Nuno Cruces Posted April 21, 2009 Share #1 Posted April 21, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Seems he's working on it, and it looks great, IMO. D-Lux 4 grip by Richard Franiec: Leica Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 21, 2009 Posted April 21, 2009 Hi Nuno Cruces, Take a look here D-Lux 4 grip by Richard Franiec. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Nicoleica Posted April 21, 2009 Share #2 Posted April 21, 2009 That looks great. And it has the added bonus of still being able to fit the camera into the Leica case! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstevens Posted April 21, 2009 Share #3 Posted April 21, 2009 I dont think for a minute that will still fit in the snug Leica case. Looks good though, but if it doesnt fit in the case, you might as well go for the Leica grip which extends the depth of the camera too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicoleica Posted April 21, 2009 Share #4 Posted April 21, 2009 I dont think for a minute that will still fit in the snug Leica case. Looks good though, but if it doesnt fit in the case, you might as well go for the Leica grip which extends the depth of the camera too. Looking at the pictures of the grip fitted on a camera, and looking at my camera in it's case. It does look to me as though it will fit. The grip doesn't extend the depth, and the cut-out in the case should allow for the increased thickness. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPS Posted April 21, 2009 Share #5 Posted April 21, 2009 Does anybody understand how this grip is attached ... is it glued? It doesn't appear to have a mechanical fastener...while I like the looks of it, it's not at all clear that it's removable, once installed. Or, did I miss something? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicoleica Posted April 21, 2009 Share #6 Posted April 21, 2009 I may be completely wrong, but I'd suspect that it may be attached by double-sided tape. Possibly it's attached using the casing screws on the end of the camera. But that looks unlikely from the photographs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken_tanaka Posted April 21, 2009 Share #7 Posted April 21, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) That looks great. And it has the added bonus of still being able to fit the camera into the Leica case! And this design appears to permit the battery and memory card to be changed without the M8-style dismantlement required by the Leica grip. Regarding attachment, if this design is similar to those of his I've purchased for the Canon G7 and G9 it's attached via a thin strip of industrial-strength double-stick tape. At first you think it couldn't possibly provide a robust connection. But it certainly does! My wife is still using a G7 with a grip that shows no signs of budging. Go Richard! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Promethus Posted April 22, 2009 Share #8 Posted April 22, 2009 It sure looks like it can fit into the leather case! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPS Posted April 22, 2009 Share #9 Posted April 22, 2009 it's attached via a thin strip of industrial-strength double-stick tape. ... my wife is still using a G7 with a grip that shows no signs of budging. So Ken - you would deem the grip "non removable" once installed, at least not without going to some trouble and subsequent clean-up on the camera body? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken_tanaka Posted April 22, 2009 Share #10 Posted April 22, 2009 So Ken - you would deem the grip "non removable" once installed, at least not without going to some trouble and subsequent clean-up on the camera body? Yes, Robert. Based on my experiences with the Canon G7 and G9 grips that Richard offers, this will be a very secure grip. If it's carefully installed per instructions (i.e. ultra-clean, grease-free camera body surface) it will be as secure as if it was bolted to the body. I'm equally confident that there is a way to remove the adhesive without harming the body; nearly every adhesive has an "antidote". Richard can probably provide guidance on that subject. Honestly, if I had know of Richard's efforts a week or so ago I would not have sprung for the Leica grip for the D-Lux 4. Even at the "bargain" price of $89 (at Pictureline) it was still quite pricey and, as I noted earlier, is a bit of an awkward attachment design. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Franiec Posted May 1, 2009 Share #11 Posted May 1, 2009 Ken is right, The grip is attached with VHB (very high bond) 3M clear transfer film. The film has exceptional bonding power but grip can be carefully removed without damaging camera finish or leaving stubborn residue. The adhesive could be reused when covered with slick backing material for storage (it will stay on the grip). First batch of grips is shipping today. Soon some of you will experience the difference in handling firsthand. Thank you for encouragement to make one and being patient during the development. Cheers Richard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted May 1, 2009 Share #12 Posted May 1, 2009 Richard, welcome. I have your grip for the G7 and can vouch for the quality of the construction. Good luck with this venture. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Franiec Posted May 2, 2009 Share #13 Posted May 2, 2009 Bill, Thank you for the kind words and invitation, very appreciated. I really enjoy your work. Your 12 best are stunning. I'm not sure if this was discussed before but I'm curious if there is a difference in D-Lux4 output between original and new firmware versions. From all this excitement I have loaded the new version before I took first photo. If this is old subject, I would appreciate link to discussion. Take care Richard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted May 2, 2009 Share #14 Posted May 2, 2009 I also have Richard's Canon G7 grip - actually bought two of them after I sold the first G7 and needed another one for the second G7. It is attached via some super strong ouble-sided adhesive - there is absolutely no way it will detach. Wonderful product. If I owned a D-Lux 4, I'd buy the grip immediately..... Best, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Franiec Posted May 4, 2009 Share #15 Posted May 4, 2009 Looking at the pictures of the grip fitted on a camera, and looking at my camera in it's case. It does look to me as though it will fit. The grip doesn't extend the depth, and the cut-out in the case should allow for the increased thickness. I believe, Nicole is right, although I did not test the fit personally (I don't have the case yet) This tread on DPR Pany forum could provide some clues (see the pictures of LX3 with Leica case): Will Leica Leather case fit my LX3 OK?: Panasonic Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review Custom D-Lux4 grip is of low profile and only slightly wider than LX3 grip. The width should not matter here. Some of the grips are already on the way to new home, hopefully we will have first hand answer to the fit question soon. Cheers Richard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
picturelady Posted May 4, 2009 Share #16 Posted May 4, 2009 I got to see the grip today on Jim Radcliff's camera. It really does look very, very nice. It is small and streamline and a nice addition, not blocking the hatch on the side of the camera. Jim is in CA for the week and a small group of us met him for dinner at the Crow's Nest in Santa Cruz for dinner. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_K Posted May 6, 2009 Share #17 Posted May 6, 2009 Very nice indeed and now i am tempted, wish my friend had hold back getting the official grip in the 1st place less than a month ago, gotta to send him this info ... and oh, here is Mr. Franiec's homepage for any D-lux4 users who are interested in this accessory :- Richard Franiec's Camera Accessories Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbo035 Posted May 6, 2009 Share #18 Posted May 6, 2009 Very nice indeed and now i am tempted, wish my friend had hold back getting the official grip in the 1st place less than a month ago, gotta to send him this info ... and oh, here is Mr. Franiec's homepage for any D-lux4 users who are interested in this accessory :- Richard Franiec's Camera Accessories clicking that link I get a warning that the site appears to contain Malware. Obviously I am not going there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbo035 Posted May 6, 2009 Share #19 Posted May 6, 2009 clicking that link I get a warning that the site appears to contain Malware. Obviously I am not going there. no sign of the warning at a later attempt..... and the grip does look good Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_K Posted May 6, 2009 Share #20 Posted May 6, 2009 yes, that happened to me as well when i did my 1st attempt, kind of strange that the browser didn't give the warning again on the 2nd try. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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