind puts additional stress on the camera gearing. The Rapidwinder is quieter and doesn't rely on batteries.

 

Looking forward to learning if it works for me, especially my ability to focus and wind as I'm often at f1.4 and focus tracking is important.

 

Rolo

Link to post
Share on other sites

"I read that the motor wind puts additional stress on the camera gearing. The Rapidwinder is quieter and doesn't rely on batteries."

 

Winding is winding and the stress is the same.

Have you used a Rapidwinder or Leicavit side by side with a Motor M in Mode I and compared the noise level?

BTW, there is a M series Winder that was available and is a completely different device than a Leica Motor M. The Winder has one speed whereas the Motor M has two speed Modes. The I Mode is specifically designed to be as quiet as possible and the Mode II is faster but actually not much more noise level.

Your statement about batteries is of course correct but so what?

 

In reply to the orginal Post, if you already useing an M8, than using a Motor M is just the same whereas using a mechanical winder involves a whole new set of movements. -Dick

Link to post
Share on other sites

"I read that the motor wind puts additional stress on the camera gearing. The Rapidwinder is quieter and doesn't rely on batteries."

 

Winding is winding and the stress is the same.

 

 

"Winding is winding and the stress is the same."

 

Not true.

 

Otherwise, you're probably right on everthing.

 

Like I said, I just bought it and was trying to help, not undermine. :rolleyes:

 

Rolo

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...