RE: [Leica] Leica M tripod mount

[henry <henry@henryambrose.com>]

>I rarely use tripod with the M's so it has not been a priority with me, but 
if 
>the bevelled edges can be incorporated without affecting structural strength 
>I will   look at the feasibility of doing it.  The  reason I am  considering 
>the idea is that I have about 500 feet of TechPan in the freezer and a 
>monopod/clamp/Grip/M-combination could enable me to use it up!
>Best,
>Tom A

Hey Tom,

In terms of a useful Leica M accessory I suggest you might want to make a 
tripod head adaptor that centers the mount under the lens axis and stays 
on the tripod head. It would look like the base only of the Rapidgrip. No 
grip, just a little plate with flanges running the length to cradle the 
base of the camera and keep it from turning on the head. When mounting 
the camera you simply snug up the thumbwheel screw into the cameras1/4 
X20 threaded hole. There is nothing on the camera to bother with and 
attaching it to the tripod becomes quick and simple with no need to over 
tighten to have a good firm attachment and no twisting. I have one now 
that is home-made from a handgrip base from these people:
http://www.nikonlinks.com/PhotoEquip/Default.htm
What I don't have is a nicely made captive thunbscrew. I am using a screw 
from a handle mount flash and it looks a bit clunky. I have noticed over 
time that requests for an item like this show up on the LUG fairly often. 
If you are interested let me know and I can send you jpgs of my set-up 
and some more suggestions about what I think it should be like in 
finished form.

Henry Ambrose