Thumbs Up – help
This page describes how to:
1. use your Thumbs Up
2. decide which model best meets your needs.
Using your Thumbs Up
Thumbs Up is an accessory thumb rest that enables you to hold your Leica M with improved balance, comfort, and security. You won't believe the difference that Thumbs Up makes! Your compositions will be more consistent, your photographs sharper; and the secure grip when holding your camera provides peace of mind. Thumbs Up users report being able to take hand-held shots at 1–2 stops slower shutter speeds.
Designed initially for the gripless Leica M8, it has proved to be so good that many film Leica M owners use it too.
Thumbs Up is manufactured to an exceptionally high standard, and is CNC machined from solid brass billet.
Thumbs Up ships with Soft Wear – a rubber button that plugs the flash sync hole, and adds 0.2 mm of padding between Thumbs Up and the camera body. Soft Wear has to be removed when using Thumbs Up on film Leicas, to accommodate the sync socket – the original plastic Leica sync socket cap should be refitted.
Thumbs Up fits the following M series cameras. Make sure you buy the correct Thumbs Up model:
• Thumbs Up 1, 3, CS-3 – Leica M9, M8.2, M8, M6, MP, M4, M3 and M2
(but not the Leica M7 or M6 TTL, owing to the position of the flash sync socket).
• Thumbs Up EP-1, CSEP-1, CSEP-4 – as above plus M7 and M6 TTL.
• Thumbs Up CSEP-2 – Leica X1 only.
Thumbs Up slots into the hot shoe of your camera with a firm push – if you have never used your hot shoe, the fit may seem tight, but, rest assured, this is as we intended. The CS ("cold shoe") models have an additional locking mechanism, to prevent the movement of accessories such as external viewfinders (see video below).
Choosing your Thumbs Up model
Thumbs Up is available in two different lengths: model 1 is shorter than model 3 by 14 mm.
So, which length should you choose? The answer is not clear cut, as personal preference plays a large part. Both lengths can be used comfortably by everyone, and you will not be disappointed whichever model you buy. However, we offer some guidance below.
In addition to different lengths, Thumbs Up is available with and without a cold shoe. The models without a cold shoe (Thumbs Up 1 and 3) are ideal for Leica M users that do not often use accessories such as flash guns or external viewfinders – not only are these models less expensive than the cold shoe models but they have a flatter, more discrete profile. The cold shoe (CS) models (CS-3, CSEP-1, CSEP-4) have single or twin cold shoes, allowing external viewfinders and other accessories to be mounted on the Thumbs Up.
None of our current Thumbs Up models has a hot shoe, so Thumbs Up needs to be removed to use a flash.
The "EP" designation denotes "ergonomic profile": EP grips have an advanced profile for increased comfort.
Thumbs Up 1
Thumbs Up 1 has the shortest thumb rest: 14 mm shorter than Model 3. It is ideal for photographers with large hands and a wide grasp. For those using heavy lenses such as the Noctilux, Model 1 offers additional leverage, support, and stability compared with model 3.
The curved end of the model 1 grip aligns with the shutter release button, and closely duplicates the support position offered by the advance lever on film Leica M cameras. So, if you're used to steadying your camera with the film advance lever, Thumbs Up 1 will feel like an old friend!
However, you may find a narrower grasp more comfortable, with your thumb placed past the shutter release button, closer to the right side of the camera: Thumbs Up 3 was designed for you.
If you're unsure whether model 1 or model 3 will suit you best, have a play with a film camera with an advance lever. Better, a local dealer may stock Thumbs Up for you try.
Thumbs Up 3 has the longest thumb rest: 14 mm longer than Thumbs Up 1. It is ideal for photographers with small hands or for those preferring a narrower grasp. Note: Model 1 is recommended if heavy lenses such as the Noctilux are used frequently.
Thumbs Up CS ("cold shoe") models
If you often use accessories requiring a cold shoe, such as an external viewfinder, then a Thumbs Up CS or Thumbs Up CSEP model is for you. These have a cold shoe. Thumbs Up CSEP-4 is our most advanced grip, and has two cold shoes.
The basic CS-3 model has the long Thumbs Up 3 thumb rest. The CSEP models use the shorter EP thumb rest (described below).
Thumbs Up EP ("ergonomic profile") models
Our original Thumbs Up 1 and 3 grips have had glowing reviews – "We use our Leicas heavily for producing content for newspapers and magazines ... the results with the Thumbs Up are nothing short of spectacular" (Gus Maurizio) is typical. But we never rest on our laurels, and our own research and feedback from satisfied customers led to the development of Thumbs Up CS and EP models.
Although the shape of the original Thumbs Up 1, 3 and CS models was carefully developed and is supremely comfortable, we wanted the ultimate in stability and ergonomics, so we created a new thumb rest with the same length as Thumbs Up 1 but with an advanced shape – the EP. This does not mean that our original profile is obsolete, simply that we like to give our customers a wide choice: Thumbs Up 1 and 3 – the most compact and simple of our grips – are hugely popular and will remain current models.
There are four EP models: EP-1, CSEP-1, CSEP-2, and CSEP-4.
Thumbs Up EP-1, like Thumbs Up 1 and 3, has no cold shoe, and is ideal for those who don't use external viewfinders or other shoe accessories often or who prefer a small, compact grip.
Thumbs Up CSEP-1 incorporates a cold shoe, for those who frequently use external viewfinders and the like. Thumbs Up CSEP-2 is similar to Thumbs Up CSEP-1 but is designed exclusively for the Leica X1 camera.
Thumbs Up CSEP-4 has two cold shoes, with the second shoe perfectly placed for an external viewfinder – unlike using the central cold shoe, moving your eye between the external viewfinder and the camera's is effortless, and the two views match perfectly.