Experiences with Abrahamsson Rapidwinder.

I've searched this site, but unless I'm overlooking it there's no information on Tom Abrahamsson Rapidwinder.Any information on this accessory would be welcome, as it has been on my long term "to-be-considered" list.

 

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In particular,

 

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1. How does it handle? What does it do to the overall heft of the camera?

2. How exactly is it operated-is it as smooth as the wind lever?

3. What exactly is the technique for using it?

4. What does it do to camera stability?

5. Does it improve portraiture? In particular, any experiences to relate on getting 2nd/followup shots?

 

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Of course any other information would be welcome.

I assume you've studied the information Mr. Abrahamsson provides at his web site www.rapidwinder.com.

I've got one, but rarely use it. Many people like it, especially

those who are left-eyed and as a result have to take the camera away

from their eye when winding.

 

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It adds a bit of bulk, weight and depth to the camera. Whether it

adds too much or not depends on the size of your hands. I find it

changes the classic shape of the camera enough to make it awkward, and

if I want a heavier rig I can always mount a faster lens - to greater

benefit too, IMO.

 

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To use it in a horizontal shot you put your left hand under the camera

supporting it in the palm, with the index finger in the focussing

tab of the lens and your pinky and ring fingers (and maybe the

middle finger) curled around the lever that projects down vertically

from the camera. One stroke of the lever winds the film and cocks the

shutter. It's very smooth, especially after it's been broken in for a

while.

 

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To use it in a vertical shot is another kettle of fish (at least for

me). I can't find any comfortable way to do it, no matter which way

up I hold the camera. As a result, I think it bites for portraiture.

 

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It may be a bit faster than the thumb lever for getting follow-on

shots, but it takes a bit of practice. I find my thumb just as fast,

and I dislike the ergonomics of the thing so much that there's no

incentive for me to practice. The thumb lever is a bit quieter, too.

 

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The original Leicavit was faster than thumb wind, but remember that

was back in the days of double-stroke winding. The Rapidwindwer has

lost this advantage. The only reason I'd ever start to use one full

time is if someone poked out my right eye.

 

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Don't get me wrong - it's a cool acessory, and lots of people love

them (specially the lefties), I'm just not one of them. Give me a

bare Leica with an M-grip and I'm a happy camper.

I thought I'd answered this one before - take a look in the thread

"Leica Motor-M #14408 (due 2/01)" in the Accessories folder. I've got

the same rant in there :-)

I love mine. It absolutely does what it was intended to -- ie offer

you the chance to shoot a sequence of shots much more rapidly than

would otherwise be possible, without lifting your (left) eye from the

viewfinder. The nice thing is you can use it, or the ordinary

winder, interchangeably. Slight snag is it takes a second or two to

dig out the winder lever from the camera base, and while extended, it

does rather protrude! You wouldnt want to leave it extended all the

time! (You'd run the risk of skewering yourself if you did!)

 

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You may, of course, want to check out the new motorwinder, that in UK

at least costs about 420 pounds, as opposed to 300 for the

Rapidwinder.