Fittest MZ-005, Alternative Thumb’s grip for X-T1

[milandro]

It had to happen some time that someone would copy the hugely expensive Thumb grip for the X-T1. 

 

Some of us had quickly noticed that the “ universal types”  suitable for rangefinder style cameras, don’t work on the X-T1 ( and wouldn’t work on the X-T10 too) , because of the “ hump” containing the EVF, where the flash hot shoe is.

 

All the Chinese copied which more or less fit on a variety of cameras, quite literally, fell short when it came to the X-T1.

 

Quite by chance, when scouring the net, I came across this “ fittest MZ-005’ which I believe is the first copy of the Thumb grips for the X-T1.

[typeronin]

Problem is it doesn't look long enough. If you look at the Lensmate, the curved section is much longer. This one looks like your thumb would have to be much further left.

[milandro]

Actually you can on see that if it would be in place , I am afraid that pictures of the grip alone don’t provide enough references. I haven’t found pictures of this specific grip on the camera.

 

I will reserve my judgment on this product until I see it on a camera anything done before would be premature.

 

CNC machines however, once they have received the proper co-ordinates, copy things pretty much exactly.

[typeronin]

Well the hotshoe part should be the same size so if you use that as reference, then the curve part where your thumb goes is about half as long as the Lensmate. This is not a direct copy of the Lensmate...it's something they designed themselves.

[milandro]

well, one day someone will buy it and take a picture “ in situ” , then we will know.

 

If we have to believe that this is their product ( and not a retouched picture of a lensmate) it fits...

[typeronin]

You can pretty clearly see the difference between the two in the image above. Look at how much longer that curved piece where you thumb goes is on the top picture (which is a photo of the Lensmate unit, BTW, not the "Fitttest"). That tells me the Fittest one would end just above the AE-L button rather than reaching to the exposure comp dial like on the Lensmate.

 

I can't be the only one that sees this.

Yes, it isn't a real life pic but I'd rather just buy the Lensmate one for $70 rather than a $20 piece of metal I won't use because it doesn't fit properly. I realized the one I mentioned in the other thread is the same as the one you're looking at except it doesn't have the branding on top.

[milandro]

I understand your concerns

 

Yet. Some other thoughts.

 

At the same time as this, on ebay appeared also some X-T10 models. These would need to be smaller than the ones for the X-T1 because that camera is smaller.

 

I know the Chinese attitude to publish photographs from other brands, or other types ( been there done that). So it is very possible that this that we are seeing is in fact a new contraption made for the X-T10 and unwittingly marketed also for the X-T1.

 

However , one thing is , in my view, for sure, the Lensmate is not the product of an high technology, whichever way one looks at it. 

 

As such can be replicated.

 

Maybe this is not the one, but ooner or later someone will.