Use a Soft Release at your own risk?

[BLKRCAT]

So it has been brought to my attention from a friend that the soft releases could potentially be dangerous for OM SLRs.

No warranty if OM bodies are used with "soft release" buttons. These add-ons (not made by Olympus) change the design of the camera, raising the profile of the release button so high that if anything hits the top of the body, the release absorbs all the force and causes damage to multiple levers inside the body. Use a "soft release" button at your own risk.

-http://zuiko.com/index_006.htm

Why is this? I don't see why there would be much of a difference between a leica or olympus or canon. There could be some small differences but overall I think the concept of a shutter release is the same amongst all of them.

Has anyone experienced a jam or any damage to interior components because of a hard knock right on a soft release?

 

[ferider]

Actually, for Leicas it's the same. Per email from Youxin Ye and my own experience. A soft release button can cause bending of the shaft underneath.

If your M2 is early/button rewind: try to rotate the shutter button 360 degrees. If it doesn't, the brass release shaft underneath is bent.

I still use the buttons (also on my OMs) - but transport cameras with release button on carefully.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Interesting, I never thought about it.

 

[thegman]

Never really considered this, but after nearly ripping off the shutter release on a Zeiss Ikon with a cable release, I'm now very careful about this kind of thing. A soft release for me just begs to snag on something and cause damage.

 

[zleica]

No so much when you using the camera. But if you putting your camera in and out from your camera bag with the soft release on the body, it can definitely create that problem. For that reason, I don't really use it as much as I want to.

 

[BLKRCAT]

ferider, funny you mention that. My M2 is a button rewind and the shutter button doesn't rotate 360. But more like 90*. I thought this was normal and never thought anything of it. My M2 works flawlessly. It's also had a soft release on it since the day I bought it.

 

[ferider]

For newer M2 bodies 90 degree is normal - there is a respective lock, ZF1. Only for the early ones does the button rotate (well, it should).

 

[BLKRCAT]

Interesting, thanks for the info!

 

[John Hermanson]

So it has been brought to my attention from a friend that the soft releases could potentially be dangerous for OM SLRs.



-http://zuiko.com/index_006.htm

Why is this? I don't see why there would be much of a difference between a leica or olympus or canon. There could be some small differences but overall I think the concept of a shutter release is the same amongst all of them.

Has anyone experienced a jam or any damage to interior components because of a hard knock right on a soft release?

Simple. the OM bodies were designed with the release button protected by a shroud or ridge. Adding a SRB (not made by Olympus) raises the release button so high that anything that hits the top cover (like pressing it into a camera bag) will most likely hit that button first and exert unusual pressure on levers found inside the body. The designers never meant that to happen and it causes unusual damage. So any body I work on, I won't warranty it when damage is caused this way. I know right away during the estimate disassembly and charge accordingly. John

 

[kshapero]

I use a mini with no problems on my RF's. But I know of someone who had a soft release on an M7 and it caught on something. Completely screwed up the internal shutter pin. Probably was an expensive repair.

 

[Godfrey]

I never really found the soft releases worked for me anyway ...

G

 

[kdemas]

I enjoyed one of Tom's on an M5, never a problem.

 

[John Hermanson]

So it has been brought to my attention from a friend that the soft releases could potentially be dangerous for OM SLRs.



-http://zuiko.com/index_006.htm

Why is this? I don't see why there would be much of a difference between a leica or olympus or canon. There could be some small differences but overall I think the concept of a shutter release is the same amongst all of them.

Has anyone experienced a jam or any damage to interior components because of a hard knock right on a soft release?

When the release button height is changed so much (beyond Maitani's design) anything striking the top of the camera will most likely hit the release first (because of the extra height) and exert large forces through the levers inside the body, often causing several of them to either break off or slip out of position. It's a fact. We saw this damage at Olympus back in the days of the OM-1N/2N being big sellers. "What piece of sh*t is this?" oh, it's a screw-in acme release button extender. People are free to use them, they just know up front I won't warranty a camera following repair if the customer continues to use one. John

 

[Richard G]

Even just shearing off the thread and leaving it where a cable release can no longer go is bad enough. The M2 doesn't need a soft release button. My metered film Ms have longer button travel, and the M6 apparently cannot be adjusted to mimic the M2 release. And the M9 has 'soft' as a menu option, and it's very good.

 

[sepiareverb]

Risk accepted.

 

[zuiko85]

A soft release is totally uncessary in an OM body. The raised collar around the shutter release is all you need. You can depress the shutter to the level of this collar with the ball of your finger. When you release the shutter just tense your finger slightly. Someone watching from a few feet away won't even see your finger move.

 

[Tuna]

I've recently ordered a red one.

Sometimes it is better to look good than to feel good.

 

[Greedo]

Absolutely.

Although, it should be "transport with SR at your own risk"

In a thread on flickr someone warned users of the Fuji X100(s) about potential damage when transporting the camera with a SR. It ripped off the whole shutter button mechanism!

From my personal experience, I was carrying my M2 in my camera bag, vertically, to make room for the Fuji. While shooting that day, the shutter would not fire, several times. I had to take out the film, and remove the spool. Wasted film and shots that day...:bang:

It hasn't come back though, and I hope it won't. But I sure as heck am not going to transport any camera with a soft release anymore.

 

[sanmich]

I've stopped using mines when I got large number of frames shot from the inside of my bag or triggered with my elbow.
I would still like to try the mini some day...
But for low light shooting, they are a blessing!

 

[clayne]

I've stopped using mines when I got large number of frames shot from the inside of my bag or triggered with my elbow.
I would still like to try the mini some day...
But for low light shooting, they are a blessing!

I actually took advantage of this "feature" by letting it tip me off to when I shifted scenes/put the camera away. I could then easily see it on the contact sheet.