Cautionary: for people using soft release

[Przemek]

I was using a soft release with my X100 and this is what happened:

I was trying to catch a plane and running with the x100 in my jacket pocket. Somehow I managed to dislodge the release button from the top plate.
I guess I was just unfortunate but it really made me angry with the camera and... myself.
Even decided selling the camera once repaired

I've send it to FujiUK for repair and kudos to them, they gave me a hassle free and warranty covered top plate replacement. Great service.
In the end I decided to keep the camera, just love using it to much to get rid of it. Best digicam experience I've had so far (with some minor quirks). I guess the X100s addresses most of these.
But the soft release has to go!

 

[thegman]

I've done similar with a cable release and a Zeiss Ikon, although credit to the Ikon, it was the cable release that broke, not the camera.

 

[shanenoir]

yikes, thanks for the warning!

 

[back alley]

i don't understand how the soft release was to blame?

 

[Joosep]

i don't understand how the soft release was to blame?

It extends the shutter release, and when you apply force to it sideways, it will result in more pressure to the part where the button is attached. Simple physics.

 

[back alley]

It extends the shutter release, and when you apply force to it sideways, it will result in more pressure to the part where the button is attached. Simple physics.

what force?
he was running with the camera in his coat pocket...was his pocket that tight that great force was exerted on the soft release?

 

[Joosep]

what force?
he was running with the camera in his coat pocket...was his pocket that tight that great force was exerted on the soft release?

If there wouldnt have been a soft relaase, there would have been less surface where force could have been applied that resulted in the damage.

Its just a warning that things like this can happen.

 

[greyelm]

This isn't the first time I've heard of this happening. I won't risk a soft release now. I never did get on with a soft release anyway.

 

[SausalitoDog]

I'm going to see if I can live without one 🙂

But probably not

 

[robklurfield]

The story is incomplete. Przemek failed to mention that, when he caught up to the airplane as it was taxiing down the runaway in preparation for takeoff, he grabbed the tail and lost his balance as he tried shimmy up the fuselage. Definitely the fault of the soft release. The moral of the story: don't carry an X100 with a soft release in your jacket pocket if you are chasing an airplane on the tarmack.😀

 

[back alley]

thankfully, after years of using soft releases on most of my cameras...I have had no problems at all.

 

[btgc]

I wonder why x100 needs SR....modern cameras since electronic film SLRs and newer all have feather light release. I use SR only on FL RF's with AE mechanism - say, Olympus 35RC and Konica Auto S and S2 come to mind, though fully manual ones without auto speeds or aperture like Konica III, Yashica Lynx or Petri 7 have short travel and light release. I think SR's are overhyped and many people use them because they are cool and look classy. Now be fair and say if I'm completely wrong 😀

 

[noimmunity]

I remember someone relating the legendary Leica repairperson Sherry Krauter's advice to NEVER use them (unless absolutely required).

I love breaking the rules. 😀

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Sorry to hear about the OP's problem. But good to hear Fuji came through for the fix.

Silver lining... there'll be lot's of those cool 'out-of-print' Abrahamsson RFF softies up for sale in the classifieds. 🙂

 

[Bill58]

Cameras aren't made the way they used to be........

 

[Ranchu]

Good to know, glad it turned out OK for you.

 

[tuanvinh2000]

Use one of TA's SR on my M6's shutter since it is really hard to press (have to press really hard in the middle downward to take a photo, unlike my Cosine made Epson but may be due to its age) and i'm too cheap for a CLA.