Re: [Leica] LEICA - M DRIVE

[Mark Rabiner <mrabiner@concentric.net>]

Ted Grant wrote:
> 
> Mark wrote:
> 
> >To me a winder is a moterdrive that is smaller, quieter and doesn't
> >always keep shooting when you hold the button down. It could even work
> >with springs instead of batteries. My right eye and right thumb get
> >along fine.>>>>>>>>
> 
Ted Grant wrote:
> 1/ I haven't seen nor used an M winder...battery operated that is
> small...light...and quiet!  The thunk clunk every time you use it gives you
> away almost as quickly as using flash.
> 
> But the main point you may not understand is....not everyone is right eyed
> as you fortunately are  ...
snip
I wrote(Mark)
I shouldn't make fun of you left eyed people.
When I first got my fist Leica, an M6 five years ago the last piece of
equipment I'd thought I'd ever get was the winder as from what I could
see or imagine this was not what Leicas was all about and it was not
what it was all about for me as I was going to used it for personal
street work. My nikons and Hasselblads would continue in my studio on
commercial location work even. 
In no time flat and after getting a 90 I had no time or patience left
for the nikons but missed the winder. So I got the Leica winder when I
was able to swing it and it was not the same:
You can't take it off or on in the middle of a roll. big problem.
I found the with the motor on (I tend you use "motor" and "winder"
interchangeably just to confuse things) the camera was not with me, it
was safe in my studio with the drive on it...and not with me.
Much quieter then the MD12 for the nikon fm's.
When you hit the shutter release which is not a separate shutter release
but the same one you always hit on the camera it thunks back into your
finger. This takes some getting used to but doesn't make a sound. But
there is a poing sound after it which is quite a bit louder than
anything the camera makes without the drive.
There is also an on off switch that  you can hit at any time that turns
off the drive and the sound of it and when you turn it on again it
advances to the next frame which is soundless event.
The weight of the drive i think is not insurmountable and is about the
same as the MD12. It could be said it adds stability to the camera
although it is not counterbalancing the camera like a big fat long zoom
on a piggy slr.
I think its an underrated thing and people should try it before they
decide they hate it.
I would love smaller, lighter and soundless like a Leicavit but it would
have to advance the film.
Mark Rabiner