Just received an email newsletter from ReallyRightStuff – they are working on a custom plate for the Leica M8/M9 with an optional grip. Here are the details:
“Due to popular demand, Really Right Stuff is creating a custom plate for the Leica M8 and M9 cameras. This new Leica plate will be unlike any other ever made.
The passionate voices of our Leica shooters dictated a fresh approach to the design of this plate. Instead of a standard L-plate that mounts to the camera’s tripod socket, our plate actually completely replaces the Leica base. This replacement base will have an integrated dovetail for mounting in a Really Right Stuff clamp. Use the base alone as a conventional plate, or add an optional vertical component to create the L-plate. This vertical component will screw precisely to the base using our standard hex key tool.
Excited about this design, but still want to use a grip? No problem. Add our new optional grip; the grip will screw to the other side of the base plate.”