Abrahamson rapid winder; how good how,how and where

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Leica Photography : One Thread

How expensive, how compatible, how good, how does it work, and where can I find one for my M4P.

Oh yes, and personal experiences, there must be a lot out there friends.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), November 12, 2001

Answers

There is a v. detailed entry on Tom's RW in the FAQ at:

nemeng.com/leica/#033ba

-- Andrew Nemeth (azn@nemeng.com), November 12, 2001.


Roberto,

The Rappy is quite expensive (425$ - therefore very compatible with the rest of the Leica gear...;o) - however, for any other aspect I can think of it's compatible, too. It is very well built, does perfectly what it's supposed to do (i.e. advance the film quietly without forcing you to take your eye from the viewfinder), you best get it from Tom lutz@konermann.net), November 12, 2001.

Sorry...

Roberto,

The Rappy is quite expensive (425$ - therefore very compatible with the rest of the Leica gear...;o) - however, for any other aspect I can think of it's compatible, too. It is very well built, does perfectly what it's supposed to do (i.e. advance the film quietly without forcing you to take your eye from the viewfinder), you best get it from Tom directly as they are hard to find used.

I personally left mine on my M6 classic from the day I bought it. It adds 1/2 inch in height and some weight to the camera, but it's so well designed and crafted that it becomes a natural part of the Leica M (rappyless bodies always get me surprised ever since...). I best like the possibility to silently and therefore secretly advance the film, best with candids of children and selfconscious subjects as well as front-row stage and concert photography. Cheers.

-- Lutz Konermann (lutz@konermann.net), November 12, 2001.

The rapidwinder is an essential accessory if you want the speed of response that a motor would give you without the inherent limitations of Leica`s own motors - mainly, shutter releae bounce. I have two and if I was going to get another body I`d get a third. Excellent value for money, completely functional, although they do ruin the aesthetics of the camera body, but, so what!

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), November 12, 2001.

The RapidWinder is about $425 or so, excellent for when you need it, it allows up to 2 fps in bursts, order direct from Tom Abrahamsson if you don't have a dealer nearby that stocks it, http:// www.rapidwinder.com/.

I have one attached to my M6TTL body, I almost never take it off. Same model fits the M4-P body without any difficulties. I'm happy with it.

-- Godfrey (ramarren@bayarea.net), November 12, 2001.



Thanks a lot friends; I´m already preparing a mail to Mr Abrahamsson, hope there is one RW for me, for a black body what do you recomend me a mate or glossy black winder?

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), November 12, 2001.

Well, my M4-P is kind of a dull black as is the M6TTL. I think the glossy black is for the special edition "blackpaint" Ms. But to be honest, I never thought of it before... {grin}

Godfrey

-- Godfrey (ramarren@bayarea.net), November 12, 2001.


I wonder why nobody has mentioned that Tom has cancer (just came home last week from a bone marrow transplant). He has not made any Rapid Winders in many months and is not likely to be cranking them out as quick as he used to when he gets well. Also he has a large back order for this fine product. Get in line, there will be a long wait.

-- Steve LeHuray (icommag@toad.net), November 12, 2001.

The back order list is mostly composed of dealer orders. Tom is makeing them for individuals albeit at a slow rate. I contacted him and had mine within a week. Email him and ask.

Oh and add my rave review as well.

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), November 12, 2001.


Tom told me last week that next year he will have a Rapid winder to fit the IIIc/IIIf/IIIg as well ( to be known as the Barnack Winder)

Let's all wish him a speedy recovery.

-- Tony Oresteen (aoresteen@lsqgroup.com), November 13, 2001.



As to the 2 fps thing, which is vaunted also on Tom's site in Ted Grant's rave review, I have my doubts. Sure, you can probably get off 2 fps if you really need to, but the camera does move around quite a lot when you're winding and needs to settle down (or your hands need to) after each wind on, just as using the lever wind does. So I wouldn't recommend the RW for this reason, unless all your shooting is done at 1/1000 s. That is almost never the case for my work.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), November 13, 2001.

Dear Friends All; just recived a response from Mrs. Abrahamsson; telling me about the long waiting list that I asked to be included; rw no until feb 2002; I´ll gladly wait, I asked her for a used one in case there is some, now no matter color, I even would take a pink one.

I dare to say hello in the name of all of us at this forum, gave her my regards and best wishes for his fast recovering, also in the name of us all Friends. Thank´s for let us know Steve.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), November 13, 2001.


I am inclined to agree with Rob's comment about the Rapid Winder. I would also like to point out that with the viewfinder all the way to the left there is no need for right eyed people to remove your eye from the finder while advancing the advance lever. For me, the extra weight and bulk of the RW is not really worth it. So, I can shoot two frames in 3 seconds instead of 2, not much of a difference.

-- Steve LeHuray (icommag@toad.net), November 13, 2001.

I have Tom's Rapid Winder and Leica's new winder; grip on the Abrahamson Winder feels better than the Leica winder plus the Abrahamson Winder will probably outlast any of us; is wonderfully over built!

Tom Abrahamson also makes soft release buttons in different colors; I have one on each of my M bodies. Outstanding workmanship.

-- Nathan Chatman (nathanchatman@usa.net), November 14, 2001.


As has been mentioned in a couple of earlier messages, Tom has been sick for a while. Thought I would pass along part of a brief message I just received from his wife, Tuulikki:

"I am happy to report that Tom back in the action. His treatment was very successful. The best from both us for now, Tuulikki"

Sounds like good news!

-- Douglas Kinnear (douglas.kinnear@colostate.edu), November 14, 2001.



i hate to be the sole negative commenter, BUT... the rapidwinder on my M4-2 (admittedly the worst of the Ms, it seems) had a way of destroying the shutter clutch such that frames over 125 sec. did not come out -- tom with his excellent customer service sent me a new spring, which seemed to cure that problem... but, even now, sometimes the shutter will go off while the film is advanced, "slipping", thereby losing that frame. it is true that i abuse my cameras heavily, and these "maintenance" issues aside, i love using the rapidwinder, it's great for just about any situation, fast, and keeping the eye in the frame the whole time is great. the issue of needing three hands to focus as well is totally over-rated, when was the last time you really had to focus a 28mm or even a 35mm lens more than once before blasting off 6 or 8 frames... i am, though, impressed with leica's new motor, at $600, $200 more than the rapidwinder; but as i have the rapidwinder already i'm not going to buy the motor.

-- alan chin (rat101@aol.com), November 14, 2001.

I have a chrome rapidwinder for my chrome TTL. Not quite a perfect cosmetic match but a brilliant mechanical match. I find the balance to be excellent as is the fit and finish. The operation of the unit is smooth and very natural.

The added benefit is the recentering of the tripod socket. I find I can mount my M/RW combination onto my strobroframe flash bracket and use my flash setup too, even with my various finders attached!

Mine was the last one Tom made before his hospital visit, but he's back on line again and that's great news indeed.

I use his soft release as well and both these products enhance my enjoyment of my M camera. All his products are extremely good value for money and well worth your investment of 4 hundred odd dollars.

Simon

-- Simon Wong (drsimonwong@hotmail.com), November 17, 2001.


Thank´s to all, I can say I´m waiting on line already.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), November 19, 2001.

I have been an enthusiastic user of the Rapidwinder and cannot say enough good things about it. I just want to add a couple of things.

(1) The new Rapidgrip is a vast improvement over the old old Rapidgripe (c. Oct. 2000). It's been slimmed down making it super comfortable. I just got one in shiny black and the feel is wonderful. It's like carressing the fenders of a Rolls-Royce. Now my custom cut down Leica grip and my old customized leather covered Rapidgrip languish (and, my wife thinks with no small trepedation, waiting for more Leicas and Rapidwinders).

(2) I recently got a Leica motor winder and use it on my new M6-TTL in combination with Rapidwinders on my classic M6 and M2. The motor has the edge with any lens that doesn't have a focing tab (the telephotos and my Summilux 50/1.4) but, frankly, the Rapidwinder is faster if you know how to use it. Also it is quieter. And you don't need batteries. It is also sexyier--which, I know, is a slightly subjective judgement. Tom is home recovering beautifully, which shows there is some justice in this world. Let me reaffirm what many others have said: His after-service is super.

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), November 22, 2001.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ