Recommend a high-quality thumb grip for the Fujifilm X100V?

Question

I finally bit the bullet and got a silver X100V but man this thing is way more slippery than I expected and I am honestly terrified of dropping it. I am heading to Tokyo in about three weeks for a huge vacation and I really need to get the ergonomics sorted before I leave so I can shoot one-handed while walking around. I have been looking at the Lensmate ones since everyone seems to swear by them but they are like sixty bucks plus shipping which feels like a lot for a tiny piece of metal?

Then I saw the Haoge and JJC ones on Amazon for way cheaper but I read some reviews saying they can actually scratch the hot shoe or they block the rear command dial which would drive me crazy. My logic was that I should just buy the expensive one since the camera itself was such an investment but then I started worrying if the fold-out mechanism on the Lensmate gets loose after a few months? I saw one guy on a forum saying his started rattling and now I am second guessing everything.

I have about $70 set aside for this and I am located in the US. I just dont want to ruin the finish on my camera with a cheap piece of junk but I also dont want to overpay if the cheap ones are basically the same thing. Is there like a middle ground I am missing or is the Lensmate really the only way to go for the V model specifically...

MysticHorizon · Accepted Answer

Late to the party but I've been through this exact headache. I tried saving cash with the JJC TA-X100V Thumb Grip for Fujifilm X100V and unfortunately, it was a total mess.

The fit was loose and rubbed the rear dial constantly.

The silver finish didn't even match the camera body. Honestly, check out the Squarehood X100V Thumb Grip. It's rock solid, no folding parts to rattle, and feels way more premium.

Carmelabef · Answer

Ive been down this road so many times over the years and honestly, the anxiety of dropping a pricey camera is real. I used to cheap out on accessories but after a budget thumb grip basically fused itself to my old hot shoe, I stopped playing games. The Lensmate X100V Folding Thumb Grip Silver is really the only one that gets the ergonomics right without blocking that rear dial. People worry about the hinge but mine has survived two years of heavy travel without a single rattle. Just a few things to watch out for:

put a tiny sliver of electrical tape on the bottom of the grip if youre worried about rubbing

check the little hex screw every few months just to keep the hinge tight Paying sixty bucks is a gut punch but trust me, it’s better than a repair bill. The silver match is basically perfect... you wont even think about the price once you're in Tokyo.

casino_mfen · Answer

Honestly, in my experience, cheap versions can scratch your hot shoe. Total nightmare. The pricier folding one I got hasnt failed me once since then.