M4 shutter release bent?

[Peter R]

Just received my first M body (M4), and could use some advice while I still have the opportunity to return it.

Everything works perfectly as far as I can tell, but there's one thing that I'm a little dubious about - the shutter release doesn't sit absolutely vertical relative to the rest of the body. The angle is pretty obvious with a soft release on it.

Is this anything to be concerned by, or no big deal in terms of the mechanism involved?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Pirate]

I received my first M last week- an M4. Until you mentioned this, I did not even notice it, but it's the same on mine. Mine is not as pronounced as your, but I can see the tilt as I have a Softrelease on mine also.

Just as a thought, since these were hand-made, this might be a slight angle in the threaded hole of the button and not a bend in the shaft.

Mine works just fine. As long as it works and there is no binding when you press the button down, I wouldn't worry about it. That's my own thoughts on it.

P^)

 

[nobbylon]

Actually looks like someone hasn't replaced the button correctly. The release sits inside a washer with a slot and this slot needs to be ligned up with a pin in the wind head to seat correctly and stop the button coming out. once it's all lined up the screw down retaining ring holds the washer in place so the button doesn't drop out.

 

[nobbylon]

Here's what I'm talking about. It's a fiddle to get it in the right position. Easiest way I've found. Slide the slotted collar onto the release, top hat side first, hold camera on its side and put the combined release and collar into place. Turn the collar and release until they slide in and then when the release is working correctly just turn the collar with a tiny screw driver or needle until it drops into place with the slot lined up with the pin. NO FORCE IS NECESSARY in this whole process. turn camera right way up, replace lever, friction spring and retaining screw collar. I hope this is what's wrong, otherwise?
This is on my M2 and they're all similar from memory,

pin visible inside the wind head

slotted collar, note in the pic it's upside down for clarity, when assembled larger top hat piece should be uppermost

 

[Chris101]

[blasphemy]Or you could take the soft release off.[/blasphemy]

 

[Peter R]

Guys, thanks for the info and especially the explanatory photos. Looking closely at the action of the release, I think it's probably as illustrated and just a matter of the release sitting on the pin at an angle. That would also account for why it feels fine and works perfectly regardless. Phew.

Chris - I thought of taking the soft release off as an 'out of sight out of mind' fix, but it's too good to remove. Half my shots are down below 1/60 hand held and at that point I need all the help I can get to reduce shake. Plus, it just feels right to me.

 

[Tom A]

Look if the actual chrome "cap" with the thread is straight - if it is, it could be just the very coarse thread for the cable release that is slight off. The addition of the Softie accentuates the "off" angle.
If the shaft is bent, you can feel it as it gets stiff or "jerky" in its movement.

 

[Beemermark]

Anybody consider that the softie might have been machined slightly off tilt?

 

[Tom A]

Highly unlikely as it is done on a CNC turning center that operates with a precision of +/- 3/1000 mm.
Of course, anything is possible - but some things are more unlikely than others.

 

[Peter R]

It's definitely the actual release 'button' or 'cap' that's sitting at an angle within the apparently straight washer, lever and top washer assembly.

The threads inside it and on the softie seem to both be machined perfectly straight - those two items line up to each other exactly. It's just that with the soft release on it, the angle of the release cap becomes very apparent.

Edit: I think that Nobbylon's suggestion of the release cap being installed at an angle due to that internal/invisible washer is the likely issue. There's nothing in the feel of tripping the shutter that suggests it's not functioning smoothly. The only issue with checking Nobbylon's theory is that I don't really have the tools or experience to take the winding lever/shutter assembly apart without the enterprise A. culminating in disaster and B. a visit to a tech to put it back together again ;-)