My DIY leather covered grip for the E-M5

[Ross the fiddler]

I decided to make my own add on grip for the E-M5 (as it wasn't free to us here) after seeing someone else making them (which I thought was not very pretty) with a grip that has a resemblance to Lumix bodies in shape (more or less). It allows the use of the existing shutter button & front dial with ease & also allows full time access to the battery compartment, which I think is a disadvantage with the HLD-6 grip. It adds a tripod mount point on the lens axis, a grip strap loop & a loop (a stainless steel 5mm threaded 'U' bolt or cable clamp) for a sling strap connector, but most of all, it has a comfortable, leather covered grip.





Edit: Due to a necessary modification I have replaced the appropriate photos.





It was cut out of 2" aluminium angle, 1/4" thick with a bit added to extend the height of the grip with cork tiling being glued to it to build up the shape. It was a bit hurried & although there could be some improvements, it's still pretty good to use the way it is.

These are a couple of work in progress shots to show the basic structure of it before it was completed.



I hope this might inspire someone else to have a go for theirs too.

[StephenL]

That looks really good and useful. My only gripe is that you can't sit the camera down on its base. I fully agree re the battery access.

[Graham_of_Rainham]

I really do miss having access to workshop machinery. With the weather the way it is, what better way is there to spend your time...

Well done

[Ross the fiddler]

Originally Posted by StephenL

That looks really good and useful. My only gripe is that you can't sit the camera down on its base. I fully agree re the battery access.

Thanks Stephen. I was trying to mount the sling strap connection on the end & that wasn't working out like I hoped, but I'm going to have to change it to allow more room for the tripod.

Originally Posted by Graham_of_Rainham

I really do miss having access to workshop machinery. With the weather the way it is, what better way is there to spend your time...

Well done

Thanks Graham. I can thank my father for leaving me a nicely made stepped milling bit made from a drill for the screw recess & I have a small drill press & bench sander, but a lot of it was just with hand tools. It still needs some modification to improve the design. If I can get some more of the angle material or 2" X 1/4" plate, then I may make another one that is better.

[Ross the fiddler]

Originally Posted by StephenL

That looks really good and useful. My only gripe is that you can't sit the camera down on its base. I fully agree re the battery access.

I have now changed the sling strap connection point to the side to allow all tripods to be used (back to where I started to fit it) & the only thing that would interfere with the camera sitting flat on a table would be the small loop for the grip strap.

Here are a couple more photos of the bottom plate.

[SteelD]

A very clever piece of engineering though I do wonder if some of the benefits of M43 are being lost if we add bulk to the camera and use legacy lenses.

[Ulfric M Douglas]

Well done Ross, I'm glad you stepped up to this challenge.

My only gripe is that the other fella's one has two bolts holding the grip to the plate which means you could play around with a selection of grips : even match a grip to a lens, or burr-wood, or knurled metal. Etc ad infinitum.
Your plate has super strap mounts!

(Colour : I hear home-made anodising is easy)

[Ross the fiddler]

Originally Posted by SteelD

A very clever piece of engineering though I do wonder if some of the benefits of M43 are being lost if we add bulk to the camera and use legacy lenses.

Thanks Steve. It isn't really adding much bulk to it (just an accessory), but since I can't go & fill my bag with more M4/3's lenses (yet) it serves the purpose just nicely for my 4/3's lenses, being the 14-54 II, 70-300 & also the 35mm macro. I haven't had a great deal of success with the Sigma 150 macro lens yet (in MF). The grip strap & this grip relieves my thumb joint & that makes it more comfortable for me. If I really want to go small, then I can just take it all off & put the neck strap back on & just use the M12-50 lens.

Originally Posted by Ulfric M Douglas

Well done Ross, I'm glad you stepped up to this challenge.

My only gripe is that the other fella's one has two bolts holding the grip to the plate which means you could play around with a selection of grips : even match a grip to a lens, or burr-wood, or knurled metal. Etc ad infinitum.
Your plate has super strap mounts!

(Colour : I hear home-made anodising is easy)

Thanks Ulfric. If I make myself another one, then I would probably bolt the grip on top of the 1/4" plate (bolted up from the bottom) with hex drive bolts & then there would be an option to change the grip (if someone else decides to make something similar) for all the other exotic creations . I have some 11.5mm X 20mm bar that could work for this with the added cork.

Yes, I like my strap mounts.

I'm sticking with the "naturale" look of aluminium which can be rejuvenated with abrasive paper or steel wool.