Rafael
Mandlerian
I have a real newbie question: does a soft release make a big difference (I have an M4 and pretty big hands)? If so, is there a particular one to get or are they all about the same quality? Thanks for your help.
Soft Release
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f/stopblues
photo loner
I personally don't think they're the revelation that they're sometimes made out to be. That being said, I have one on both RF's and it does seem to change the feel of the release a bit. That's especially true on my Canonet because the release button kind of pushes into the body so its recessed when the shutter fires. The mini-softie raises things up and makes it easier to fire. There's similar effects on the R2a.
Overall I think they're worth it but not a necessity. A little O-ring (or two) stuck on the threads can lessen the chance of it backing out and disappearing forever.
Overall I think they're worth it but not a necessity. A little O-ring (or two) stuck on the threads can lessen the chance of it backing out and disappearing forever.
back alley
IMAGES
it depends.
i love them.
others do not.
i suspect it depends on how you shoot.
i have realized that i do not use the the tip of my finger but rather i hit the shutter release at a mid point btwn the tip and first joint.
so the higher soft rleease makes that very easy and comfortable.
joe
i love them.
others do not.
i suspect it depends on how you shoot.
i have realized that i do not use the the tip of my finger but rather i hit the shutter release at a mid point btwn the tip and first joint.
so the higher soft rleease makes that very easy and comfortable.
joe
waileong
Well-known
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.
I have two-- one for my M3 and one for my M4. If you want to get one, get the convex ones made by Tom A.
I have two-- one for my M3 and one for my M4. If you want to get one, get the convex ones made by Tom A.
back alley
IMAGES
i use the mini soft release on all my cameras.
jano
Evil Bokeh
waileong said:
You make that sound like a bad thing, the majority of my masterpieces were shot this way 😀 ...on a blank frame...
reagan
hey, they're only Zorkis
I use mini-soft releases from Tom Abrahamsson. Like 'em. Just feels like a better control of when the shutter releases. (That's important for clutzes like me. 🙄 )
ducttape
Established
I put them on every camera body with a threaded button.
If yu are interested, I have an extra, in black, from the group buy earlier here on RRF. I'd be happy to let you have it for whatever it was we paid (maybe someone remembers?) It's an Abrahmson, but I believe we got it for less in a group buy.
d
If yu are interested, I have an extra, in black, from the group buy earlier here on RRF. I'd be happy to let you have it for whatever it was we paid (maybe someone remembers?) It's an Abrahmson, but I believe we got it for less in a group buy.
d
Rafael
Mandlerian
Thanks very much. I have sent you a PM.
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
jano said:
But I bet they weren't as good as my inside-of-lenscap compositions!
furcafe
Veteran
Personally, I don't care for them, as the shutter release on a Leica M isn't exactly stiff compared to modern cameras, let alone some vintage models (e.g., try a Kodak Medalist sometime!) & I have no problem using them @ slow shutter speeds, etc. My M7 body came w/1 & it's lying somewhere in 1 of my storage drawers . . .
Rafael said:
ywenz
Veteran
i find with a softrelease, I'm able to hold the camera more still at the moment when the shutter is triggered. I would probably attribute this to the fact that I don't have move push down as far, when the soft release is installed.
hwoever, I do find the soft release getting in the way when I try to adjust the shutter dial with my trigger finger.
hwoever, I do find the soft release getting in the way when I try to adjust the shutter dial with my trigger finger.
N
Nikon Bob
Guest
I am in the camp that uses one. They are not a necessity but are cheap enough that if you don't like it not much is lost. I use them on an M4, Nikon S2 and made one up for my LTM cameras. To me they allow better control of the shutter release YMMV.
Nikon Bob
Nikon Bob
Ben Z
Veteran
I use one on my Nikon FTn, because the shutter release is towards the rear of the top plate and I find that an awkward reach for my index finger. I tried one on my Leica and it made it less comfortable for me and actually caused more camera-shake.
This thread is interesting because some who don't care for the soft releases are speaking out more; when the subject comes up it seems usually only those who love 'em offer an opinion. I'm sure there are cameras in which the top-deck arrangement and the details of the release button are "deficient" and can be improved with a soft release. Perhaps some are used simply to personalize and decorate. None of my cameras seem to suffer from this, and do not need an add-on soft release, so I don't use them. 🙂
Goodyear
Happy-snap ninja
I like them a lot on my Bessa R and my M2.
N
Nikon Bob
Guest
Ben Z said:
That is a good point on where the shutter release is located. If it is towards the back of the top deck as it is on the LTM Leicas and the Nikon S2, it is really helpful. OTH it never did increase shutter shake on my M4 but everyone is different.
Nikon Bob
tajart
ancien
i use soft-releases on my leica bodies, silver or black depending on body finish, and sometimes a color one is a good reminder when you have color film in the camera. i've been under the impression that it is better to leave the camera without tension on the shutter of mechanical cameras. even with this as a practice most of the time, there have been those times when i have an extra frame between images. i've heard of a shooter who used to expose a blank frame between every shot so there would be plenty of handling space for each image.
Ben Z
Veteran
Nikon Bob said:
I should probably explain the reason. With the soft release my finger is angled up toward the tip so there's a horizontal as well as a vertical component when I press it, and that seems to make it a little jerky. Without the release the pad of my finger just depresses the button straight down into the cup. Tom A showed me how to best use the soft release, which is to hook the finger over the camera from back to front. Evidently my finger is shorter than Tom's (and I have some slight arthritis to boot), so that messes up my hold on the camera altogether. Tuulikki gave me the release for nothing, and she and Tom are just the greatest of people, so I really tried very hard to fall in love with the soft release but in the end I just chalked it up to my own physiological issues and took it off.
W
wlewisiii
Guest
I use a mini-softrelease on my Canon 7 and like how it feels. Plus with a shutter lock, I don't have the big problem some do with blank shots 🙂 However, I tried it on my CL for awhile and really disliked it. The softrelease just sticks up too high on that small of a body for me.
William
William
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