Jump to content

Leica Motor-M #14408 (due 2/01)


Tony Rowlett

Recommended Posts

What a cool item this looks to be, and I think I'll snatch one when they become available in February. I didn't know it features an integral handle, and how compact it seems to be. From 1.5 to 3 frames per second. Looks like Tamarkin will have it for $649. Anybody share my enthusiasm?

Backups? We don’t need no stinking ba #.’  _ ,    J

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not sure about enthusiasm, but definitely interest. The M winder

has always been such a loser, I've been waiting to hear some reports

on this forum regarding te M motor.

 

<p>

 

Just to pull your chain a little, Tony, but I remember when the

Photokina thread came up, you disregarded the M motor and said "bah

humbug" on the latest crop of new Leica offerings.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yep, you got me there. And I've surprised myself. Actually, it's the

small size and handle that are so interesting to me. I've never

really doubted the nicety of being able to get off that second shot so

soon after the person thinks it's over. PLUS, I'm afraid the really

nice photograph of it (mounted on a .58 M6 TTL) in the recent Tamarkin

flyer has gotten me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It looks a very nice item to me and will make the Leica M compete

with the Hexar - and yet still maintain manual operation when

required. I have never had much use for autowinders. Although now I

am taking pictures of my daughter I do think of buying an R-winder

for my R6.2 as it might help to capture her elusive expressions that

are so charming.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Last week I had a chance to try the new winder at a Leica day in

Glasgow. The Leica rep let me fit it to my M6 body for comparison to

the M-grip. It is very compact and is not very heavy but having never

tried a winder on an M body before I was surprised with the shutter

release pulsing up and down as the winder cycled the shutter.

In actual fact it put me off this item a litle since I was expecting

it to be like the R- series winders.

I am now thinking of an "Abrahamsson rapidwinder." Has anyone any

operating comments on this item?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have one of Tom A's Rapidwinders, and just got the grip he designed

for it as well. Frankly, I'm not as enthusiastic as most other users

of this accessory. My complaints are:

 

<p>

 

1. It's too big. I like my Leicas the size they come out of the box,

though I prefer the handling with the M-grip. The Rapidwinder bulks

the camera up noticeably, and without a grip it's just too big for

comfort.

 

<p>

 

2. It's not all that "Rapid". The time it takes to wind the film and

re-steady the camera isn't much shorter than just using my thumb.

 

<p>

 

3. It's a royal pain to use in vertical shots. I'd much rather use

my thumb.

 

<p>

 

4. It still takes two hands to use the camera, unlike a true motor -

where you can use one hand to hang on with and still bang off a bunch

of frames.

 

<p>

 

I "kitted up" my .85 the other night with the Rapidwinder, Rapidgrip

and a 90/2.0 - I felt like I was carrying a Nikon F5. This is not my

idea of the "Leica Experience" :-/

 

<p>

 

I just got a Hexar RF (which has perfect focussing BTW) and I really

like the motorized aspect of it. The motor adds nothing to the size

of the camera (which is the same size as a bare Leica), it's plenty

quiet, the camera stays rock steady between shots, and the release

doesn't "pulse" like the Leica with a winder. You can feel this

pulsing with the Rapidwinder too, but it's less of an issue.

 

<p>

 

The new motor will be way better than the old Winder-M - lighter,

smaller, quieter, faster and much more ergonomic. But it will have to

go some to be more appealing in use than a Hexar RF.

 

<p>

 

I had a .58 and a new motor on order until I got my Hexar. Now

they're on indefinite hold. The Hexar and a .85 M6 are my current

kit. I'll put the money I'm saving towards the new 28/2.0.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 6 months later...

After using my Leica Motor M for a few days now (and taking more

pictures as a direct result, I think), I am slightly annoyed at

the shutter button "pulsing up and down" (pointed out by

Alan Stokes above) during shooting. It

doesn't seem natural, and it makes me feel like I have camera movement

during a sequence of shots. Some film development soon will tell.

Other than that, I really love it with the grip. It doesn't add that

much height to the body, and I feel like taking more pictures.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...