lxmike
M2 fan.
H, a few year back there was some forum issued soft shutter releases available, are these still for sale and if not does anyone have a link for a good soft shutter release l intend to put one on my M2. Thanks in advance for any help
dourbalistar
Buy more film
H, a few year back there was some forum issued soft shutter releases available, are these still for sale and if not does anyone have a link for a good soft shutter release l intend to put one on my M2. Thanks in advance for any help
You might be thinking of the the late, great Tom Abrahamsson "Softie" shutter releases?
http://rapidwinder.com/the-abrahamsson-softreleases-classic-and-mini
I think Tuulikki still sells these, but if not, there's a list of dealers that carry the soft releases:
http://rapidwinder.com/dealers-who-carry-our-products-north-america-europe-and-asia
presspass
filmshooter
The late Tom Abramson created one of the best soft releases. You can check the website rapidwinder.com for availability. I believe some of this site’s sponsors also stock them. They work well and are worth the price.
peterm1
Veteran
I rather like the Match Technical ones. https://www.matchtechnical.com/product/soft-release-buttons/
They are a bit expensive for what they are but I like the fact that they now include a small O ring on the shaft which helps lock them in place so they are less inclined to fall off. (Though there is no reason why you cannot do this yourself with any soft release button as O rings are readily available in hardware stores.) I think they are available from the maker and various camera stores and probably ebay. I had one of the cute little ladybug styled ones but as they originally lacked the O ring mine suffered the fate of many soft releases and fell off and was lost
B and H sell a variety of them too. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/soft-shutter-releases/ci/29301/N/3720527312
They are a bit expensive for what they are but I like the fact that they now include a small O ring on the shaft which helps lock them in place so they are less inclined to fall off. (Though there is no reason why you cannot do this yourself with any soft release button as O rings are readily available in hardware stores.) I think they are available from the maker and various camera stores and probably ebay. I had one of the cute little ladybug styled ones but as they originally lacked the O ring mine suffered the fate of many soft releases and fell off and was lost
B and H sell a variety of them too. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/soft-shutter-releases/ci/29301/N/3720527312
dourbalistar
Buy more film
I rather like the Match Technical ones. https://www.matchtechnical.com/product/soft-release-buttons/
They are a bit expensive for what they are but I like the fact that they now include a small O ring on the shaft which helps lock them in place so they are less inclined to fall off. (Though there is no reason why you cannot do this yourself with any soft release button as O rings are readily available in hardware stores.) I think they are available from the maker and various camera stores and probably ebay. I had one of the cute little ladybug styled ones but as they originally lacked the O ring mine suffered the fate of many soft releases and fell off and was lost
B and H sell a variety of them too. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/soft-shutter-releases/ci/29301/N/3720527312
I'm also a fan of the Match Technical soft releases. I have several, including the "cute little ladybug" that Peter mentioned. Mine also lacks the O-ring of the newer versions. It unscrewed itself and almost suffered a similar fate, so now it is secured on my M5 with a small dab of removable blue Loctite. On other cameras, I have not had issues with the Match Technical soft releases, so YMMV.
2020.05.31 Roll #247-04886-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr
lxmike
M2 fan.
Gentleman thank you for your help, it is appreciated
lxmike
M2 fan.
rfaspen
[insert pithy phrase here]
my 2 cents:
Nothing is a replacement for the Abrahamsson soft release. Not because the other softies are bad, but because you can feel the pulse of RF magic coursing through your finger when you touch that Rapidwinder softie -- the electric sense when your forefinger contacts the slightly domed release....the sensation as you press down, with just the right amount of pressure, to ensure a solid "click" of the shutter.
Only works this way on the Leica M2 -- Tom's chosen one.
BTW, I'm only slightly kidding. Tom's softies really are the best fit for my RF bodies (yes, mostly Leicas). And I really do think its nice to have a bit of the contemporary Leica lore with you in the form of a Tom softie (I should say Rapidwinder softie). Its genuinely a shame that you cannot get an RFF anniversary version. Still, they're nice and I believe still available. We all miss Tom...
Nothing is a replacement for the Abrahamsson soft release. Not because the other softies are bad, but because you can feel the pulse of RF magic coursing through your finger when you touch that Rapidwinder softie -- the electric sense when your forefinger contacts the slightly domed release....the sensation as you press down, with just the right amount of pressure, to ensure a solid "click" of the shutter.
Only works this way on the Leica M2 -- Tom's chosen one.
BTW, I'm only slightly kidding. Tom's softies really are the best fit for my RF bodies (yes, mostly Leicas). And I really do think its nice to have a bit of the contemporary Leica lore with you in the form of a Tom softie (I should say Rapidwinder softie). Its genuinely a shame that you cannot get an RFF anniversary version. Still, they're nice and I believe still available. We all miss Tom...