Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/10/19

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Subject: Re: M6 Rapidinder update!
From: ted grant <75501.3002@compuserve.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 16:10:50 -0400

Roger wrote:

<<<With the viewfinder eye window skewed as far to the left as it is, the
right eyed shooter has no trouble keeping the camera up at all times whilst
cranking away at a furious rate.>>>>>

Hi Roger,

Your right, but I bet even a right eyed shooter can shoot faster "if
necessary" with the Rapidwinder. No I'm not setting anything up for test or
challenge. :)

If you are shooting with your right eye, tripping the shutter with your
right index finger and advancing to the next frame all at the same time
there is a point where your hand / wrist action / finger coordination
reaction are working against each other or pretty close. As it is two
separate motions by the one hand/wrist.

Where as if you are using the winder, right or left eyed, the right index
finger is constant on the shutter release with no other motion than
pressing down. Whilst the left hand action is advancing film.

I've sat here and tried it several times in slow fashion to see how the
finger / wrist coordination moves all by right hand only. And it is almost
impossible to advance and trip shutter at the same sequence of times as
using both hands for shutter and advancing with the winder.

Similarly I tried the same moves with winder and right index finger only on
the shutter release and they are two distinct motions without interfering
one with the other. 

Hey I know this maybe just semantics and nit picking, but what else do we
have to do on a quiet Sunday afternoon? :) I mean I should be packing
furiously for flight to the east coast and lobster at Kennebunkport
to-morrow, but I'd rather get opinions on my "newly found Leica toy." :)

Well OK, "newly found Tom Abrahamsson's toy." :)

Take your M camera in hand and then go through the motions and watch what
happens. Then try an imaginary winder (if you don't have one) and move your
left middle, ring and little finger, as though advancing. With  the right
index finger resting on the shutter release and you can see the right hand
does nothing but hold the camera and the index finger trips the shutter. An
absolutely singular motion of the finger.

Once you get the action down pat, I bet you really can shoot "at a furious
rate!" :)  But don't forget it is important to have shares in KODAK or FUJI
when shooting at this acquired furious rate! :)

What do you think? Could the Rapidwinder be faster for a right eyed shooter
than the same action without it and using only the right hand?

ted