Luigi's soft release button- user comment

[Film dino]

I've been using one of Luigi Crescenzi's convex, black painted, stainless steel soft release buttons on an M2 for about a week & (FWIW) thought I'd post some comments, specifically in comparison to the Abrahamson full sized soft release.

Both buttons are similarly sized but as one might expect the stainless steel one is heavier- 4.9g comapred to 1.65g. The Luigi button has a longered, fully tapered thread compared to the TA button. This doesn't appear to make any difference as regards functionality. Both stay on securely, although on one occasion the Luigi one did come off the camera whilst in my Domke satchel. I find the Luigi button requires slightly less pressure to release the shutter; the release point is easily predictable, as with the TA.

The black paint finish is applied to upper surface only. It's too early to say if this is durable, although I'm not really fussed about appearance. As you can see from the pic the underside is engraved "Leicatime"

In short, if you're in the market for a soft release the Luigi convex button is a good alternative to the TA one. I feel convex is better because it allows you to release the shutter using a finger joint rather than finger tip, which in my experience anyway, makes quite a big difference to steadiness.

I paid USD12 for one, plus shipping
(picture- TA button on left)

 

[James Brannan]

Convex vs. concave...

Convex vs. concave...

In short, if you're in the market for a soft release the Luigi convex button is a good alternative to the TA one. I feel convex is better because it allows you to release the shutter using a finger joint rather than finger tip, which in my experience anyway, makes quite a big difference to steadiness.

I paid USD12 for one, plus shipping
(picture- TA button on left)

Anyone else with an opinion on concave vs. convex? I've decided I want to try one of these out on a few of my RF's that feel as if the release is too short but wondered about concave vs. convex myself.

 

[Nachkebia]

Would love to get one of those 🙂

 

[Michael I.]

Would love to get one of those 🙂

me to but 12$ is almost the price of a j-8(before shipping) - seems a bit steep for what is basicly a screw. I purchased a couple of tripod mount bushing reducers from Gordy(4$ each inc. worldwide delivery )and tehy seem not much easier to machine and cost third the price of the soft release

 

[Crasis]

I'd like to note that the stainless steel used in Luigis soft release is a harder metal than that used in most thread mounts for the shutter release. This means that there is a chance you could strip the threads on your shutter release if you're not careful.

Just a warning. Don't screw the luigi one in too tight. Stripped threads are bad mmkay?

 

[Rafael]

I am a fan of the convex soft release because of the way you can lay your finger over it. Like Film Dino, I find it more comfortable to depress the shutter release with the joint of my finger as opposed to my finger tip.

Anyone else with an opinion on concave vs. convex? I've decided I want to try one of these out on a few of my RF's that feel as if the release is too short but wondered about concave vs. convex myself.

 

[umana]

"I'd like to note that the stainless steel used in Luigi's soft release is a harder metal than that used in most thread mounts for the shutter release. This means that there is a chance you could strip the threads on your shutter release if you're not careful.

Just a warning. Don't screw the luigi one in too tight. Stripped threads are bad mmkay?"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello Crasis, your is a clever comment, BUT, before to put my SS soft release
buttons in the trade (and run the costly production), I made LONG tests with
them, and:

1. Even if well tightened, as I recommend in order to don't have
it lost, I never found it to be harmful to a shutter button thread

2. Yes, them are mostly made in more soft brass, but the SS button
don't seem to damage the thread, being it designed for a FIRM
thread end, not for a losing friction. I mean: them will BLOCK well,
when fitted, without any screwing (?) exitation

3. Of course, I may easily make my buttons in brass (some already made)
or even in the very soft, low-cost aluminium, but I like the idea
to make and offer life-lasting items, and the Stainless Steel is so.
In fact, I am (slowly) working on other SS camera accesories...

4. As properly understood, the weight of my SS buttons is a wanted
property, being it exactely what we need for a "soft" shooting effect...

5. I am ready to make a batch of Soft Release buttons in any other metals,
(I considered GOLD, but it cost too much... 🙂, if requested by you,
RRF members !

My greetings to all Luigi
-----------------------------------
Ok, it is now sitting on my Contax It made it here from Rome in just 4 days.

It does it's job of soft-releasing perfectly and chrome (or rather bare steel) looks native to the camera. Thanks Luigi!
__________________
Eugene
My Blog: cosmozoo
Contax II | Kiev-4A, Helios-103, Jupiter -8 -9 -11 -12
-----------------------------------

Thank you, Eugene !

 

[Crasis]

****

My greetings to all Luigi

Hey Luigi! I have one of your soft releases and it's great. I just thought I'd put it out there. The chances of anything actually happening are very slim, just like the chances of the softie somehow breaking are very slim. People use things in wierd ways though.

No offense to your goods was intended.

 

[varjag]

I wonder how it'll feel on my Contax.. and, what shipping cost to Norway would be like?

 

[varjag]

Ok, it is now sitting on my Contax 🙂 It made it here from Rome in just 4 days.

It does it's job of soft-releasing perfectly and chrome (or rather bare steel) looks native to the camera. Thanks Luigi!

 

[Bill58]

Competition drives the price down in a free market economy.....and there's only two in the world. Hence the $12.

 

[Tom A]

The reason for the dome-shaped top of the Softrelease is very simple. If you hook your finger across it you can squeeze the release "down" and, much like in target shooting, you can predict the release better. It also gives you about 1 stop advantage as you can handhold the camera at slower speed. Many of the heavy users of M's like it too, because you can release the camera by hitting the edge of the Softie rather than chasing the top.

As for material choice, my Softie is made from a very tough alloy. It is the same composition as the alloy used in the landing gear of C-130 Hercules aircrafts.

It is actually more expensive than stainless steel in its raw form. It is somewhat easier to machine, but only marginally so. I also prefer the knurling on mine as it makes it easy to put on and take off.

As Luigi pointed out, there is no problem in making these in a variety of materials, including brass (makes it very heavy) and Titanium (very expensive as tool wear is frightening).

Using alloy also allows me to make different colors. Some of the requests for colored Softies are interesting. Several "shooters" in the high arctic use red ones as they are more visible if they fall off.
There is also a tendency to buy "multicolor " kits to use as film-indicators. Blue for Ektachrome, red for Velvia etc. Myself I use green for Tri-X and red ones for 100 asa bl/w. films and the all black ones for formal occasions.

I can also have Softies laser engraved. Not individually, but in batches of 100. There is a whole series for the LHSA Annual Meetings as well as several stores that have had them engraved with store logo's and website info.

It really doesn't matter which Softie you use, mine or Luigi's but I recommend care when using the cheap ones in aluminium. They are often made by pressing two halves of a die together and the thread tends to be very rough and as it is a casting, it is prone to breaking and leave you with a piece of aluminium stuck in the release thread. Machining the thread of high strength material avoids that debacle to occur.

 

[terrycioni]

Just an aside - I use the TA softie on two M8's and have read complaints about the on-off switch of the M8 being easily turned on or off accidentally when being carried around and going in and out of the camera bag - I was a bit baffled as it has not happened to me, when I looked closely the simple reason is, a side benefit to the softie is it stops that from happening. I agree with Tom used correctly the convex softie can add a stop to low light shooting. I have used the softie for a long time on film Leica's and the color coding mentioned by Tom is simple and works nicely for me.

Kindest to all. Terry.

 

[back alley]

I can also have Softies laser engraved. Not individually, but in batches of 100. There is a whole series for the LHSA Annual Meetings as well as several stores that have had them engraved with store logo's and website info.

hhmmm...how about a limited run of rff softies.

i use the small release on 3 of my 4 cameras and am in need of back up ones. it would be very cool to have rff on the top!
joe

 

[rbiemer]

I can also have Softies laser engraved. Not individually, but in batches of 100. There is a whole series for the LHSA Annual Meetings as well as several stores that have had them engraved with store logo's and website info.

hhmmm...how about a limited run of rff softies.

i use the small release on 3 of my 4 cameras and am in need of back up ones. it would be very cool to have rff on the top!
joe

What an excellent idea, joe!
I had three minis and now have one(lost one, included one with a camera I sold). So I need a few more--both std and mini this time. SO:
Stephen and Tom,
Could we get an RFF TA soft release? Hopefully in multiple colors?
PLEEEEEASE?
Rob

 

[Steve Bellayr]

And, the RFF softie is due out when?

 

[akptc]

I will take 3 please 🙂

 

[maitrestanley]

Just got my TA softrelease on tuesday and I love it! It's so much more precise and easier to trip the shutter - sometimes in my bag too but that's a risk worth taking.

I prefer the convex shape. If I wanted a concave shape, I would've just opted not to use a soft release as the Leica shutter release housing is concave already.

 

[EmilGil]

There is actually a note on Tom's homepage about a RFF softie (look under "Upcoming products"):

"Softrelease with RFf - Rangefinderforum.com logo"

Two convex ones for me please! =)

 

[.JL.]

I have a Luigi's convex soft release in black paint.

I advance the film after every shot (habit that will persist forever), so I do not store my camera in the bag with softies attached. It's great to use when I need it (1/15s or slower).