Softrelease opinions

[Ara Ghajanian]

I just want to know what people think of the Abrahamsson soft release. Can you really gain a stop or two in shutter speeds by using one?

 

[drewbarb]

I hate putting any add-on accesory on my cameras. The Leica was designed and built pretty damn good as they are. Yet I kept hearing about the Softrelease, and bought a couple when i found a cheap deal. I lost one the first day of shooting with it- each time I put the camera in the bag, the thing caught on something, and it seems one time it came out, went AWOL and hasn't returned.

And yet. It gave the camera and even smoother action, and yes, I found I could hand hold at least two stops slower than I could reliably hold without it. I keep one in my bag for those low light moments.

 

[Damaso]

I have one on my M6 TTL and I have to say it is more comfortable, especially at slower speeds. I don't knwo about adding a stop or two but it makes releasing the shutter easier. At about $8 why not pick one up and try it out? I think you will be happy....

 

[J J Kapsberger]

I've used a TA large soft-release on two M5s and thought the feel was improved significantly on both of them. Unfortunately, my M7 doesn't accommodate a soft-release very well. The SR creates a very loud click when the button is fully depressed. If the SR doesn't create a click on the M6, I'd highly recommend it. You can't go wrong for the modest price TA charges.

 

[Pablito]

It is a great addition to M6 and every other camera that will take it. Especially if you just rest your finger over the top and press - don't use the tip of you finger.

Tom A told me a way to prevent loss- you coat the threads with glue and then wait till it dries. You must wait till the glue completely dries. Then screw it in. It stays put, tight, is easy to remove when you want it off, and it leaves no residue on the camera. I use Elmer's but I think he said Duco cement works too.

You get used to it and the camera does not feel right without it. As JJ says, be sure to get the large one, not the mini.

 

[Ara Ghajanian]

Thanks for the opinions. I agree that it's worth a try for $12. I tend to shoot wide open at 1/30 often and sometimes I need to be at 1/15. If it helps me accomplish those two shutter speeds with relative sharpness, I'll be happy.

 

[Berliner]

Love it. Well worth the short change. Wouldn't go without it!

 

[colinh]

Yes it helps, but I'm still a crazy wobbler (a sort of central European bird).

Is there some sort of hair trigger shutter release?


colin

 

[photogdave]

I tend to shoot at a fast pace and habitually wind on to the next frame always. With a soft release the shutter keeps getting tripped accidentally. I don't use it anymore.

 

[thomasw_]

As said above, it aids you in controlling the shutter release. I do notice a difference, especially when shooting in low light. I have both the mini and regular size; I admit to using the minisoftrelease on my m3 and loving it.

 

[oscroft]

I got large one to try out on my M6, and I like it so much I got a bunch of small ones for my CL, Bessa and OMs. There's an interesting recent thread on Tom A's forum about them, here.

 

[rbiemer]

Not sure if I can consistently get two more stops using mine but I absolutely get one more. I keep one on my Zorki 3m and I have another I move from camera to camera. They have made a big improvement. Don't own a Leica(yet) but even my cameras that have a nice shutter release(Bessa R, Pentax K2, Retina 1a, some others) are much smoother with the mini soft releases I own.
The camera that surprised me when using my TA mini was my TLR. It has a fairly smooth shutter release but having the mini on makes the different motion of a TLR button feel more comfortable to me.
Rob

 

[ruben]

I just want to know what people think of the Abrahamsson soft release. Can you really gain a stop or two in shutter speeds by using one?

I think your question deserves a tight test. I am a fan of the softies and tend to believe it should be true due to the whole different ergonomics of the softie operation, about which I wrote a very extensive post #8

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44960

The problem for such rigorous test is that at a speed of 1/30, more or less most of us are able to, but at 1/15 for some of us even using the softie, the stability of our whole body (not just our arms) enters into play. But body stability is different in each of us, and even if you continue using the 1/30 you must gain sharpness.

As for the comfort, a world apart.

Just take care to order a DOME SHAPED one.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[sepiareverb]

I recently got two of the standard or large size ones, and put them on my M7's. I really do find improved handling, and will be adding another to my M5 shortly.

I could only reliably handhold down to 1/45, now I'm easily getting 1/20, sometime even 1/15- havent been able to do that since I was 25!