Winder or MD for ergonomics

John Bragg · Jun 26, 2020

Hi all. For what seems an eternity I have had a pair of OM1n cameras with an OM Winder 2 on each. It is a combination that I find pleasing ergonomically, and it is how I like to use them. I also have a Nikon FM2n and I have always used MK1 Thumb Drive on it. I have been tempted to seek out a near mint MD12 but I am doubting my sanity in this respect, as it is not compact by any stretch of the imagination. Should I keep the Nikon sleek and discrete, or add a kick ass motor drive? Thanks in advance (pun alert) for your input.

Nikon FM2n by E.J. Bragg, on Flickr

narsuitus · Jun 26, 2020

Originally, I added a motor drive to my F2 for shooting sports and for doing equine motion studies.

Today, I use the motor drive primarily as a film winder.

If I the Nikon MD motor drive provided more features (such as faster frame rates, motorized film rewind, bulk film loading, intervolometer, etc.) than the winders on your Olympus, I would buy the MD motor drive.

Nikon F2 by Narsuitus, on Flickr

Paul Howell · Jun 26, 2020

In most cases I prefer a motor driver over a winder, auto film rewind, ability to shoot at a higher FPS rate if needed. The exception is the Minolta 9000, the only AF pro body that has detachable winder and motor drive, the drive takes 12 AA, the winder is so much lighter.

BrianShaw · Jun 26, 2020

I think in that situation you’d be very happy with both the feel and performance. I put a MD-11 on a FE and, aside the one flaw in MD-11 that was corrected in MD-12) wouldn’t have it any other way. Sometimes I remove the MD for maximum compactness but put it back on quickly every time.

ic-racer · Jun 26, 2020

Personally for the added bulk of a motor drive, I'd rather carry a 6x9cm camera. BTW I like that lenshood, is that a Nikon part? I need to get something like that for my Bessa Rangefinder. The lenshood I have now blocks part of the view.

reddesert · Jun 26, 2020

The MD-12 is physically not that much larger than an OM Winder, but it takes 8 AA batteries to the OM's 4 AA, so if you are going to use it as a motor drive instead of just a grip, then it does add a good chunk of weight. In pure rate and weight terms, separate motor drives have been superseded by cameras with built in motors, so (at least in the US) you can get an MD-12 or similar very inexpensively on ebay.

When you say you've been using "MK1 Thumb drive," was that just a joke about winding with your thumb, or were you referring to the Nikon MK-1 ? (There really is such a thing, but it goes on the MD-4 and I don't see how it could fit an FM2.)

If you just want a lightweight grip, the plastic grips that Cameradactyl makes look functional: https://www.cameradactyl.com/buttergrip

John Bragg · Jun 26, 2020

Lens hood is from China via Ebay. I have these with pinch lens caps on all my Nikkor lenses. They cost less than £3 and are amzingly good.

ic-racer said:
Personally for the added bulk of a motor drive, I'd rather carry a 6x9cm camera. BTW I like that lenshood, is that a Nikon part? I need to get something like that for my Bessa Rangefinder. The lenshood I have now blocks part of the view.

John Bragg · Jun 26, 2020

Mk 1 thumb drive is a joke.

reddesert said:
The MD-12 is physically not that much larger than an OM Winder, but it takes 8 AA batteries to the OM's 4 AA, so if you are going to use it as a motor drive instead of just a grip, then it does add a good chunk of weight. In pure rate and weight terms, separate motor drives have been superseded by cameras with built in motors, so (at least in the US) you can get an MD-12 or similar very inexpensively on ebay.

When you say you've been using "MK1 Thumb drive," was that just a joke about winding with your thumb, or were you referring to the Nikon MK-1 ? (There really is such a thing, but it goes on the MD-4 and I don't see how it could fit an FM2.)

If you just want a lightweight grip, the plastic grips that Cameradactyl makes look functional: https://www.cameradactyl.com/buttergrip

ic-racer · Jun 27, 2020

John Bragg said:
Lens hood is from China via Ebay. I have these with pinch lens caps on all my Nikkor lenses. They cost less than £3 and are amzingly good.

Thank you, I'll do an ebay search. Nice Nikon too. I'd love to have a clean FM2 some day.
Let us know what you come up with for your drive, I'ld like to know.

Chan Tran · Jun 27, 2020

In my opinion the Winder or MD hurt the ergonomic rather than improve it. I have both the OM-2n with the winder and the FE/FM/FM2n with the MD-12. In fact the FM/MD-12 keeps slipping off my hands while the FM alone feels extremely great in my hands.

John Bragg · Jun 27, 2020

ic-racer said:
Thank you, I'll do an ebay search. Nice Nikon too. I'd love to have a clean FM2 some day.
Let us know what you come up with for your drive, I'ld like to know.

Thanks. The one I was watching on ebay has been withdrawn. Was £69 for a mint example. I will wait and bide my time. Just looked at the price of genuine Voightlander hoods and nearly had a heart attack ! The Chinese ones are identical and can be had in black or silver. Depending on thread size they are very cheap.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231240061640

abruzzi · Jun 27, 2020

If you’re primarily interested in the ergonomics of the grip, there is an eBay seller that makes an add-on grip for the FM2. They also sell one for the F2 which is the one I have and I love it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Camera-Gri...082934?hash=item421873c976:g:gCwAAOSwsN9XAymL

John Bragg · Jun 27, 2020

abruzzi said:
If you’re primarily interested in the ergonomics of the grip, there is an eBay seller that makes an add-on grip for the FM2. They also sell one for the F2 which is the one I have and I love it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Camera-Gri...082934?hash=item421873c976:g:gCwAAOSwsN9XAymL

Thankyou. That is a neat bit of kit. £25 postage to UK though, but it is worth considering.

Winder or MD for ergonomics

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