Accessorize...

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First of all let me thank you all for the enthusiastic livelyness of this forum! I have started dropping by only recently and each visit has been most inspiring. Both, for the strict subject threads and those taking off... Secondly, I was contacted by Deokseon from Korea who read my mentioning a cable-tie solution for a focus tab on my 50 cron in a recent thread. I made a snapshot of my M6 to illustrate what I did. On looking at this quick and dirty videograb I noticed that quite a number of stuff has been accumulating on my camera so I started to count it and comment upon it. So rather than a question I want to share my reply to Deokseon with you. May-be it can be inspiring, may-be it can help relieve some guilty feelings like "Is there anybody else out there as crazy about accessories as me?" or "How could I do this to Saint Leica?" - well, as I mentioned to Deokseon, all of these gadgets are truely useful helpers in my way of photographing - street photography, basically. So, my feelings are quite balanced - accessorywise. ;o) But I'm curious to have your comments and read and see of your accessory-craze and all your little helpers!

Here's my quote:

Hi Now here are two snapshots I took of my M6. This is how I keep it in my bag. (Well, actually the 35 Summicron/75 Summilux is my standard combo, but the 50 Summicron is next in order of importance and you were inquiring about it...)

The front view shows: 1) the focussing tab for the 50 Summicron, made out of a 10 cent cable-tie

2) the $ 425 Rapidwinder, made by Tom Abrahamsson

3) the $ 10 Sling, custom-made by myself

4) the $ 10 Soft Release, made by Tom Abrahamsson

5) the $ 10 Shade, made by myself

6) neck strap attached to one side only, with a $ 5 quick-release

7) rubber o-ring (to secure the Soft Release) for $ 1

Back view:

8) my latest accessory, a memory holder adapted for the M6 (will be out soon, not yet priced, any suggestion for a monosillable name starting with the letter "S"? ;o)

9) focussing tab for the 75 Summilux, made out of a daisy-chain of 6 cable-ties, covered with a rubber band

10) old type 75 Summilux lens hood adapted for reverse mounting (50 Summicron style)

11) the original Leica lens carrier (#14404), usually mounted to the Rapidwinder ground plate

Cheers, Lutz

-- Lutz Konermann (lutz@konermann.net), May 01, 2001

Answers

Sorry, here's another try for the front view:

1) the focussing tab for the 50 Summicron, made out of a 10 cent cable-tie

2) the $ 425 Rapidwinder, made by Tom Abrahamsson

3) the $ 10 Sling, custom-made by myself

4) the $ 10 Soft Release, made by Tom Abrahamsson

5) the $ 10 Shade, made by myself

6) neck strap attached to one side only, with a $ 5 quick- release

7) rubber o-ring (to secure the Soft Release) for $ 1



-- Lutz Konermann (lutz@konermann.net), May 01, 2001.


Although I've never really found any need to trick out an M6 (works fine right out of the box for me)or the lenses, some of those dodads are pretty ingenious-looking. The cable-tie-focusing tab is especially well-done as it's completely removable (I've been tempted to grind off my focusing tabs, but that would ruin the lens' resale value). The only item that scares me is the strap quick-disconnect made from a pull-apart keychain. I've had those keychains and it's very easy to accidentally unhitch. The most that happened to me was half my keyring on the ground, not an M6 + lens.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), May 01, 2001.

I also like the solution with the plastic tie, on the others I like the sling, used to work with one, and I think they are great when you need to have the camera in your hands all day. the rubber O-ring to secure the soft release is great too, but I donīt like soft releases.I donīt understand much about your shade or is it a finder shade, well I believe a M4-P doesnīt need it.The M looks fuuny, but for sure practical for you, I canīt imagen something Iīd like in my M, I know!!! a stavilizer the size of a motor drive, for 1 second shoots, there is my idea Lutz!

-- R Watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), May 02, 2001.

Jay, I trust the key-chain holder, because as long as the M is hanging, there's weight on it and it can't spring open. Anyway, there are other quick-release solutions, too, which are equally helpful. And as for the Shade, here's more information about it, R., http://www.konermann.net/ shade.html - it helps to reduce finder flare drastically. I'll give the stabilizing-gizmo a thought - if you give me time til xmas... ;o)

-- Lutz Konermann (lutz@konermann.net), May 02, 2001.

Once more:

-- Lutz Konermann (
lutz@konermann.net), May 02, 2001.


Geez, html... :o(

Link to the Shade

-- Lutz Konermann (lutz@konermann.net), May 02, 2001.


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