Soft Release

[Nikon Bob]

Ben Z

That is another good point about hand size/fingerlength etc having an influence on whether or not a soft release works for an individual. I have big mitts and long fingers so I have no trouble getting just a vertical movement to activate the shutter with a soft release.

Nikon Bob

 

[tomw]

A softie makes pressing the button more comfortable and easier. The downside is that you have to store your camera uncocked in your bag, else the risk of exposing a blank frame is high.

My solution to that is wrap a medium sized rubber band a couple or turns around the stem when stored in my camera bag. It's not 100% effective, but it's cheap.

 

[anglophone1]

I like them for all of the above reasons AND iIf you use two identical bodies [I use 2 Rd-1s] having a blackl MSR on one and a red on the other is a nifty way of telling them apart! 😀
Clive

 

[SteveM_NJ]

I was new to the product and didnt know which way i'd feel about it, so i purchased one with a package (side grip,e-r-case, from camera quest) -- now i move it from camera to camera , on / off - for the past 2 or 3 rolls - to determin if i like them.
So far - i do like the extra travel it provides the shutter trigger.

I think you too will only know by trying it for yourself, in many configurations and cameras .

good luck experimenting.

Steve

 

[GregB]

I'd love to try out an Abrahamsson softie on my new Canon P but they're much more expensive here in the UK than in the US.

 

[kully]

Greg, they're (Abramson) sold new by some company in the UK for £9. They advertise on eBay.

 

[kmack]

I never expected the difference to be as great as it was.
The addition of a mini-softie and case from Cameraquest has transformed my R from easy to handle to exceptional. I use the case as a half case and the extra padding/width make it much easier to handle. The mini-softie puts the release in just the right spot for me.

Sometimes it is the little things....

 

[back alley]

I'd love to try out an Abrahamsson softie on my new Canon P but they're much more expensive here in the UK than in the US.

buy one from stephen. shipping can't be much as it weighs nothing.

 

[dmr]

I've been using them (just a generic el-cheapo screw-in one) on both my rangefinders for a couple months now. I'm still not totally convinced that they help that much at the lower speeds, but they don't appear to hurt. 🙂

They are comfortable and took no real getting used to.

I have fairly small hands, medium length fingers, if anybody cares. 🙂

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

I use the Abrahamsson softies on all my cameras including the 120 RF's. Best and cheapest camera accessory i've ever bought.

 

[Jon Graham]

Bought one for my M7; sort of liked it; lost it; and forgot about it until I read this thread.

Don't think I'll bother to try and find it, but some others might find it of use.

 

[dll927]

Ducttape says he puts one on every camera with a threaded release. I have them on my two old Minolta SRT bodies, but not on my Leica. Maybe I should investigate that idea.
My other Minoltas won't take them - X-700, Maxxum 7 and Maxxum 7D - they DON'T have threaded releases.

 

[MinorTones]

Are the mini releases better than a larger Luigi one? I'm thinking of getting one along with a strap from him.

-Mitch

 

[back alley]

Are the mini releases better than a larger Luigi one? I'm thinking of getting one along with a strap from him.

-Mitch

never used luigi's or the bigger one from t.a., but have used a generic big one years ago. i prefer the smaller one. it does the same job as a big one and looks better on a camera.
unless you have really large round fingers...😉

 

[Crasis]

I have both a strap, and the soft release from Luigi. The strap is wonderful, of course, and the soft release is as expected for a piece of metal. Works well and I take a lot of photos of my lens cap.

 

[visiondr]

No soft release for me. I like the feel of the shutter release collar on the distal end of my second metacarpal. The collar promotes a smooth squeezing of the shutter release button rather than a stabbing motion. IMHO, this allows for more control over the precise moment of release and a steadier hand. You're forced to squeeze down on the "trigger"; you simply can't tap or jab at it. Just my $0.02

Ron

 

[harmsr]

I have a love/hate relationship with the mini soft release that I bought early this year from Cameraquest.

For normal street shooting or carrying in a bag, I don't like it.

If I am going to be making shots where I have a lot of time to get the shot, then I love it.

That seems backwards to me, but it is how it works out.

Best,

Ray

 

[kshapero]

My mini soft sticks out?

My mini soft sticks out?

Any body have this experience? It still works fine but looks a little weird being unable to thread it down all the way?🙁

 

[kully]

Hey Akiva,

Does the metering still come on with a 'halfway' press of the softrelease?

The other thing - Cameraquest & al. say that it lets off the shutter even with the camera off. I've tried switching off my R2a with a cable release inserted and the shutter locks, does this softrelease work in some weird, different way which still allows the shutter to fire?

err... just read that last paragraph - simple version "does the shutter lock still lock the shutter with this attached and do you still get metering coming on with a small press?"

cheers,
kully

 

[Andy Aitken]

Funny. I like using it on the CL but it feels "wrong" on my M4-2.