Soft release buttons - what do you think?

[p.giannakis]

What do you guys think of soft release buttons? Do you like them, do you actually find them useful?

I know they are a "no-no" for Olympus cameras.

I am contemplating buying one to check for myself but I would like to hear the collective wisdom about these accessories.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I used to have one on my Nikkormat but all it did was accidently releasing the shutter so I removed it.

 

[nightlight]

I use them; for me they serve the advertised purpose: allowing for a softer release.

I prefer convex ones and my favourite is the Tom A mini-softie (I think that was the name). The only concave one I use is the AR-1 on the Nikon F2, which serves its purpose equally; I just find convex ones to be more effective (using the distal phalanx).

 

[Freakscene]

I have a @Tom A soft release on each of my user film Ms and Leica ones on my digital Ms (they changed the thread pitch in comparison to the film cameras). These Leica ones have a big M on them, which is nice because it's my first initial. I definitely get a better release with less camera movement with a soft release.

Marty

 

[Archiver]

To be honest, I've never found them to soften shutter release at all. I get better results from gently squeezing the shutter button, because the soft release seems to not allow a smooth push. It's notchy and more harsh than slowly and gently squeezing the button. They look cool and the fidget/custom factor is there, but not the intended operation.

 

[valdas]

They are OK, but they tend to get lost a lot 🙂 I had two red ones and both are gone…

 

[santino]

I‘d say it all depends on the camera.

 

[Sanug]

I bought a nice one, but experienced no improvement. Absolutely unneccecary for me. Tested with Pentax MX, Pentax LX, Rollei 35, and Canon 7.

 

[Disappointed_Horse]

I bought a three pack of small convex soft releases from Amazon several years ago for about $6 and have been using them on some of my 35mm SLRs ever since. I think they feel a little nicer than just the bare shutter button, but I certainly don't think they have any meaningful effect on what shutter speeds I can hand hold. Maybe it would be different if I was shooting a rangefinder.

 

[Coldkennels]

I've never needed one on most cameras. The M240 definitely is improved with a convex one, though. I was really struggling to get a smooth release on slower speeds with the button as designed - it's just a little bit too recessed, but the extra height of the soft release allows me to use the joint of my index finger to trip the shutter with a smoother motion than pushing down with the tip of my finger.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

I've used a soft release button for years. I prefer the Tom A. mini button, but I've used others (convex) as well. I can't explain why they work, but they allow you to naturally squeeze the shutter instead of “pushing” it - helping to prevent camera shake.

 

[KodakRetina]

I know they are a "no-no" for Olympus cameras.

Says who?

 

[KodakRetina]

I use them on virtually all hand-held cameras and find them useful for their stated purpose. My preference is for convex rather than concave, yet happy that they are made in both styles.

 

[KodakRetina]

[correction; got my directions backward. Sorry] I use them on virtually all hand-held cameras and find them useful for their stated purpose. My preference is for concave rather than convex, yet happy that they are made in both styles.

 

[MarkWalberg]

For some cameras, a soft release gets me significantly less camera shake. The large (about 1.5 cm or so) convex ones work the best for me, like Tom Abrahamsson's Softie. Yes they lead to firing the shutter in the camera bag, etc. I turn my battery powered cameras off when not shooting (currently Nikon Zf). For the non battery powered cameras, you can wind just before shooting or use the shutter lock if it has one. Yes, they fall off, but I put mine on with blue Locktite, which works great.

The button really helps a lot on my Topcon 35-S, although the big button nearly covers up the film counter.

 

[Godfrey]

What do you guys think of soft release buttons? Do you like them, do you actually find them useful?
I know they are a "no-no" for Olympus cameras.
I am contemplating buying one to check for myself but I would like to hear the collective wisdom about these accessories.

Tried them several times, on various cameras. For me, they just get in the way and make it harder to release the shutter smoothly: they defeat the natural way I rest my finder on the collar surrounding the shutter release button and 'roll' my finger onto the button.

G

 

[Disappointed_Horse]

For some cameras, a soft release gets me significantly less camera shake. The large (about 1.5 cm or so) convex ones work the best for me, like Tom Abrahamsson's Softie. Yes they lead to firing the shutter in the camera bag, etc. I turn my battery powered cameras off when not shooting (currently Nikon Zf). For the non battery powered cameras, you can wind just before shooting or use the shutter lock if it has one. Yes, they fall off, but I put mine on with blue Locktite, which works great.

The button really helps a lot on my Topcon 35-S, although the big button nearly covers up the film counter.

The thought of any sort of Loctite anywhere near the shutter buttons of my cameras fills me with dread.

 

[p.giannakis]

Says who?

Every Olympus repair technician. Especially John Hermanson.

Soft release damage

 

[Alpsman]

I prefer the Nikon AR-1 when a light meter finder is mounted on the Nikon F or F2. If a plain prism finder or waist level finder or anything else is mounted I find the AR-1 disturbing.
On other camera brands I benefit from a soft release button when the fingernail of my trigger finger exceed a specific length.

 

[JeffS7444]

I mostly stick to the basic stuff: Screen protectors, spare batteries, Arca QR plates, remote shutter releases.