Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/02/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Robert Stevens wrote: >I got my 400 5.6 Televit-R about a month ago with the Leica shoulder stock. > I think what both you and I are missing is the original shoulder stock >that bayoneted into the mount just below the lens mount. This way, the >camera and stock stay stationary while you use the pistol grip to move the >lens back and forth, sort of like a trombone. They way you have it set up, >the camera will move back and forth in relation to your eye and shoulder >when focusing. >>>>>> Hi Robert, I guess I have the pistol grip that appears something like what you have screwed to your lens. Your rig gives me the willies as I can't imagine swinging that around as it appears quite unwieldly.:) I have a pistol grip that looks like your's, accept mine screws right into the tripod mount of any Leica lens with a tripod mount. Mine has a micro switch that is wired and plugs into the motor drive socket, so that I barely touch the switch and the camera fires one frame at a time or full bore machine gun like. The stock from the pistol grip to shoulder is tubular as is the half circle shoulder stock. I bought this shoulder brace in '69 or '70 and it's the most efficient shoulder stock I've ever seen. It's light and I use it with my 280 2.8 most of the time and or when I've got the extenders on up to 800mm. This means I can swing it as a pan action with birds in flight or athletes running. I have had the sockets which screw into the motors changed a few times, Leicaflex motor to R motor and when the R8 motors are available will have it changed again to fit the R8. I never took to those telyts that you have as they are too cumbersome and I found them difficult to handle after my very simple set-up. I can't figure out why Leica discontinued making the tubular shoulder stocks as they are so easy to use. Certainly not the least bit cumbersome. ted >To adapt mine to having the pistol stock mounted to the moving camera mount >part, I made an L shaped bracket which I attached to the socket under the >lens mount. I then attach the pistol grip-shoulder stock to that bracket. >I attached the L bracket by using a 1/4" screw and a 10-24 set screw beside >it ground to fit the keyway so that the bracket doesn't spin. To attach >the 1/4 screw into the keyway, I took off the cover to the keyway and >inserted a 1/4 wing nut with the wings cut off to fit the keyway and put >the cover back in place. I suppose a stock shoulder piece is available for >it, but I assume it is just a bent aluminum rod with no handle or provision >for a trigger as this lens is pre-motor drive vintage and you would use the >cameras release. > >I put my combo on my flatbed and scanned it to show you what I mean. I >hold the focus grip in my left hand and the pistol stock grip in my right >hand. To focus, I push in on the focus tension trigger and push or pull >and then fine tune with the knob by using my left thumb. I trigger the >shutter with my right finger using the remote release on the shoulder stock. > >http://home.iSTAR.ca/~robsteve/400mm-Televit-r.jpg > > >As for tripod and monopod, my lens had both 1/4" and 3/8" mountings on the >forward underside of the lens under the aperture ring. > >http://home.iSTAR.ca/~robsteve/400mm-Televit-r-mount.jpg > >Maybe any other LUG members that have this lens can describe the proper >shoulder brace for it. > >Regards, > >Robert > > > >At 02:42 PM 2/3/99 -0800, you wrote: >>Xavier: >>I have the 400 f/5.6 with the fast focus thing (Televit?) and gunstock. >>It handles just fine. The pistol grip has a tripod mount that is used >>by passing a 1/4 x 20 tripod screw through the gunstock mount plate into >>the pistol grip. Make sure that your tripod screw is one of those that >>has a female 1/4 x 20 on its backside. Without this you can not use the >>tripod and the gunstock at the same time. This could be trouble if you >>wanted to use a monopod at a football game, etc. >> >> >> >> >> Ted Grant This is Our Work. The Legacy of Sir William Osler. http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant