The Helium Design Lab – He3 Camera Grip
I love it when things we use every day are improved on. Hugh Brownstone, a good friend, and his partner Ed Palisoc have reinvented the hand grip for cameras, specifically with their first release, the Leica Q3. This new product is the He3 – a perfect union between the photographer and their camera.
I have a lot of camera plates and grips. Some manufacturers make grips with rubberized or exotic wood handles. They all do the job as intended. The Qe3, though, takes the idea of a grip for your camera to a new level. It’s patent-pending, Airtag compatible, Peak Design compatible, anti-theft, and no futz camera grip, reinventing and redefining what a camera grip is.
Some Of The Key Features
– Made of fully CNC’d 6061-T6 aluminum for a combination of exceptional strength and lightweight.
– A modular thumb grip attachment that can be removed and replaced with a structural cover plate in the event the user prefers none or an alternate solution.
– A modular thumb grip attachment that frees up the hot shoe for full use and access without compromising the desire for thumb support and still allows full, uncompromising access to all controls and original function buttons.
– Access to battery and SD card without the removal of the grip.
– Provision to accommodate Leica’s Finger Loop accessory.
– Accommodates and Apple AirTag™ securely and invisibly.
– Arca-Swiss mount compatible.
– Peak Design Capture Clip and Travel Tripod compatible without any need of an adapter plate.
– Additional #1/4-20 screw mount for additional accessories.
– Bottom anchor lug to allow wrist or Leica CL style camera strap configurations, also sized for easy attachment of a Peak Design anchor.
– Anti-tamper approach, where access to the Apple AirTag™ requires removal of the grip, and the grip securing screw is an anti-tamper design.
– Mounting screw incorporates a retaining clip to prevent loss of the screw.
– High Density EVA on contact surfaces to protect the camera. [UPDATE]
– Center of lens mark on baseplate to aid in aligning with tripod/clamp mounts center axis. [UPDATE]
The price for the He3 is $480.00 USD and is available for preorder now.
A Conversation With Hugh and Ed
I had a recent video conversation with Hugh and Ed. We talked about how the concept of this grip came about, as well as the design and manufacturing challenges. Also, Hugh and Ed shared why they chose the Leica Q3 as the first of hopefully a number of cameras they make this grip for.
Closing Thoughts
Hugh and Ed have shown how bit of creativity and different thinking can reinvent an everyday product to take on a whole new meaning. The detail and thought that has gone into this product shows what great engineering can do when you rethink things just a bit. The pricing for this product at $480.00 may seem like a lot, but good engineering and quality like a Leica camera for example are worth the price to those that demand the best there is. While this grip may not be for everyone, it will find a place for the discerning photographer looking for the best solution to a quality grip. You can preorder the grip HERE.
I look forward to seeing what other cameras this grip will be designed for. Ed and Hugh already have my wish list.
Kevin Raber
July 2024
Kevin Raber
Indianapolis, IN
Photography is my passion and has been for 50 plus years. My career in photography has allowed me to travel the world, meet some of the most interesting people on the planet and see things I could never have dreamed of. My goal is to share the passion of picture taking through photographs and teaching with as many people as I can, hoping it brings them as much joy and happiness as it has me. I do this through photoPXL.com, this site, as well as Rockhopper Workshops, and other projects, as well as teaching as Artist In Residence at the Indianapolis Art Center.
