Tripod Bracket for M - vertical ?

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I find the position of the tripod thread on the M Leicas is very inconvenient especially when mounting the camera for vertical framing. The weight of the lens tends to turn the camera forward, thus overloading the thread. Does anyone know of a mating right angle bracket or similar part, that allows to mount a M Leica vertically to a tripod?

-- Gerd Hechtfischer (Gerd.Hechtfischer@t-online.de), March 28, 2002

Answers

You could try the 'M' Grip, which will put the tripod socket under the lens axis.

-- Steve Barnett (barnet@globalnet.co.uk), March 28, 2002.

I agree with Steve. Using an M Grip will solve your problem. I also find that the grip makes the camera very comfortable to hold/control.

-- Giles Young (youngg@middlesbrough.pds.gov.uk), March 28, 2002.

I've seen several quick-release plates designed specifically for Leica M that center the camera on the tripod head.

-- Don (wgpinc@yahoo.com), March 28, 2002.

You might want to check these guys out..... Newton Camera Brackets
Follow the link, go to Catalogs->Digital and look at the camera rotators near the bottom of the page. Probably works better with an M grip attached to center the tripod socket.

-- Fred Sun (redsky3@yahoo.com), March 28, 2002.

I have a hand grip. However cumbersome the offset tripod hole happens to be almost directly above shutter button - would make for more steady shutter firing.

-- chris chen (chrischen@msn.com), March 28, 2002.


I use the Kirk M plate (Arca-Swiss QR-type system) - makes the camera bigger, but allows the camera to be centered, off to the right or the left or any position in between -- very nice.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), March 28, 2002.

I have the Kirk plate, I replaced the allen screw with one of those replacement ever-ready-case finger-tight screws available in most big photo stores. I leave the Kirk plate in the tripod head and remove- attach the camera...can do this because of the offset attachment so there's no intereference with the head clamp. Nice because I don't have to remember the allen wrench and don't have to leave the plate attached to the Leica.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), March 28, 2002.

That's a great idea Jay. Think I'll set mine up the same way. Is there any special reason why you chose the Kirk plate over the Really Right Stuff plate? Also, I've thought that Leica, or somebody, ought to cut Arca Swiss groves into the bottom of their handgip.

-- Bob (robljones@sprintpcs.com), March 28, 2002.

I use the Really Right Stuff M6 bracket which both centers the tripod hole and serves as an Arca-Swiss type quick release plate.

-- Steve Rosenblum (stevierose@yahoo.com), March 29, 2002.

Bob, the RRS and Kirk products are about equal as far as I can tell. I only have 2 RRS plates out of dozens, and only because I got them used from KEH. RRS has never had an 800-number or accepted credit cards and I find that extremely inconvenient. In addition Kirk now has an e-commerce website. My M plate is the discontinued first type, which doesn't surround the entire baseplate. It's smaller and lighter than the RRS and Kirk's current M plate.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), March 30, 2002.


I got the RRS plate too and really like it. It's the current type B30 and now lighter than the previous RRS M-model. It weighs 62.00 grams and also doesn't surround the entire baseplate. My getting thru all the bureauocratic financial stuff from as far away as here means that it should work for you, too (the bureauocratic financial stuff).

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), March 30, 2002.

Hey Gerd, I just noticed that you're from this part of the world too, so in case you don't already know, this costed me altogether, including post office exchange, labour and duty or whatever etc 211.14 DEM. That's 107.95 EUR. :)

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), March 30, 2002.

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