Hi,

(1) Along with the M6 I bought the short Leica cable release as I plan to use a tripod once in a while. I've been testing it and observed that when pressing the release the film advance lever and the circular assembly above it (the one around the shutter release button) rises almost 0.3mm away (a visual guess!) from the camera body before the shutter trips. I find this disturbing because it might cause the camera to move just as the shutter releases, and also in B time modes. Is this a normal occurence? Or am I just being retentive? If the movement of the film advance lever is a normal idiosyncrasy of the M6 then I can surely live with it, but your opinions would be reassuring.

(2) The cable release doesn't seem to stay tightly screwed on after it is screwed on to the shutter release button. Is this normal?

(3) I bought a Canon table-top tripod 10 for $24.95 from B&H, since it has a ball head and can support a heavy SLR system so I figured it would be adequate as an occasional item; versus $250+ for the Leica equivalent ($99 for tripod and $189 for ball head). Has anyone tried this item?

Thank you for your collective intelligence.

-- Sikaan (Sikaan4@aol.com), December 21, 2001

Answers

Can't address the cable-release issues, I just use some old generic $1-at-a-swap-meet cable release and it works fine. As to the "Canon" table tripod (I put it in quotes because its true origins are speculative but definitely not made by Canon)the tripod itself is actually nicer than the Leica table tripod because the legs swing out to definite stops in the right position whereas the Leica has to be set manually the proper leg spread. However the ballhead on the Canon tablepod is a joke. Fully locked down you can easily move the platform all around with your hand with little force. Luckily it unscrews and you can mount a Slik Compact Ballhead (will cost you about the same as the Canon tablepod)which is extremely solid. For about 2/3 the cost of the Leica tablepod alone you will have a nice unit. Use the Canon ballhead for mounting a slave flash, or just throw it in the trash.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), December 21, 2001.

Jay,

Thank you for your response.

I wondered about the rotating head. At first I was disappointed but then thought it was intentionally made so that one could rotate the camera once it was locked in place, being that the three legs won't always be positioned at the optimal horizontal camera angle. Once the tripod and camera are securely locked, the camera won't rotate on the horizontal axis by itself. Maybe I'm just rationalizing.

Thanks for the Slik ball head advice. BTW, the $25 Canon tripod is made in Taiwan, so is not a "real" Japanese-made Canon, but good enough for my setup. If I had only know I would have bought a generic cable release for $1 instead of $27 for the Leica. Oh well, live and learn.

And yes, the three Canon legs stop in the proper places for a 120 degree spread, which the Leica doesn't. However, the blurb for the Leica says that the legs can be locked in any position, so that one makes use of the available surface, or can even lean it against one's body or a tree for support. Infinite angles compared to the Canon, so I suppose it has its advantages. Maybe Leica should have both options, which wouldn't be a bad idea for the amount of money they charge.

Thanks again, Sikaan

-- sikaan (sikaan4@aol.com), December 21, 2001.

I have a Canon table top, I use it only for my Minox 35 cameras. Its ballhead is only sufficent to hold full size 35mm camera at level position, if you tilt the camera up or down, the camera slips,because the ballhead is not strong enough. There is a $10 made in Taiwan all metal three section table tripod on the market, it has a micro control screw allowing this tripod to lock at any height from 3" up to 10".

Minox tripod is the most compact table tripod, three legs in one, comes with a small cable release inside the smallest leg.

Manfrotto tripod is very strong, all metal, a lot heavier than Minox tripod, but much cheaper

Made in Japan 12 section Deluxe Flatboy stainless steel tripod can be use as a 7" table tripod but can extend up to 3 feet, which no other table top tripod can do.

Made in Germany SUSIO 4 section brass tripod can also be used as a 15" table tripod, extends up to 4' 1"

-- martin tai (martiin.tai@capcanada.com), December 22, 2001.